Window screens for cats

If you have indoor cats, what do you do about windows in the summer?  I know someone said that they have temporary screens around their house - where did you get them?  What do they look like?  And do they work?  My cats have a tendency to bodyslam the window when there is a fly on the other side of the screen. 

I'd love to let them go out, but there's just too much traffic around here.  They'd probably be dead within days.    

I did find this company, but their stuff seems awfully expensive.  http://www.flyscreensuk.co.uk/Windows.htm

Here's another one:  http://www.cataire.co.uk

We stayed in a hotel last week that had the coolest window screens ever! It was cold so we didn't even have the windows open, but they would have been awesome in summer. Anyway, you didn't even see them - they were sort of on a very small roller at the top of the window, in a frame that fit the window perfectly. I didn't investigate it that closely, but when you rolled it down, it looked just like an ordinary American screen. Sorry I can't give you any more info about it and I do see that I'm not really helping you out at all with your cat issues ... but if you want the hotel's email address, I'd be happy to PM it to you. They might have more information.

We have the temporary window screens.  I actually had my dad mail me some over. He got them at Menards.  They were really cheap about a couple dollars each.  Since the only window we have upstairs is actually a big sliding glass door (we are on the 2nd floor), I figure out a way to put a few tiny nails into the wood that acts as a support for the window screens. They stay in place pretty good but I too was afriad if they pushed on it hard enough they would fall out so I managed to to put just a few tiny nails along the rim of the door and you can't even see them.  This way when you push on it, it doesn't give.  The other thing you can use but we didn't really want to fork out £25-£30 are those tension type baby gates.  It really depends on the size of your windows. 

In Germany, I found these flyscreens that come in a box with a velcro-type attachemnt.   You take the velcro-type and adhere with the sticky side around the rim of the window.  The fly screen material then stretches over the window and attaches to the velcro stuff.  We use that in our bedrooms.    Kind of like these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Easy-Fit-FLY-SCREENS-2-x-door-6-x-window-NEW_W0QQitemZ130093615814QQcategoryZ75582QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Plus depending on the area you want to cover there is also something like this
http://www.ltdcommodities.com/home/catalog/cat_item_pg.asp?P=64&G=448&Kwd=screen&Item=416099-0GZU&Page=1

Helen, I saw those online, and they would be perfect.  If we owned the house.     Unfortunately, I have to find something that is at least moderately secure that we can completely remove (without leaving screw holes) when we leave). 

Whisper - The flyscreens with the velcro - do your cats try to peel them off the windows?  One of our cats is a fantastic escape artist - can open doors and is constantly trying to get into things.  I'm worried that they would peel off the window the first time one of the cats stood up on their hind legs and leaned against it (and in do so, caught their claws in it and then shook their foot a lot to "escape"  ).  What do you think?

My father has been saving some of those adjustable width screens that were meant for sash windows that slide up and down.  They're the kind where you close the window down onto the screen to keep it secure.  But all of the windows at the new place open outwards.  Boo...

I feel your pain. We have 2 from Flyscreens and they are pricey. They're a bear to put together and if your cat is an escape artist, they might not work. This is because the magnetic strip used to open and close it can be pulled open by an agile enough cat. We had to put a large rock on the window sill to prevent this!! (FYI, the velcro is the 'hinge' bit for this particular company)

Right now, we have a large roll of window screen from the US that mom sent because it's so cheap there. We are trying to figure out a way to make our own screens (the frame is the problem as, like you, we can't put screws in the windows).

Well, the velcro-type ones my cats can't reach.  We have these big window that almost go to the floor and celing and only the top section opens outwards. The window sill part they actually sit on is near the floor anyway.  My cats don't generally play with the stuff. But if you have an escape artist, I probably wouldn't reccommend it.

As for the window screens that slide. THat is exactly what I use.  I know they are meant to go up and down but we use them to slide sideways.  Since they have wooden frames we actually used a staple gun and combined two together.  I find I get a much snugger fit using them sideways

Helen, I saw those online, and they would be perfect.  If we owned the house.     Unfortunately, I have to find something that is at least moderately secure that we can completely remove (without leaving screw holes) when we leave). 

Whisper - The flyscreens with the velcro - do your cats try to peel them off the windows?  One of our cats is a fantastic escape artist - can open doors and is constantly trying to get into things.  I'm worried that they would peel off the window the first time one of the cats stood up on their hind legs and leaned against it (and in do so, caught their claws in it and then shook their foot a lot to "escape"  ).  What do you think?

My father has been saving some of those adjustable width screens that were meant for sash windows that slide up and down.  They're the kind where you close the window down onto the screen to keep it secure.  But all of the windows at the new place open outwards.  Boo...

The windows in our house are excatly what you are talking about that are in your place, I cant stand those kind of windows.    for the simple reason I cant use any of the cats products that need a Anerican style window with a window sill. I am about to ask 1 of my family members to send me some screen for our windows. so my poor cats can get some fresh air without us worrying about the cats getting out & getting seriously hurt or something even worse ran over. :\\\'(

Right now, we have a large roll of window screen from the US that mom sent because it's so cheap there. We are trying to figure out a way to make our own screens (the frame is the problem as, like you, we can't put screws in the windows).

Maybe when you figure it out, you should go into business.  Or at least provide photographic instructions for us.   

I'll see what I can do!

If you have a Robert Dyas store in your area (or want to order them online), they sell the Easy Fit Flyscreens:

http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=311&storeId=91&productId=22770&langId=-1&cache_entry=-1&parent_category_rn=&parents_parent_category_rn=&top_category_rn=&showSubCategory=&top=Y&fromPage=SearchResults

If you have a Robert Dyas store in your area (or want to order them online), they sell the Easy Fit Flyscreens:

I think I'll get some of those for the really high windows.  But they won't work if the windows are near enough to the floor or sill that the cat can get leverage.  She's a monster.  She doesn't even like being outside (we've tried putting down on the lawn before in the US and she just hunches up, petrified, and won't move).  She just likes opening things and squeezing through holes.