Ideas to stop draught from Catflap

xxvickixx

Hi, I'm new to posting in this forum but have been reading and have been picking up loads of tips, so thanks especially for the Homemade Xmas drinks, I love the Baileys one!

Anyway, back to the problem, bear with me while I explain the set up...
In our kitchen there is no base unit at the end next to the wall so we have a 50cm gap with the worktop above. In this gap there is a cat tunnel through the external wall with a cat flap fitted on the outer wall. This was done as the backdoor is fully double glazed and can't have a catflap.

This was fine during the Summer but now the draught from it is making the whole house cold. We are closing the kitchen door now to keep the house warm but now we have to let the cats in and out of the kitchen.

Any ideas on how I can sort this out? I would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance, Vicki x

redruby

Hi Vicki,

Could you hang a piece of heavy material over the gap, this would let the cats get in and out, but hopefully stop some of the draught ?

x

xxvickixx

I was thinking about something like this but worried it would need defluffing three times a day especially being in the kitchen it will soon look revolting. I think I might have to go with it though as I can't think of anything else.

The cats are longhaired ones so very fluffy and moult everywhere!

dixie_dean_2

Cement worked for me

redruby

if you could somehow velcro it on at the top, you could take it outside and give it a good shake a couple of times a day x

bordercars

does this tunnel go through a cavity? is it insulated. if not theres a real good reason for the cold., get some insulation stuffed into the cavity and then box out the tunnel, theres more draft coming through the cavity than the flap.

xxvickixx

It does go through a cavity, how do I tell if it's insulated? What does insulation look like?

If it is not then can I just get some from B&Q?

Thanks, this sounds like it might be the problem, I hadn't thought about the wall itself.

bordercars

if a new build or extension, then it should be insulated. it's that furry looking fibre glass type stuff. if older then you will see plugged up holes where its been injected.

to check the cavity, put your hand in between the inner and outer brick / block. if you cant feel anything it's probally not done, a suggestion might be to push some scrunched up newspaper in the gap, another idea is that expanding foam, you could trim the hole after. do both sides , above and below the hole. i would then get something to act as a sleeve.

did you know if youre on certain benefits or a certain age you may qualify for a "warm front grant" that will make your loft insulation from 4" to 12" and they also do cavity injections.

sillyvixen

what about chiropidy (sp) felt!! we used it on our cat flap cause we had a noisy cat but it may insuate the cat flap.

xxvickixx

Thanks, no there doesn't seem to be any insulation. I thought all newish homes had it, our is early 80's though so must be too old. i'm going to go with the expanding foam which should help. Will sleeve it with some pipe, and might as well put some felt on too. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks again for all your ideas. xx