If you love cats as much as we do, you are probably familiar with their love of sitting in the window to catch some sun and watch the goings-on outside. If there is a way to get to the window, your cat will find it, and they will spend plenty of their time there. However, it can get quite dangerous, especially if your cat tends to scratch at the screen.
If you are looking to purchase a screen guard or screen for your window, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve reviewed several brands so you can see the difference between them. We’ll give you the pros and cons of each, and we’ve also included a short buyer’s guide where we discuss what’s important to look for if you continue to shop. Keep reading while we discuss material, durability, size, and more to help you make an informed purchase.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
DocaScreen Pet Screen
Tear and scratch-resistant
Anti-wrinkle
Easy to install
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Best Value
PAWISE Protection Net for Cats
Durable
Includes nails
Multiple sizes
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Premium Choice
KidCo Mesh Window Guard
Thick and durable
Easy to install
Works with blinds and curtains
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Best for Kittens
Pet Proof Window Screen Kit
Thick screen
Durable
Keeps out insects
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YOKMO Cat Balcony Rail Net
Multiple sizes
Plenty of visibility
UV resistant
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The 8 Best Cat Window Guards & Screens
The DocaScreen Pet Screen is our pick as the best overall cat window guard. It’s an extremely durable screen that uses vinyl-coated polyester for added strength and durability. This screen won’t wrinkle or dent while it’s in place, and it’s easy to install, only requiring a few steps. It’s tear and scratch-resistant and keeps out a lot of the insects. It’s also available in multiple sizes.
Size: 60 x 96 inches
Material: Polyester
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The only real downside to the DocaScreen Pet Screen is that it might allow smaller insects like the mosquito to get through.
Tear and scratch-resistant
Anti-wrinkle
Easy to install
Durable
Available in multiple sizes
- Tear and scratch-resistant
- Anti-wrinkle
- Easy to install
- Durable
- Available in multiple sizes
May allow insects through
- May allow insects through
The PAWISE Protection Net for Cats is our pick as the best cat window guard for the money. It uses durable nylon rope to create a net that you can use to keep cats inside the house or out of an area they shouldn’t be. It has an attractive white color that will look attractive in most homes, and it won’t obscure your view of the other side. It’s available in multiple sizes and comes with the nails you need to install it.
Size: 157 x 118 inches
Material: Nylon
We like the PAWISE, but it can be challenging to set up due to the knots in the string. It also doesn’t do much to block insects if you need it to do that.
Durable
Includes nails
Multiple sizes
- Durable
- Includes nails
- Multiple sizes
It can be challenging to set up
It doesn’t block insects
- It can be challenging to set up
- It doesn’t block insects
The KidCo Mesh Window Guard is our premium choice cat window guard. The polyester fabric is quite thick and durable and should last quite a while. It’s easy to install, and we found it quite sturdy to stay in place even with a cat hanging on it. The installation is easy and only requires installing a few screws, and you can still use your curtains or shades with it.
Size: 26 x 40 inches
Material: Polyester
The only real downside to the KidCo is that the guard does not allow your cat to sit in the window.
Thick and durable
Easy to install
Works with blinds and curtains
- Thick and durable
- Easy to install
- Works with blinds and curtains
Doesn’t allow your cat to sit in the window
- Doesn’t allow your cat to sit in the window
4. Pet Proof Window Screen Replacement Kit – Best for Kittens
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Size: 60 x 100 inches
Material: Fiberglass
The Pet Proof Window Screen Replacement Kit is our pick as the best for kittens. The netting is tight, so it does a good job of keeping out insects if you need to. It’s quite large and is well suited to porches and decks, and the netting is thick enough that your cats won’t bring it down while they play.
We liked the Pet Proof Window Screen a lot, and it does a good job of keeping kittens and puppies on the right side. The only problem we had with it is that it arrived with many wrinkles, so it took some effort to get it to look nice when we first put it up.
Thick screen
Durable
Keeps out insects
- Thick screen
- Durable
- Keeps out insects
Arrives wrinkled
- Arrives wrinkled
5. YOKMO Cat Balcony Rail Net
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Size: 120 x 240 inches
Material: Nylon
The YOKMO Cat Balcony Rail Net is a loose-style netting that allows plenty of light inside but still prevents your cat from getting out of the house. You can also use it as a safety netting. It uses a flexible nylon rope that is UV resistant, so it won’t fade or become brittle. It’s flexible and easy to install almost anywhere.
The downside to the YOKMO is that the nylon rope is not very thick, so it might not be suitable if you have a dog. It also does nothing to keep out insects.
