How to Check Whether Your Existing Cat Mesh Is Still Safe

Note when the mesh was installed, who installed it and whether any repairs or alterations have been made since then. If the age, material or installation method is unknown, treat that uncertainty as a reason for closer inspection rather than assuming the system is still suitable.

Also consider how the opening is used. A frequently operated window, a weather-exposed service yard or an area your cat visits often may deserve more regular attention than a rarely used opening.

Inspect the entire surface in good light. Do not check only the centre: damage can develop near corners, handles, seams or points that are touched regularly.

Look for tears, holes, fraying, stretched areas or material that no longer sits as it normally did. A small visible defect should not be ignored simply because the surrounding mesh still appears intact.

The mesh should not appear unexpectedly loose, bowed or separated from the surrounding system. Compare all sides and corners, and look for changes in tension or alignment.

Do not perform a force test or push heavily against the mesh. A visual check and normal operation are safer ways to identify obvious changes. If the system moves, rattles or flexes differently from before, arrange a professional inspection.

The surrounding frame and attachment points matter as much as the mesh itself. Follow the perimeter and check whether the material remains properly held along every edge.

Open, close and lock the window or mesh system only as it is normally intended to operate. Watch for sticking, scraping, misalignment or a lock that no longer engages correctly.

Daily usability is part of the inspection. A system that is difficult to operate may be left unsecured, handled with excessive force or used differently by members of the household.

The condition of the mesh is only one part of the risk. Check whether furniture, shelves, cat trees or household changes now give your cat easier access to the opening than when the system was installed.

Pay particular attention if your cat climbs, investigates ledges, pushes at barriers or spends time near the opening without direct supervision. A change in the cat or household routine can change which area needs attention first.

If you find a tear, hole, significant sagging, rust, a loose fixing, frame damage or an edge gap, prevent your cat from accessing the opening until the condition has been professionally assessed. Do not rely on tape, cable ties or another temporary household repair as a confirmed safety solution.

Photograph the full opening, the affected area and the surrounding frame before contacting PurrSafe. These images can begin the conversation, although an on-site visit and proper measurement may still be required before a recommendation or quotation is confirmed.