Pet-Safe Glass & Window Solutions for Dog and Cat Owners

Pets and windows do not always get along. Dogs scratch at door glass trying to get outside. Cats push through window screens chasing birds. Large dogs crash through screen doors. And energetic pets of all types can accidentally break glass during play.

These are among the most common service calls we receive from DMV pet owners. The good news is that there are effective, affordable solutions for every pet-related glass and window problem.

Standard fiberglass window screens are no match for pet claws. A single swipe from a determined cat or dog tears standard screen material easily. Pet-resistant screen mesh (often called pet screen or pet-proof screen) is made from vinyl-coated polyester that is 7 times stronger than standard fiberglass.

Pet screen resists tearing from claws, pushing, and leaning. It is available for all window and door screen sizes and installs in the same frames as standard screen. The material is slightly thicker but still allows good airflow and visibility.

For sliding door screens, heavy-duty pet screen combined with a reinforced frame prevents dogs from pushing through. This is one of our most requested services for DMV homes with patio access.

Tempered glass is the minimum recommendation for any door glass accessible to large dogs. If a dog jumps against a tempered glass door, it is much less likely to break than standard glass. If it does break, it shatters into small, rounded pieces rather than dangerous shards.

Laminated glass is even safer — it stays in the frame when broken, preventing pets from escaping through a broken door and preventing glass shards from injuring them. Laminated glass is our top recommendation for homes with large, active dogs.

For pet doors installed in glass panels, the surrounding glass must be tempered for safety. We install pet doors in existing glass doors and windows, cutting the glass on-site and framing the pet door opening with proper seals.

Dogs that scratch at glass doors leave visible scratch marks over time. Light scratches on glass can sometimes be polished out with cerium oxide compound, but deep scratches require glass replacement.

Applying a sacrificial film to the lower portion of glass doors protects the glass from scratches. When the film gets scratched, it is replaced inexpensively instead of the glass. This is an effective, affordable solution for persistent scratchers.

Training combined with physical solutions gives the best results. A pet door that lets the dog go in and out independently eliminates the motivation to scratch at the glass.