Multiple sizes
Plenty of visibility
UV resistant
Easy to install
- Multiple sizes
- Plenty of visibility
- UV resistant
- Easy to install
It doesn’t keep out insects
- It doesn’t keep out insects
6. Fairy Baby Window Guards
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Size: 31.49 x 36.22 inches
Material: Finished metal
The Fairy Baby Window Guards is an extremely strong window guard that can withstand up to 150 pounds. It’s made for babies, so it’s more than suitable for any cat or dog. It’s adjustable to fit different windows, and it uses a finished metal construction to look as attractive as it is functional. It’s easy to install and portable, so you can put it in different windows to give your cat more variety.
The downside to the Fairy Baby is that it’s expensive and doesn’t do anything to prevent insects from entering your home. We also found that it dents easily, which takes away from the attractive appearance.
Adjustable
Multiple sizes
Easy to install
Portable
- Adjustable
- Multiple sizes
- Easy to install
- Portable
Dents
Expensive
Does not prevent insects from entering
- Dents
- Expensive
- Does not prevent insects from entering
7. Clear Pet Window Sill Protector
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Size: 35.5 x 5.25 inches
Material: Polypropylene
As the name suggests, the Clear Pet Window Sill Protector protects your window sill from damage if your cat spends a lot of time there. Leaping up and down can cause scratches that damage the paint or varnish, as well as the wood below. These guards use thick plastic polypropylene that will protect them. It’s extremely easy to install, and you don’t even need any tools. We were also able to trim it a bit by cutting it with a hacksaw, but they are available in a wide range of sizes, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one you don’t need to trim.
The only real downside to the Clear Pet is that it only protects the windowsill.
Multiple sizes
Extremely durable
Easy to install
- Multiple sizes
- Extremely durable
- Easy to install
Only protects the windowsill
- Only protects the windowsill
8. OCEANPAX Cat Scat Mat with Spikes Pest Deterrent Mat
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Size: 78 x 11 inches
Material: Polypropylene
The OCEANPAX Cat Scat Mat Cat Scat Mat with Spikes Prickle Strips Anti-Cats Network Digging Stopper Pest Repellent Deterrent Mat is another preventative item that helps guard your windows by keeping the cats away. This product provides you with a mat that contains soft spikes that rise up. These spikes are fairly soft and won’t hurt your cat, but most don’t like them, so they won’t walk through them. It’s easy to install and works great if you put it on any windowsills, you won’t want the cats to jump on. You can also place it outside the home to keep stray cats away.
The downside to the OCEANPAX is that it doesn’t block the window, and some cats won’t mind the spikes and ignore them.
Keeps cats away
Trimmable
Easy to install
- Keeps cats away
- Trimmable
- Easy to install
Some cats aren’t deterred
- Some cats aren’t deterred
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Cat Window Guard & Screen
Tight Screen
If the window is in your home and has no screen, you will most likely want a tight net that will help keep the bugs out. The downside to these nets is that they are usually thicker to withstand cat claws so they can prevent a lot of light from entering the area.
If your cat likes to sit on the windowsill and is damaging your current screen by stretching it out or putting holes in it, this is what you want.
Windowsill Protector
Another problem with cats that sit on the windowsill is that they can scratch it as they get up and down. Unfortunately, many older homes still have lead paint in them, so it’s a good idea to protect it with a guard so there is no damage.
Netting
If the window is on a porch or barn, you probably want to go with a wider netting. Wider netting allows more sunlight to get through, so it won’t interfere with your view if you are sitting out there, but it will also allow the insects to enter. Another small problem with netting is that some cats like to chew on wires. If you have one of these cats, there is a chance it will chew through the netting. The cat may even be able to escape if left unattended.
Fencing Rails
Fencing-style guards are a great alternative to screen or net, and you can use them indoors and out. The rails on these devices are usually metal, wood, or hard plastic, so they are quite durable and will likely last the lifetime of your pet. The downside to it is that some models can make the inside of your home look like a jail, and it doesn’t do anything to prevent insects, so you will still need a screen. Some models will also begin to rust as they age.
Deterrents
If your cat has access to a very high window, it might be a good idea to add a deterrent to keep it away. There are many different options available, from aluminum foil to sticky tape, and we have an excellent one in our reviews that uses soft spikes to deter the cat.
Conclusion
When choosing your next cat window guard or screen, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall. The DocaScreen Pet Screen is tear and scratch-resistant, so it will hold up well with aggressive cats. It doesn’t wrinkle, is available in multiple sizes, and is easy to install. Another smart choice is our pick for the best value. The PAWISE Protection Net for Cat Protection Net for Cats is a wider netting that is extremely durable, huge, and low cost. It’s perfect for porches, and you can even use it as a safety netting.
- Related article: 6 Best Cat-Proof Blinds That Are Durable Enough To Last in 2022
