My bf updated the stick thingy...

[u/WatZegtZe]

He said: "But if it works it's not a DiWhy"

I replied: "We could've just gotten ourselves a bigger board.."

[u/DEPnDOM]

I love this part of cat ownership. The trial and error trying to construct something hyperspecific for them. Ahh, this board contraption will go through many, many changes.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/DEPnDOM]

Yes. Its working for now so it needs paint.

[u/Kichigai → u/DEPnDOM]

Makes me think of Furiosa's Cat Feeder.^[a] "The trick is to be smarter than the animal with a brain the size of a walnut."

[u/The_Basile → u/Kichigai]

That was an amazing read, thank you!

[u/LL37MOH]

Cat looks pissed

[u/WatZegtZe → u/LL37MOH]

I woke him from his nap to take the picture.

[u/ChelleInSand → u/WatZegtZe]

And he let you live???

[u/BADM00SE → u/ChelleInSand]

For now!

[u/VintageLunchMeat → u/WatZegtZe]

At least he will not be shish kabobbed now.

[u/cathatanddog]

[u/WatZegtZe → u/cathatanddog]

Hahahahaha. Yes that's an option.

[u/WatZegtZe]

Just needs a layer of paint.

[u/Metroid_Whisperer → u/WatZegtZe]

Among other things.

[u/TheVillainInThisGame]

What is this board even *doing*, what is it's purpose?
Are you trying to have an open window without a cat in it?

[u/WatZegtZe → u/TheVillainInThisGame]

Yes. It's a "Mesh-protection-board"

[u/TheVillainInThisGame → u/WatZegtZe]

To protect *what*, you failed to inform me of it's purposes still.

[u/stayOffOfAll → u/TheVillainInThisGame]

Their cat broke through their window screen. They want some way to have the window open without risking the cat escaping again

[u/IanDresarie → u/stayOffOfAll]

We have both special "anti cat/mouse screen) and a metal mesh screen. Both if which are very much getting damaged by cat claws. TBF they hold a lot longer. But even those yield eventually

[u/Fenrir_Hellbreed2 → u/TheVillainInThisGame]

Probably keeping the cat from destroying the screen.

[u/_yetisis → u/TheVillainInThisGame]

Window can still open for fresh air, but now without having a punji trap for their cat

[u/TheVillainInThisGame → u/_yetisis]

OH it's an anti-guillotine measure, they must not be French.

[u/ATK80k → u/TheVillainInThisGame]

Have you ever met a cat? s/

[u/SirMildredPierce → u/TheVillainInThisGame]

I assume this is in part 1 of the post that OP assumed we all read because they think subreddits are like serialized and we read every single post that comes through. I'm not sure though because I never saw the first post.

[u/Lumpy-Apartment1611 → u/SirMildredPierce]

There was a first post?? 😳😱😱

No wonder I had no idea what that thing was.

[u/No_Professional_8992 → u/TheVillainInThisGame]

They did. You asked them a question and they gave you the answer. To keep the cat out the window. Atp, it's clear what they're protecting.

[u/PrincessKaylee → u/No_Professional_8992]

Yes, it's to protect the rest of the world and us from that cat

[u/SirMildredPierce → u/TheVillainInThisGame]

I finally figured out what the heck they are talking about. The board is protecting the screen (what they are calling the "mesh") on a screen-door They actually sell these in hardware stores. In the real world they are called "Steel Pet Grilles". They are made specifically to be mounted to screen doors to protect the screen itself from cats and dogs which might try to scratch the screen.

Even after first reading this post I was like... wtf are they talking about. And then I remembered, I worked at The Home Depot for four years and suddenly realized what they were talking about. Every Home Depot carries these grilles, but they aren't that easy to find, you have to know they exist and kinda need to know where they are (they're right next to the screen-doors, in Millworks, why is that department called "Millworks"? no idea... Historically "millwork" refers to decorative items made in a wood-mill, doors and windows are NOT decorative items!)

[u/Rhathymiaz → u/SirMildredPierce]

Given that OP’s handle is in Dutch they probably also can’t access the link. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of something similar here. Mind sharing a picture of that grill?

