Pet-Friendly Screen Doors: Pet Doors, Pet Guards, and Pet-Resistant Mesh

Dogs and cats are hard on screens. Claws tear through standard mesh, pets push screens out of their tracks, and a torn screen means bugs come right in. If you have pets, here are the options that actually hold up.

Pet-Resistant Screen Mesh

Pet-resistant mesh is much thicker and stronger than standard screen. It’s built to stand up to scratching and pushing. It works on sliding screen doors, swinging screen doors, and windows. It’s the single best upgrade if your current screens keep getting torn.

Pet Doors in Screen Doors

A pet door installed in your screen door lets your dog or cat go in and out on their own while the screen stays closed. That means fewer bugs inside and no more pets pushing the screen off its track to get out.

Pet Guards

A pet guard is a protective grille mounted across the lower part of a screen door. It keeps paws and noses off the mesh, which is where most pet damage happens. Pet guards are a simple, affordable fix for sliding and swinging screens.

Which Option Is Right for You?

• Pet scratches or paws at the screen: Pet-resistant mesh, a pet guard, or both
• Pet needs to go in and out on its own: A pet door in the screen door
• Large dog that pushes through screens: Pet-resistant mesh plus a pet guard

Do Retractable Screens Work With Pets?

They can, but retractable screens use lighter mesh and aren’t designed to take a lot of pushing or scratching. If you have an active dog, a sliding or swinging screen with pet-resistant mesh is usually the more durable choice. We’ll help you weigh the options when we come out to measure.

Get a Pet-Friendly Screen Setup

We install pet doors, pet guards, and pet-resistant mesh throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. See our pet guards and pet doors page, or call (661) 857-4344 for a free estimate.