Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 08, 2025 ...

"Escape proofing" my GV windows

September 30, 2023, 09:13:21 am

Seems our seven month old 10# kitten is an escape artist. Last Tuesday night she managed to open the sliding screen in the bedroom of our coach.
Per the DW's request, this last summer I replaced all the 34 year old screen material with the stronger "Pet Proof" screening material. I thought that as long as I had the screens and plastic tracks out I would clean 34 years of accumulated dirt and debris. So I cleaned and lubricated the tracks with dry silicone spray and they slide very easily. Seems TOO Easily for this kitten!
By trying to climb up the screen she managed to make it slide open. So, at 10 PM, in a mostly deserted RV CG, about four miles back in the woods, she jumped out a window about 6' off the ground, and went looking for chipmunks in the rain. NOPE!  NONE!!
Midnight--Mom discovers escape artist Zippy is gone out the window. Panic ensues. I am woken and told the problem. The DW goes to the door, opens it and calls:"Zippy! Zippy!" I noticed something flash by her feet, coming inside. It was Zippy!

OK, here is what I did to stop this Houdini cat: We went and bought three 48" long 5/16" diameter wood dowels. Cut them into 24" lengths and pushed them down into the plastic guides for the screens. The ends, away from the screens, stick up or out enough that the dowel can be pulled out and the screen slid open.
So, if you have screens that, for some reason, do not stay in place, do the dowel thing.
I didn't measure the glass guides, but I think 1/4" diameter dowels would work. But I would put a "lift tab" near the end (made from tape) so the dowel could be easily removed.

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Re: "Escape proofing" my GV windows

Reply #1 – September 30, 2023, 03:28:22 pm

If Zippy wants out bad enough, the screening material "Pet Proof" claim may be tested. 

Our experience with cats is limited, but I've been around a few.  If a cat decides it wants to do something, they can be VERY persistent.

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Re: "Escape proofing" my GV windows

Reply #2 – September 30, 2023, 03:40:32 pm

Zippy has tried several times since her first escape and with zero success.
Although she will bolt out the door if we aren't careful.
She actually will put her front feet on the screen door cross bar and reach down and it looks like she is trying to slide the little access door open. She will then get up on her hind legs and tug on her harness that hangs next to the door, as if she is saying that we should take her out. She knows she isn't supposed to be out without her "clothes" on.

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Re: "Escape proofing" my GV windows

Reply #3 – October 01, 2023, 11:30:57 am

I swear cats are just different. I read years ago about a cats diary. Something like day 712 of captivity and have noticed a new weak link in the behavior of my captures. Will plan the next escape attempt on Thursday during the full moon.      Our last cat was quite happy on a leash. Our Shiba escaped last week and was caught by the neighbor hunting in his cactus thirty minutes later. He told my wife to be quiet he was photographing a coyote. Should have shot her instead.  We pulled at least 2000 cactus quills out of her over the next couple of hours and every time she comes for a pet im still finding  more.

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Re: "Escape proofing" my GV windows

Reply #4 – October 02, 2023, 12:29:00 am

We have two cats, and the worst part is the feeling that they are laughing at us when they do things they shouldn't.

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Re: "Escape proofing" my GV windows

Reply #5 – October 09, 2023, 10:55:53 am

Been out camping again. Boy, has Zippy tested my improvised escape proofing our window screens!! Saw her climbing up the bedroom screen on my side of the bed about four times! She muttered under her breath after each try, as if she were saying that she'd get out NEXT TIME!
When outside she climbed up on her stroller that we had parked under the bedroom window and awning to keep it dry. She then stood up on her hind legs and tried to reach the window. This little stinker (10# is little??) remembers her 10PM escape in the rain and wanting back in.
She always seem to know where the coach and the entry door are whenever she gets startled or scared. She will race to the door and want in, even if we are out with her.
She has gotten out thru the little slide panel opening on the screen door but stays by the coach.

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