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Clever cats and retractable screens on french doors

9 years ago

We are moving into a new home in the city and are planning to replace the sliders to our patio with double, outward opening french doors. The problem is the cats. We have Phantom retractable screens now, thinking we'd keep the cats as indoor cats. Luckily we live in the country, because on about week 2 they figured out how to snake under the screen without releasing the magnetic closer.

Does anyone have framed screens (the cats don't climb the window screens very much but they aren't even phased by the taut screening on the bottom of the Phantom) on their outward opening screens?

Featured Answer

Tmnca

9 years ago

Sure you can have swinging screen with french doors - I have seen them. Here are some examples (link) for sliding or swing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Screens with french doors

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Comments (9)

_sophiewheeler
9 years ago
Create a catio for them with their own entry point from a window or cat door. When they have a safe enclosed area to go outside, they are far less likely to attempt to mastermind their way through the people entrance.
annzgw
9 years ago
You may want to just keep the sliders and add screens if you want the cats to stay inside. I have Pella sliders with a screen that's on the interior side of the sliding door and I consider it perfect for use with pets. It can be latched/locked so there's no chance my cat can get outside.

Since your cats are indoor/outdoor now, consider doing what holly mentioned. My cat has a cat door in the BR that opens to a wire tunnel. The tunnel then leads to a 10', six ft. high kennel that sits in the corner of the deck. Makes for a happy cat..........
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The dogs pile into the screens on occasion, With a Phantom, there is not frame to it on the bottom or top. It runs in a little screen channel. When the dogs go thru it, the leader disconnects from the magnetic catch, and the screen is free to go at least a foot outside of the door plane. All you need to do to reset it, is retract it fully, and close it, and everything is reset, ready to go again. As far as narrowing the opening, it does not on my sliding patio door, since the screen leader is about the same width as the stile on the slider. On my front door, (hinged), it does restrict the opening about 2 1/2" from 35 3/4 to 33 1/4" Probably about the same as a regular screen door would, with the cylinder bracket extending into the opening.
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Does your door manufacturer make screen doors to match? We have Pella french doors that open in and Pella screen doors that open out. The doors match, with same-size bottom panels -- keeps our Westie from ruining the screening.
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Phantom screens are a great choice for your application as they have many colors to choose from. This, of course, preempts you from being able to stain the interior. This assumes you are looking at wood. If you are looking at vinyl or fiberglass doors, your color choices may be a little off. Good luck.
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jpollcraw1132
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks all. I think the catio will be the best option since I'm fixated on losing the sliding doors. Now I just need to figure out where to put it and how big it should be. Hopefully, this solution will satisfy the kids.
annzgw
9 years ago
I would still look into a framed screen since your cats are going to look for any and all exits.
Even my cat will sometimes hide near the door and then try to dash out behind my dog. A squirt with a water bottle usually reminds her not to hang out around the doors. : )
What she loves to do when we go out the sliding doors is run to her cat door and try to beat us outside. Have to say that having a covered deck made setting up her outdoor area much easier...........
Tmnca
9 years ago
Definitely get framed screens. Even with a catio, cats will try to investigate where they should not be... and as someone who grew up in the country and had 2 cats hit by cars despite living on a country road set far back from it, I can say cats are no safer outdoors in the country than in the city.

You could perhaps get swing-out framed screens like a screen door on a front door?
jpollcraw1132
Original Author
9 years ago
Swing out framed screens with swing out french doors? I'd love to see how that works. It seems that it would be the best solution but I've never seen both out swing doors and screens. Anybody?
millworkman
9 years ago
Nope can't have both outswing. Inside hinged are available but it defeats the purpose of the outswing and eliminating the space required for the panels to swing in.
jpollcraw1132
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, Millworkman. Just as I thought.

Tinan; the issue in question is inswing vs outswing. One set must swing inward and the other outward.

Thanks to all!

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