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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

532.0. "Save that Screen Door!" by MCIS2::NANCYZ () Thu Apr 22 1993 12:28

    Haven't found a note that addresses my topic:
    
    Assuming that Spring is here to stay, we will be putting in the sliding
    screen door onto our deck soon.  It's a new screen and we would like to
    figure out a way to prevent our male cat Duffy from picking it to death
    as his little signal for wanting to come into the house.  
    
    De-clawing Duffy is not an option.  I'm trying to think of a way we
    could put something over the screen portion (plexiglass?) just to the
    height that Duff can reach when he's in picking mode.  Any ideas?
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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532.1DAGWST::BROWNeverybody run Prom Queen's Gotta Gun!Thu Apr 22 1993 17:097
    We have a screen saver device on our screen doors.  They are made for
    dogs, and you can buy them at any hardware store or home store.  It is
    made of aluminum and fits over the lower portion of the screen.  I
    think it cost about $20.  It screws onto the frame of the screen door,
    and keeps kitty or doggy away from the actual screen material.
    
    Jo
532.2Vote for PlexiBPSOF::EGYEDPer aspera ad astraFri Apr 23 1993 04:205
    Suggestion .1 is good, but I would vote for plexiglass, for it lets
    more light in. If you chose aluminum dog-away-keeper (?), be sure to
    mount it in a way Duffy cannot hurt himself on it.
    
    Meow, Nat.
532.3DAGWST::BROWNeverybody run Prom Queen's Gotta Gun!Fri Apr 23 1993 12:176
    The screen saver I mentioned in .1 is not a solid piece of aluminum, it
    is a lattice.  It lets in plenty of light.  Plexiglass would be a great
    idea, but it is rather expensive, and it is easily scratched.
    
    Jo
    
532.4Inadverdant cat training device...SALEM::COLETTIevolution in action...Fri Apr 23 1993 13:1912
    In my experience with 'screen-saver' devices, the only outcome is to
    teach the cat to progressively jump higher to latch onto the exposed
    screening (one of 'em manages to reach the top - about a 5' 5" jump -
    from a standing start!).  Dogs, not having arboreal ancestry, don't
    seem to figure out this weakness in the device.
    
    My answer: replace the sreens!  I do it once a year for about $10 (one
    patio and two swinging doors) in about an hour with nylon screening. 
    Aluminum screening will last considerably longer, but is much more
    difficult unless you have access to professional tools.
    
    Good luck!
532.5DAGWST::BROWNeverybody run Prom Queen's Gotta Gun!Fri Apr 23 1993 13:5614
    Funny, since we added the screen savers to the front door and to the 
    sliding door, we haven't had to replace those screens, and no cats have 
    even attempted to claw through the screen at the top of the door.  I
    think it would be difficult to hold onto the screen with three paws while
    digging a hole in the screen with the other. :')  
    
    If you cover the whole door with plexiglass, then you have defeated the
    purpose of having a screen!  So, in my estimation, there is nothing
    that will effectively keep a cat off the top of the screens, except
    maybe not having screen doors.
    
    Jo
    
    
532.6SOFBAS::SHERMANFri Apr 23 1993 16:5312
    Several comments :
    
    Re. latice work screen -- one of our cats got a claw stuck in this and
    had to be freed.
    
    Re. high-jumpers -- another cat learned to really jump to get our
    attention. He'd hear a Bang!, look up, and see the cat spread-eagled
    against the screen, holding on with all four feet, sort of like a 
    large, wingless bat. 
    
    
    
532.7POWDML::MANDILEIs it show season yet?Fri Apr 23 1993 17:012
    
    Why not put in a cat door?
532.8DAGWST::BROWNeverybody run Prom Queen's Gotta Gun!Fri Apr 23 1993 18:366
    Great idea Lynne! :')  
    
    They have those new cat doors for screens.  They are a panel that fits
    into the door frame and a cat door at the bottom.
    
    Jo
532.9try giving them their own screen doorNETWKS::GASKELLTue Apr 27 1993 10:018
    I put a special cat door designed to go into the door screen.  After 
    the first couple of months of not answering their "demand to come in" 
    and someone behind them and pushing them through the cat door, they 
    got the picture.  I think I paid about $10, bought it last year but
    it took me a while to get around to installing it.
    
    It helps me too, I can let the cats run in and out and don't get bugs
    in the kitchen.	
532.10100 and 1 uses for a squirt bottleSTOWOA::PIERCEThink SpringMon May 10 1993 16:5810
    
    My handy dandy water bottle works for everything!  Espally screen
    scratchers!  I quick squirt in the direction the kitty will think
    twice.  Now my cats sit on the railing and tap the door handle to
    come in.
    
    They seem to forget every spring that screen scratchin is a no-no
    so out comes the bottle.. 1 squirt is all it took!
    
    lkp