Most RV screen doors weren’t designed to protect your pets. Moreover, they weren’t designed to be compatible with paws and claws! Dogs and cats can damage or break through most existing screens. Fortunately, an RV pet screen door protector can ensure your pet’s safety while also protecting the screen.
In this post, we’re looking at RV screen door protectors to preserve your RV’s entry screen door while keeping Fido and Fluffy safe.
That’s important, so let’s get right to it!
How Do You Protect a Screen Door From a Pet?
This just might be an age-old question!
Cats have sharp claws and can easily damage a door screen. Dogs, even small ones, have a tendency to jump up on door screens when they’re excited. Pets are not only capable of tearing screens but also of completely breaking through them. This could mean an excited pet jumps right through the damaged screen and out of your RV.

Pets can not only damage RV screen doors but can also endanger themselves in the process. It doesn’t take much to paw through a typical screen. For this reason, RV pet screen door protectors can be an important RV upgrade.
There are several ways to protect a screen door from a pet (and a pet from breaking through a screen door)! Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways to protect your pets AND your RV entry door.
Lippert Screen Defender Kit
Lippert is a well-known name in the transportation industry, the RV industry included. In fact, many (if not most) RVs have a Lippert screen door. Inspired by RV owners, Lippert’s Screen Defender is quite popular with RVers.
The screen is made of solid powder-coated aluminum, the same quality material as the Lippert entry door frame. Screen Defender is available in four sizes – 24, 26, 28, or 30 inches.
Installation is an easy DIY project requiring little time. The Screen Defender installs directly into the channels of your RV screen door. No hardware or additional material is required. Once installed, there’s no restriction of air flow, only a restriction of paw prints and screen damage.
A couple of important notes:
First, you must have a Lippert RV screen door for this product to work.
Second, most of the poor reviews of the product seem to focus on poor fit. Some reviewers note that Lippert’s Screen Defenders don’t even fit all Lippert RV screen doors well. This may be due to the age of the RV, measuring issues, or simply to an ill-fitting product.
Our suggestion would be to read the reviews carefully. You’ll also want to read measuring instructions very carefully. And finally, you may even want to call Lippert to make sure the product will work with your rig’s screen door.
While this is a very popular RV get screen door protector, it won’t work for every RV.
- DURABILITY - The solid aluminum screen is constructed with the same, reliable materials as the Lippert entry door frame
- ADDED PROTECTION - This is an easy solution to keeping your pets safely inside your RV and it helps protect your Lippert entry door from damage...
Camco RV Screen Door Grille
Along similar lines, Camco offers a standard mesh grille to protect your RV’s screen door.
Made of anodized aluminum, this adjustable screen door protector fits doors from 20″ to 29″ wide. We’ll note that some reviewers stated that the screen was too narrow for their RV screen door, leaving a couple of unprotected inches on either side. Still, they found it to be sufficiently protective and capable of keeping their dogs from pushing through their RV screen door.
With that said, dissatisfied buyers of Camco’s RV pet screen door protectors tend to note that the screening was too flimsy for their pet. Reading the reviews thoroughly, this seemed to be a matter of doggie determination! One RV owner noted that this screen protector keeps her Pit Bull from pushing through. Other RV owners with smaller dogs such as Corgis and Shih Tzus noted that their pups tore right through it as soon as they were left alone.
So, we’d suggest considering the personality of your pup in conjunction with your consideration of this product.
- Helps Protect Your RV Screen Door: Adds a sturdy feel to your RV door and saves repairs to screens
- Provides Extra Security: Helps stop children and pets from pushing through the screen
Other Screen Grilles
There are many other screen grilles on the market and they work in a similar fashion to the two detailed above. The key is to make sure the grille will fit your RV screen door, and that it’s made from a sturdy enough material to keep your pet from chewing or pawing through it.
Some RV screen doors are wider than others. If you’ve got a wider screen door, any of the following may be appropriate. Be sure to note the color of the products you’re considering as well.
- White
- Heavy-duty steel
What Can I Do If My Dog Breaks Through Screen Grilles?
