Give Your Pets a Safe Outdoor Space with Pet-Friendly Screens
All pet owners want the best for their furry friends. We want them to be healthy, happy, and safe. But keeping pets indoors all the time isn’t ideal either—dogs and cats need fresh air and outdoor activity for physical and mental enrichment. The good news is you can give your pets safe access to the outdoors without worrying about them escaping or encountering dangers. Installing pet-friendly screens is a secure way to let your dogs and cats enjoy being outside while still protecting them.
In this guide, we’ll explain the benefits of giving your pets an outdoor space, discuss potential outdoor hazards they may face, and provide tips for selecting and installing pet-friendly screening that will keep them safely contained. With the right screens in place, you can feel confident letting Fido and Fluffy enjoy the great outdoors while staying within safe boundaries.
The Benefits of Outdoor Access for Pets
There are many reasons beyond just bathroom breaks why outdoor play is important for pets:
Exercise - Dogs in particular need ample physical activity each day to stay healthy and burn off excess energy. Having a screened porch or yard allows them room to run, jump, and play. This helps prevent weight gain, behavioral issues, and certain diseases.
Mental stimulation - Just like humans, pets can experience boredom, anxiety, and stress when cooped up indoors all the time without opportunity to explore their environment. Being outdoors provides cognitive stimulation that benefits their mental well-being.
Socialization - If you have multiple pets, an outdoor space lets them interact and play together under your supervision. This helps with bonding and social skills. Outdoor access is also a safe way for shy dogs to gradually get used to sights, sounds, and activities in your yard.
Environmental interest - There’s a whole new world for pets to discover outside through smells, sights, sounds, textures, and more. Exploring this environment exercises their natural instincts in a controlled setting.
Fresh air - Simply being able to smell the fresh air, feel breezes, and experience natural light is invigorating for pets. It promotes better respiratory health than being cooped up inside only.
So in summary, outdoor access provides holistic mental, physical, and social benefits if done safely with appropriate containment. But outdoor spaces can also present some dangers that screening protects against.
Outdoor Hazards to Consider
While dogs and cats have natural protective measures like coats, claws, speed, and senses, there are still outdoor risks they may face without barrier containment:
Traffic/roads - Even pets confined to a fenced yard can be at risk from vehicle traffic near the property if they are able to climb or dig under fences.
Predators - Neighborhood cats, stray dogs, coyotes, and other wildlife may prey on small pets left unprotected outside. Even well-socialized neighborhood dogs can fight if allowed to interact unrestrained.
Environmental dangers - Outside there are increased risks of exposure to parasites, toxic plants or chemicals, biting/stinging insects, and extreme weather conditions like extreme heat or cold without shelter.
Escape risk - Cats in particular are adept escape artists and may flee from outdoor spaces if not properly contained. Even some breeds of dogs dig or jump fences when stimulated.
Strangers/neighbors - While most neighbors mean no harm, unfamiliar children, adults, or other animals coming onto your property could stress pets or potentially cause injury if contact is made without containment barriers.
With appropriate pet-safe screening, these hazards can be avoided or mitigated so pets can safely enjoy fresh air without putting themselves at risk. Screens also prevent pets from roaming neighborhoods, potentially frightening others, or being hurt or stolen if they escape. Selecting the right screening material and installation is key.
Choosing Pet-Friendly Screening Materials
When picking out screening for an outdoor pet enclosure, there are a few important factors to consider regarding the material:
Strength - The screening must be durable enough that pets cannot chew, claw, paw, or break through it. Look for materials rated for pet containment.
Easy cleaning - Messy pets may scratch or get organic debris on screens. Select a material that wipes clean easily and won’t degrade in wet/dirty conditions over time.
Viewability - Pets may feel stressed if they can’t see out of an enclosure. Choose a transparent screening material that allows visibility.
Safety - Avoid materials with sharp edges or toxic coatings that could injure pets. Make sure any coating is stable and non-hazardous.
Weather resistance - Outside conditions like sun, rain, snow and high/low temperatures may degrade some materials quicker. Look for screening rated for outdoor use.
Aesthetics - While functionality is most important, consider how the screens will look integrated with your home’s design. Options include traditional wire or vinyl-coated materials.
Some of the best options to consider for pet screening include plastic-coated or vinyl-coated chain link fencing, acrylic panels or windows, heavier-duty aluminum window screening, and fiberglass screening. With any material, inquire about maximum load ratings.
Screen Installation Tips
Once you’ve selected the proper pet-safe screening material, it’s time to install it securely. Here are some tips:
Measure accurately - Careful measuring ensures an exact fitting and proper support. Measure twice before cutting to size.
Seal edges - Use quality caulk or weatherstripping adhesive tape along screen edges to prevent chewing or escape.
Support properly - Provide strong attaching points back to your house structure, such as wood framing, using heavy-duty hardware rated for weight load.
Address floors too - Bury screening material a few inches in a trench around the perimeter and seal to prevent digging escape.
Attach frames securely - Use corrosion-resistant fasteners for frames and overlapping pieces. Consider frame reinforcement with diagonal bracing if screening a large area.
Provide access/ventilation - Include pet doors or operable screened windows for airflow, but install hardware too high for escape attempts.
Test rigorously - Put your full body weight against newly installed screens and check for any flexing before trusting a finished enclosure.
With diligent measuring, secure installation using appropriate hardware, and thorough testing afterwards, you can install screening that contains pets safely for many years of use. Be sure to follow all local building codes as well.
Example Pet-Friendly Screened Areas
Here are some common pet-safe screened areas you can create:
Backyard dog run - Fence off a portion of your yard with screening and provide shade, water, toys. For small yards, consider an above-ground run.
Enclosed porch - Install screening around an existing porch roof overhang or patio cover to keep pets there when home.
Catio addition - Build an outdoor “catio” enclosure off your house connected by a pet door for indoor/outdoor access.
Pool enclosure - Screen off a portion of your fenced pool area so pets can enjoy the view and outdoors without direct access to water.
Garden pen - Section off a fenced area next to garden beds so pets can safely sniff around plants and watch garden activities.
Play yard - Designate a portable wire panel pen or pop-up play space screened for pet outdoor playtime when entertaining guests.
With some basic screening and structure, you can easily customize safe outdoor spaces for your specific property needs and pet preferences. Remember to provide basics like shade, water, toys, and shelter as needed too.
Pet-Friendly Screening Makes a Difference
Giving pets access to outdoor areas, especially in warm weather climates or when owners spend time outside, helps keep them active, engaged and provide opportunities for toilet training, play and companionship with their humans. But providing proper screening containment is key to letting pets reap all the benefits of outdoor access while keeping them safe from hazards and preventing escapes.
A conscientious owner can thoughtfully install pet-safe screening materials to safely enclose porches, patios, pools, yards or garden spaces for pet use. With diligent measurements, secure installation using industrial strength fixtures, and rigorous testing, these screened enclosures can give pets years of worry-free outdoor enrichment. And happy, healthy pets make for happy owners too! With some planning and effort upfront, pet-friendly screens are a worthwhile investment to balance giving pets the great outdoors and peace of mind for protection.
