Cat Proofing Window Screens

So I moved a couple of months ago with my cat, Amber, from a basement flat with screens in some windows and others with no screens. Because it stayed really cool during summer, we hardly ever opened the screen-less windows unless Amber wasn't in the room and the door was closed.

I'm worried about my new place, which is ground and second floor. When we first moved in, we opened one of the windows and the screen just popped right out. So its clearly not held in place very well. I know its going to get hot here so we'll have to open the windows. I'm concerned with spring coming about Amber accidentally getting outdoors through the screen, either by clawing it open, or pushing on it and it falling out. I'm also worried about her falling out of the second floor windows. I want to install a nice window perch for her, but I don't want to encourage her to sit by the windows too much until we have this figured out.

I'm renting, so can't make certain modifications. Does anyone have good ideas how to cat-proof window screens?

Hi!
Just a thought, could you ask the landlord to see about making the existing screens a little less easy to pop out?

I don't know the structure of your windows but there are removable clamps that can be purchased to help hold the screens in place. You could take a picture of the type of window frame you have and show it to someone at your local Home Depot, Lowe's, or other hardware store and ask if they have any suitable clamps.

Or look into child safety bars / guards for the windows. The bar spacing may be large enough for a cat so squeeze through so you'll need to modify it to make the spacing smaller. There are mesh guards like this one but I'm not sure if a cat would be able to claw the mesh into shreds.

Furballsmom said:

Hi!
Just a thought, could you ask the landlord to see about making the existing screens a little less easy to pop out?

Click to expand...

Yes, I definitely plan on ask about it! I'm hopeful they'll do something to help, but looking at alternatives just in case.

FeebysOwner said:

I don't know the structure of your windows but there are removable clamps that can be purchased to help hold the screens in place. You could take a picture of the type of window frame you have and show it to someone at your local Home Depot, Lowe's, or other hardware store and ask if they have any suitable clamps.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll have a look at them and see if its something that might work.

LTS3 said:

Or look into child safety bars / guards for the windows. The bar spacing may be large enough for a cat so squeeze through so you'll need to modify it to make the spacing smaller. There are mesh guards like this one but I'm not sure if a cat would be able to claw the mesh into shreds.

Click to expand...

Thanks... I have a feeling she could definitely scratch through it if she really wanted to, but it would require some effort to get through both that and the actual screen. However, she is an inquisitive cat. I once caught her on top of the roof, up a tree and inside the ceiling at my old place! Gotta be prepared for everything with this one. "If I fits I sits" literally and if I can climb it, I sits.

Best of luck with this Let us know how things go

In my previous home we had windows that opened at the bottom and you pushed them up. There was a fairly deep window ledge. My cats loved to lay in there on the first floor windows. I worried that with pressure, the screen would pop out.

I bought adjustable window screens at Home Depot. They fit into the window and then you close the window so it rests on the top. My cats couldn't get into the window ledge, but I could still have the windows open and they could enjoy the fresh air from furniture.

Here is what I used
W B Marvin 19 - 33 in. W x 10 in. H Wood Frame Adjustable Window Screen-AWS1033 - The Home Depot

Furballsmom - I sure will! Thanks!

shadowsrescue - Interesting idea! I'll have to go check out Home Depot soon. I imagine that would work in windows that slide open from the side, too.

Fortunately the screen on the sliding glass doors is quite secure - I check it today, it was warm and sunny enough I let Amber sit by it supervised for a couple minutes. She used to be a free-roaming outdoor cat, so I always worry she will try to become an escape artist on us again.

Do you have ground space of your own that you could buy/build a catio?

shadowsrescue said:

In my previous home we had windows that opened at the bottom and you pushed them up. There was a fairly deep window ledge. My cats loved to lay in there on the first floor windows. I worried that with pressure, the screen would pop out.

I bought adjustable window screens at Home Depot. They fit into the window and then you close the window so it rests on the top. My cats couldn't get into the window ledge, but I could still have the windows open and they could enjoy the fresh air from furniture.

Here is what I used
W B Marvin 19 - 33 in. W x 10 in. H Wood Frame Adjustable Window Screen-AWS1033 - The Home Depot

Click to expand...

We have these, too.
Assuming the windows aren't double hung and cant open from the top, this is the best investment we have made and provides two layers of screens.
We don't leave the windows open when we're not around thought, just to be 100% safe.

Omg. I would LOVE to get her a catio! It would be perfect. We do have a small outdoor space of our own with concrete on the ground. I've got a bird feeder out there and I'm just starting some container gardening, so there'd be stuff for her to look at.

I think it could be do-able, though not in budget right now since I'm still looking for a job. I have to figure out how we'd connect it up as the only way in/out the back is through the sliding door, no windows. But yes, that would be so amazing. If you know more about buying or building one, please let me know!

1 bruce 1 - good to know it worked for you, too! Do you think it would work for horizontal opening windows? I don't think I'd leave it open when I'm gone, either, but if it gets up to 100 will she get too hot with the windows closed? We've only ever had cats living in our nice, cool basement which sounds worse than it is. It was so warm in the winter and cool in the summer... I miss it a little.

Here are a couple of previous threads (see below) about catios - that might be a start for you anyway. As far as the sliding door, you can install a lockable cat (doggie) door that could lead right into the catio. But, tbh, unless your area is 'cat proof' you probably couldn't let her out there when you are gone.

“catios” Or Outdoor Enclosures Ideas

Cat Enclosures And Gates

Thanks! No I don't think I'd let her out while I'm away either way. I'm too much of a worrying mum.

When I open my sliding door with a screen, I place a baby gate in front. This way they can't get too close, yet can still feel a nice breeze.

Oh that's an excellent idea! I'll look into barriers for that, too. cat proofing the house!