Cats Tearing Screen Doors! How to Prevent Mischief and Escapes

"I want to open the window for ventilation, but my cat plays with the screen door and it's a problem..." "My cat tore through the screen door and escaped!" I think many cat owners are worried about this.

Screen doors are a common escape route for cats. They are easily torn or detached, and for some reason, cats love to climb them.

To prevent cats from playing mischief or escaping, I'd like to explain common screen door problems and how to deal with them.

Reasons for cat escapes

Every cat is at risk of escaping. Even cats that have always been indoor cats and have never been outside can escape if there's an opportunity.

The most common type of escape is a "casual escape." Perhaps the door was open, or there was a hole in the screen door, so they just wandered outside. They got out, but couldn't get back in. These cases seem to be common.

Also, cats are bundles of curiosity. They may become interested in birds, insects, or stray cats outside the window and escape, giving in to their curiosity. During heat, they might also be driven by the urge to seek out other cats.

Furthermore, cats may escape because they dislike their current environment. Be especially careful when there are environmental changes, such as an increase in the number of cats in the household, a move, or construction starting nearby.

Screen doors are fragile and easily broken. Let's consider measures to prevent your cat from escaping through the screen door in case of an emergency.

How cats escape from screen doors

To prevent escapes through screen doors, you need to know how cats manage to get through them. I've compiled some common mischief cats do with screen doors.

Opening the screen door and escaping

Cats are surprisingly nimble with their paws and can easily open screen doors. Once they learn that they can just hook a claw and slide it open, they will try to escape repeatedly.

Tearing through the screen door and escaping

Standard screen doors are made of polypropylene and are not very strong. Cats can tear through them by scratching or chewing, creating holes.

Climbing the screen door and escaping

Cats love to watch outside from high places. If there's an easy-to-climb screen door right in front of them, they'll want to climb it. While playing and climbing, the screen door might tear, and they escape through it.

Detaching the screen door and escaping

If a cat bumps into a screen door or climbs on it, the screen door can easily come off. It's not uncommon for startled cats to jump outside in such cases.

Measures to prevent escape from screen doors 

Even if you tell your cat "no!", they often don't understand. What measures are effective in preventing escapes from screen doors?

Secure with a screen door stopper

If your cat cleverly opens the screen door, install a "screen door lock" or "screen door stopper." These devices fix the screen door in place and can be found at hardware stores or 100-yen shops. 

Replace with a tear-resistant screen door

While screen door stoppers are effective for cats that open screen doors on their own, they are useless if the screen door is torn.

In conjunction with a screen door stopper, we recommend replacing your screen door with a "pet-friendly screen door" that won't tear from a cat's claws. Various types are available, including stainless steel and reinforced resin.

Install a fence on the screen door

For active cats that climb or bump into screen doors, using a "fence" is an effective escape prevention measure.

Pet fences are commercially available, but you can also DIY by connecting 100-yen shop wire fences with cable ties and tension rods, or by combining garden trellises. There's also the trick of using tension shelves vertically.

Prevent lack of exercise

For cats who love high places, screen doors are also a playground. They might climb screen doors due to a lack of stimulation. To prevent a lack of exercise, provide cat towers or cat steps, and make sure to play with them sufficiently with toys.

Trim your cat's claws

Cat claws are very sharp, and if left untrimmed, they can get caught in screen doors. To prevent screen doors from tearing or coming loose, trim your cat's claws regularly.

Wearing a "cat collar" is also an escape prevention measure

When a cat breaks through a screen door and escapes, the scariest thing is that they get lost.

It's good if they're found quickly, but that's not always the case. There's a risk of accidents or injuries, and they might get caught in fights with stray cats.

If it's not clear that they're a "pet cat," they could be taken to a public health center or animal welfare center as an "unowned cat." While we don't want to think about it, the possibility of euthanasia is not zero.

To ensure they return safely, a "cat collar" is necessary.

If your cat is wearing a collar, it's immediately apparent that they are a pet cat. This increases the chances of them being rescued somewhere and reuniting with you.

If the cat collar has an ID tag or name tag, your contact information will be available, allowing for a quick and safe reunion.

The most important thing is to prevent escapes, but as a preventative measure against getting lost in case of an emergency, your cat should wear a cat collar. In case the cat collar comes off, don't forget to microchip your cat.

Summary

Many cat escapes occur from spring to summer when windows are opened more frequently.

Among these, escapes through "screen doors" are particularly common. Cats can do unexpected mischief, such as tearing, detaching, or cleverly opening screen doors.

Screen doors are an attractive plaything for cats. While you want to stop their mischief, scolding them strongly might not be very effective.

While training is important, prevent escapes with measures like installing screen door stoppers, replacing them with tear-resistant screens, or adding fences to the screen doors.

Nevertheless, cats are creatures with a high risk of escape. To ensure they can return safely if they do escape, they should always wear a cat collar. An ID tag or name tag will provide even more peace of mind.

Take this opportunity to check if your screen doors are torn or easily detachable!