Non-screen grilles are RV pet screen door protectors that have a more decorative appearance rather than a screen or mesh design. These are intended to keep your pet from being able to reach the screen.
Note the grille design to be sure air flow isn’t restricted.
Camco Adjustable Screen Door Deluxe Grille
This Camco RV screen door grille is a good example of a non-screen grille. Made of aluminum, it adjusts from 20″ to 32″ to fit a variety of RV screen doors and comes in three colors.
Hardware is included and installation is noted by reviewers to be an easy DIY project.
- Adds a sturdy feel to the RV door and saves repairs to screens.
- Adjusts from 20" to 32"
Pet Proof Window Screen Replacement
Some RVers choose to simply upgrade the screening on their RV screen doors and find that this is sufficient to keep their pets safe and unable to claw or chew through the typical RV screen door.
Kits are available that allow you to upgrade an already-torn screen, or one that needs a heavy-duty upgrade. This option may be more appropriate for cats and smaller dogs, but be sure to opt for high-grade screening that’s capable of holding Rover & Felix at bay.
This screening gets many positive reviews and recommendations and is made of thick fiberglass mesh.
- 【Heavy Duty Pet Window Screen】:The upgraded screen mesh is specially designed for pets, thicker and more durable than regular fiberglass screen...
- 【Window Screen Mesh Function】Thick charcoal black mesh prevents pets from biting and tearing, but it has good visibility, good circulation of...
Note that if you opt for screen replacement with a heavier duty screen, you may also want to purchase spline and a screen rolling tool.
- 0. 125 inch x 100 foot
- Secures screen into frame channel
- ⭐【QUALITY MATERIALS】- Solid wood handle + double carbon steel bearing metal wheels, heavy beech wood handles are hard and crack-free, thickened...
- ⭐【SCREEN TOOLS SET】- The screen rolling tool has two different wheels, cams and recessed rollers, which can help you get the job done better and...
How Do You Protect Your RV Screen Door From Pets?
Have you found a method that works well to keep your pets from damaging your RV door screen? We’d love to hear about it. Be sure to let us know about your pet, including breed, weight, personality, and name!
RVers who travel with pets will want to also have a look at our posts on RV pet monitors, RV pet fences, and RV dog ramps.
Geek Out with Us Every Week
Join our newsletter to learn about all things RV-related. Every week we offer free tips, tricks, product reviews, and more to our online community of RVers. So, whether this is your first time on the road or you’re a seasoned expert, we’d love for you to geek out with us!
Carol H
Saturday 22nd of July 2023
Plexiglass. For many dogs that see a cat or a squirrel through a screen door, there’s not a mesh made that will hold them.
Jimmy Edwards
Tuesday 23rd of August 2022
Thinking of sealing the roof on my tag a long camper. Fla. sun is brutal on roofs. What would you recommend to seal a TPO/ECDM roof.
TheRVgeeks
Tuesday 23rd of August 2022
Hi Jimmy. If you’re thinking of completely re-coating the roof to seal everything and provide a fresh, new, clean surface, check out our post on the topic: 5 Best RV Roof Coating Products
If you just want to seal up any cracks in existing sealants, then we have this article: Preventing RV Roof Leaks (Dicor Maintenance)
And, finally, if you have any holes in your existing TPO/EPDM roof material that need to be repaired, check out this one: RV Roof Repair: How To Fix Holes in an RV Roof
Hope that helps!
Not So Free
Saturday 23rd of July 2022
These are good ideas even if you don't travel with pets. (We don't) Clumsy people can also take out a screen. LOL
Gay Travel Enthusiast (Jason)
Saturday 23rd of July 2022
Do Peter and John have any animals of their own? Any cats or dogs?
TheRVgeeks
Sunday 24th of July 2022
No... we don't. Peter had pets as a kid, and we both would love to have another pet some day.But with our (often international) travel schedule, we don't think it would be fair.
Jay Stump
Saturday 23rd of July 2022
We have Italian Greyhound about 12lbs her name is Cocoa we used piece of plexiglass can see thru it and she can not get her paws caught in the grill type protector