Opening windows with indoor cats?

[GriseldaChop]

We adopted a gorgeous girl at the end of February and she is an indoor cat. I’m a first time cat owner, so maybe overthinking things but….now the weather is getting warm I’m desperate to open bedroom windows but am worried about her getting out!
Would it be a good idea to get some of the net/screens I've seen advertised and if so any recommendations? Same thing for patio doors, I used to love having the doors open onto the garden and have seen screens for them too, do they work and is it worth getting the expensive hinged ones?

You can get catches for the windows I have ones fitted by the manufacturers upstairs but downstairs I have sticky pad ones

https://amzn.eu/d/2L0HgvR

Like this

We have these:

www.streme.co.uk/product/window-pet-screen-framed-made-to-measure?srsltid=AfmBOoo7lY-1-QvlwBbYOYWvy06M0ffNOLa4Iqp0_QqxAklyEXhC6uA0

There's also:

flatcats.co.uk/

Definitely do all you can to keep puss indoors and safe or invest in a catio.

I'm incredibly allergic to cats and I have two local ones that squeeze through my open windows, roll on my bed or my settee. I've been hospitalised before from my allergy.

Today, I had my back door open and something caught my eye. One of the cats strolling around in my kitchen! It also caught the eye of my dog who took off after it when they locked eyes. Cat was much quicker and shot down my garden and hopped over the gate I have dividing the rear part of my garden that dog doesn't have access to.

I'm hoping cat has now got the message but I don't know what would happen if my dog had caught up with it.

I use Flatcats on my windows. Attach by velcro so can be easily opened when you want to open/close the window. When I first got them & opened the windows behind, Girlcat (at 4.5kg at the time) climbed up the screen out of curiosity & it didn't shift a mm. Have the added bonuses of letting breezes in, but keep most insects out.

They come in standard sizes, but will do you made to measure as well.

We only open the little top.ones properly because ours can't reach/jump up
The wider/lower ones we "open close" so they are open a crack but the handle is down so they can't open anymore. She loves sitting with her nose right I n the gap sniffing 😻
DD's opens hers a crack and the cat loves lying on the windowsill in the drAft when it's warm

I have the flatcats screens too

Flat cat screens! Absolutely brilliant. I have them for my indoor girl.

I’ve got a voucher code for a discount. Remind me and I’ll dig it out when I get home!

Flat Cat screens!! As mentioned already above.
Super helpful advice re measuring via email - they reply even on weekend evenings.
Saved our sanity with our twin boys 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

We have these. They are really well made and come in standard sizes or made to measure. You can have your windows open as wide as you want and the little rascals won’t get out.
Great for keeping flies and mosquitoes out too.

Thanks for all the recommendations! I’m going to get shopping so we can enjoy a breeze when it warms up again!

I have similar to Flatcats but homemade. You can buy the silicon mesh from Amazon as well as the velcro

If you do your own you will need stick on velcro for the window and sew on for the net

I made a flat cats style panel for our bathroom window with the offcuts from our Streme kit that DP used to make screens for the bedroom windows (they do made to measure or sell the materials to DIY if you're competent).

However I found it really hard to sew, the needle kept getting clogged up with the silicone.

If we hadn't already had enough leftover to make it, I would have bought the made to measure from Flat Cats.

I have stick-on window limiters for my indoor girly. She has no sense of danger so can’t be let out alone, but enjoys fresh air and sunshine. We catproofed the garden (at great expense!) and she ripped her paw pad off trying to climb the mesh on the first day, so she doesn’t go outside without direct supervision now!

I have flat cats but stayed with family who have streme for flys not pets but oh my god I’m having them next time instead of flat cats

Spraying Siliglide or even Mr Sheen can help with sewing the silicon mesh

We have these on all our windows- easy to install and cheaper than flatcats https://amzn.eu/d/jkByPhF

I still open windows with my indoor cats. I make sure the handles go downwards. They've never attempted to escape