Fitting a cat flap into a glass door

[chaps89]

New house has double patio doors into the garden. I’ll be fitting a catio, and was really hoping to have a cat flap so the boys can come and go.
However- 1, there is quite a drop from the kitchen to the patio, will they be able to use a cat flap? And 2, has anyone had this done - from what I’m reading it requires a whole new panel of glass to be made specially, of course ? I can’t find an idea of costs so even a ballpark figure would be handy if anyones had it done and doesn’t mind sharing. (I know it will depend on the size of the window etc)
Sadly there is 0 wall space either side of the doors for fitting the cat flap that way instead.
Any other ingenious ideas that don’t involve leaving windows/doors open are welcome!

 

[Birker2020]

New house has double patio doors into the garden. I’ll be fitting a catio, and was really hoping to have a cat flap so the boys can come and go.
However- 1, there is quite a drop from the kitchen to the patio, will they be able to use a cat flap? And 2, has anyone had this done - from what I’m reading it requires a whole new panel of glass to be made specially, of course ? I can’t find an idea of costs so even a ballpark figure would be handy if anyones had it done and doesn’t mind sharing. (I know it will depend on the size of the window etc)
Sadly there is 0 wall space either side of the doors for fitting the cat flap that way instead.
Any other ingenious ideas that don’t involve leaving windows/doors open are welcome!

It can be done. We had this issue when partner lived on site at the local competition centre and someday's he'd work 14 hour days with the twice yearly big competitions on, so he wanted a dog flap put in the front door of the mobile home he lived in so the dog could wander in and out freely.

We couldn't find a solution at the time that was affordable as that door was made of glass, so he literally built decking around the side and a room off that on the side of the mobile and left the wooden door leading out of it into the garden locked with the dog flap in, so no one could gain entry and then the door into the mobile open so the dog could wander in and out through the flap at random.

I have found this.

https://www.aaranglass.co.uk/catflap-glass/#:~:text=Catflaps can be fitted into,circumstances change in the future.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yes, if fitting into a sealed unit, you'll need to get the glazier to quote for a replacement sealed unit for the door. A small step can be popped in with breeze blocks as a temp measure?

Any kitchen cupboard backing onto that wall? Friend went through the cupboard and out through the wall that way.

Edited to add, get rough measurement and depth of sealed unit for a phone quote. Likely to be over £200 (which was approx cost many yrs ago when I worked in that sector, for a full dgu)

 

[Skib]

I fitted a cat flap many years ago to a kitchen door with glass panes measuring 12" by 16".
However I removed the glass entirely and replaced that pane with hardboard holding the cat flap. The hardboard plus cat flap are still stowed somewhere in the cellar. Just in case another stray cat turns up and adopts us.

I have also cut glass using the right tools. When we were young and penniless, I did everything but I would now employ someone.

 

[ycbm]

It can be done but we've chosen to replace a panel in a glass door with uPVC. There is a step outside, currently a box and a tray but shortly to be made permanent, because it's set too high for them to use easily.

Typical supplier in this area. https://petflaps.co.uk/
.

 

[julesjoy]

We recently had this discussion with several glaziers. I think they quoted about £350 for a new door unit with hole. We put the flap in the window instead, which was about half the cost. The cats do find it easier with the bin outside as the outside ledge is quite narrow. One day I'll put something purpose specific there!

 

[julesjoy]

Here it is

 

[Bernster]

Yep we used petflaps to do ours. For ours we needed the fitting so it goes into glass and the whole window needs to be replaced. Cost us about 250 I think. We used wooden steps so the cat can reach it ok.

We don’t use it much now though ? cos OH doesn’t like her having free access to be able to bring in mice. Apparently there’s a cat flap that now detects if they have unwanted gifts, would love to know if it works or not.

 

[chaps89]

Thanks everyone. The step is such an obvious thing, doh!
Window rather than door isn’t an option as it’s above the sink so not an ideal place for cats to climbing in and out!
At the moment the kitchen has a grand total of 3.5 cupboards so I don’t want to lose one to a cat flap.
Typically the door is wider than a standard door and full height so if having a new window fitted is prohibitively expensive I might save that money and put it towards the new kitchen and have a special cat flap space left especially!
I am hoping that having free access won’t bring any unwanted additional furry/feathered guests in as they will be contained to the catio.
Currently night time access to our current garden is limited since the night Stanley bought me a live furry present ? that may still be the case in the new place but I really hope they can come and go during the day at least, whereas at the moment they can only go out if I’m in to let them out.