The screened in sun porch is our four inside-only kitties favorite place. Unless it is below freezing or over one hundred degrees, they choose to be there over any other place in the house. On their first visit, each one had to check out the view which was just over their heads. As their claws stuck in the plastic screening causing small tears, I wondered how I would ever keep them from escaping thru torn screens. A couple of quick sprays with the water bottle worked good for training purposes, but I couldn't be there all the time.
Once I figured out a way to keep them off of the screen without losing the clear view of the backyard, we were all happier. The open weave of bird netting solved the visibility issue. The netting was cut in a 36-inch wide strip long enough to go all the way around from door to door. It is attached inside with zip strips to the supporting horizontal bars and reinforced at each end with an inch wide aluminum strip. The aluminum strip is threaded thru the squares and zip stripped onto the porch frame as well as screwed down at intervals for security. The bottom edge is tucked under the bottom railing to secure.
Kitties don't like to get their claws caught in the netting, so after a couple tries they were satisfied with sitting up on chairs to look out. So far no one has dared to try a climb up the netting. The idea should work for screen doors with variations in attachments.
By Shirley from IN
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have 2 indoor cats and several cats in the neighborhood come to my sliding glass door and create big holes in my screen by scratching. I have already replaced my screen once and do not want to do it again. What can I do to deter cats from coming to my back door and scratching big holes?
I have the same problem...any ideas?
MilesKimball.com sells something to put on screen doors to keep them from doing this. Maybe rub something on it to make them not do it?
I had the same problem with my own cat.
My solution and it worked great.
A watergun. I won't hurt the cat and getting them wet a couple of times it all it takes.
I had my back porch screen door damaged too but not by a cat. Rather our large German Shepherd dog. I took it to the hardware store, had a new screen put in and then had them put Plexiglas over the new screen. Problem solved. Bonnie
Definitely use water, maybe not a gun but a spray bottle will work just as effectively, and its how your supposed to train your cat to not to stuff, like off the counters and things like that, I'm sure it would work for a screen too.
I've tried water many times, it doesn't work for me?
I have always wondered if chicken wire put over the screen would deter screen scratching. The problem is that someone needs to come up with a way to attach the chicken wire to the door to try it
You can install a Screen Door Grill Guard. Google them to see what will fit your situation. I have gotten them in the past at Home Depot and Lowes, usually in the door isle.
the point of a screen is to let the air in, which Plexiglass defeats.
number of years ago I had a handyman put galvanized Steel over the screens on the porch that. Had been totally shredded by my one particular cat.
Yes, we did that, too. The Plexi glass securely taped to the sides of the screen door does seem to work.
How was the plexiglass attached
I put up some saran wrap it's humane,cheep,and it works!
I put up some saran wrap it's humane,cheep,and it works!
Uhhhhh......whats the point of even rescreaning if you're just going to cover it and close it off with lexan?? The lexan plexi would suffice alone. Exceot now its not a "screen" door and defeats the whole purpose.
We have a new kitty that likes to climb all my window screens. We've sprayed her with water to get her down, but she'll climb right back up. Suggestions?
By Liz
There is a screen replacement you can buy that won't get ruined if your cat scratches it. I found it here on Amazon, they also sell it at home improvement stores, like Lowes or Home Depot.
www.amazon.com/
I have a cat that is always ruining our screen door. Is there a place here in Ottawa, Ontario where I can buy a screen door protector?
By Aline from Ottawa, Ontario
Our screen was damaged, and when we went to purchase new screen material, I noticed that they had one that was supposed to be stronger for cats. It's not metal. Perhaps fiberglass? It is flexible, but stronger than the regular plastic kind.
We buy wire mesh from the hardware store or from Lowes, and use that to cover the screen on our door. Just cut a piece slightly larger than the screen and attatch it to the door, using screws and washers.
We bought 2 screen doors that had the screens on the top and a solid panel on the bottom, put one on the front doorway and one on the back. Problem and its attendant frustrations, solved!
Bought one at Home Depot. It is heavy metal, enameled white and had pieces which stick out and can be screwed to a wooden door. Put one on a window as well to keep the cat from getting out. He kept pushing the screen with his head until it popped out. He got into too many fights, so he is now an indoor cat.
We have a cat that was the boss of the neighborhood, Always came home with cuts and scratches on his head, we brought him inside also but then he started spraying. Got him fixed which calmed him down made him less aggressive. No more spraying also.
As far as the screen, anything that you put up is going to have its drawbacks. Solid panels blocks the view, Plexiglass stops the air, Heavier wire down grades looks. so it,s a matter of choice of what you want to give up. Get rid of cat and your heart hurts. it all has its shortcomings. Hardware stores do sell a hardware cloth that is plastic coated green or black that really does not look to bad and is tough enough to withstand any cat or dog. it also still give you the view and fresh air. You can run a small 1x2 or 2x2 around the inside of the 4x4s and handrail and then attach the hardware cloth with small staples or another thin piece of trim over the edge of the wire with an electric staple gun or a good staple gun that shoots small brad nails and or staples to attach wire. This is for the entire screen porch or just a door. hope this helps. but really have the cat fixed ,it helps him also. I shudder at the thought but it works.
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Does anyone know where I could find a screen door protector to stop my cat from scratching the bottom of my screen door?
