How can I save my screens?

[bellona]

We can't open any of our downstairs windows because cats (not just ours, but neighborhood ones too) clawed the screens attempting to get in. Now our screens (the ones we haven't taken out) have gaping holes that the cats - not to mention millions of flies come in if we open the window. And we have birds and a rabbit and I'm scared that one of them will get out. Or a neighborhood cat will eat them.

Is there anyway to make sure that cats don't scratch the screens if we put new ones in?

[thekimballs]

Yes--use pet screen. Ask at your home center. It's a screen that is not just metal wire like regular screen; it is flexible and strong and cats really can't claw through it.

[2swangirls]

When My cat was younger her ruined ever screen in the house. They were a silk screen and he would rip a hole in them and walk right outside. I replaced them all with metal screen and have had no problem since. It’s not hard to do once you get the hang of it. Maybe some one at a hardware store can show you how.

HTH

[QueenOfThePride]

Can you move your screens to the top half of the window and just open the top half? That's what we've done to prevent our toddler from being able to fall out of the windows. I know not all windows are designed with that option.

[bellona]

Actually, my windows open side to side, not up and down. I did that on my screen doors though to stop the little fingers of the neighborhood kids from poking through

Talk about timing. We have lived here for a year and a half and had this issue the whole time. I've talked to the manager about it before and nothing. But today, as I was coming home, one of my neighbors came to me and said that he was trying to make sure that every apartment has screens for every window. When I told him my dilemna, he said he had some pet screen left. One screen got that, one got a slightly lighter weight stuff because he ran out and the last he's getting more for tomorrow! There were only those three windows that were the issue. I'm so happy I can open my windows again

[shannon0218]

You can also use wire mesh on one side of regular metal screening. Havoc busts through even pet screen (but he's big damn stubborn) so we have wire mesh on the outside and regular metal screening on the inside.