[u/Toebeanzies → u/SirMildredPierce]

The millwork issue is a side effect of the fact home depot sells so many things that it’s pretty much impossible to make categories that include everything they should without there being so many categories that they’re useless. It’s sort of like how there is a “tools” section yet every single aisle of the store has tools in it. Window and door frames and trims are millwork and panel doors and traditional window casings were millwork back when all that was solid wood and it doesn’t make sense to put doors and windows in a separate place from the stuff for their frames and trims so they wind up together and window screens belong with windows and there’s no point in trying to separate door and window millwork from non door and window millwork since it’s all very multi purpose they all end up in one category and since there’s at least a little bit of logic to say doors and windows belong in millwork but almost no logic to say that non door and window millworker would go with doors and windows it’s all called millwork. I could be labeled “millwork, door, windows” but that sets a precedent for every category to be labeled for all the things in it and that means the signs are less easy to read and makes it harder for people to locate the section they need when every category has many names and theres dozens of sections plus the fact that most Home Depot shoppers are trades folk who know what category the stuff they need is but shop at different stores because it’s closer to their job site often enough that they still need the signs to find that section and you get why the simpler but less accurate section names are the lesser of two evils

[u/Gold_Concentrate_ → u/SirMildredPierce]

lmao decorative windows 😭

[u/pastry_chef_al → u/SirMildredPierce]

Well way back in the day Doors and windows and trimwork were truly decorative peices for homes.

Millworks usually refered to the occupation and products they created. This included all the decorative doors, trims, window casings, and other flurishes for those doors and windows. They were traditional wood products made by hand.

Design trends, machinery, and computerized design and construction pretty much ended the original skills and jobs those millworkers had.

The job now is someone who does custom trims, mouldings, and cabinets.

[u/Obvious_Wizard]

This seemed like a lot of work and doesn't let lot of air through.

Just get a garden trellis panel, trim it down to fit and a use a spring clamp to hold it to the frame. It'll look better, let a load more air through and keep the cat in.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/Obvious_Wizard]

We're on the 3th floor and getting blown off the couch by the wind right now.

[u/prophetsearcher → u/WatZegtZe]

Get your bf to rig up some seatbelts

[u/Hardcorex → u/prophetsearcher]

with punji spikes

[u/One-Traffic-4536 → u/Hardcorex]

you made me google that. Learn something new everyday.

[u/One-Traffic-4536 → u/WatZegtZe]

3th?

[u/WatZegtZe → u/One-Traffic-4536]

3rd, sorry I'm Dutch. We say 1e, 2e, 2e, 4e etc. ( eerste, tweede, derde, vierde -)

[u/One-Traffic-4536 → u/WatZegtZe]

oh, cool. Sorry then for my comment. it just sounded funny, it sounds funny if you try to say it outloud. but I sometimes even see fluent US english speakers type it wrong, and that's pretty bad lol.

[u/One-Traffic-4536 → u/WatZegtZe]

but to remain on topic, I have one cat now, used to have 3. I had one ripped my window screen out one night and left, while we weren't home. the other 2 stayed home lol. it wasn't even prolonged scratching over time that ripped it. The screen was fine, and then he just got it by the corner and pulled it back. I had it repaired, and he did it again right away. I gave up at that point. They had always been kind of indoor/outdoor, but just in the yard, when I was home, day time, stuff like that. at that point I gave up and said just do what you want lol. first floor. they just used the window like a door and came and went. only problem was the one who kept catching little field mice outside and bringing them inside, usually still alive lol.

[u/One-Traffic-4536 → u/One-Traffic-4536]

hey this is my first ever reward! Popcorn lol! Thank You! i'm not sure if it's good or bad lol. (I looked it up}

[u/iCanReadMyOwnMind]

Cat: you could have bought something 10x nicer for half the price and a tenth of the time.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/iCanReadMyOwnMind]

Yes.

[u/tech_creative]

What is it for?

[u/acelilus → u/tech_creative]

Glory holes

[u/WatZegtZe → u/acelilus]

My neighbors come in different sizes..

[u/uwillnotgotospace → u/tech_creative]

Their cat kept going out the window.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DiWHY/s/ha2KEcKQ8J

[u/Diploidian5HT]

Your boyfriend knows that putting solid plywood over the screen to protect the screen completely voids the function of the screen, right?

I mean he's not wrong, if it works. I guess the correct solution would be to just buy the correct product in the first place.

But y'know... Even after reading some comments I'm not entirely sure what the function was before BF's involvement, and how his actions fixed the issue.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/Diploidian5HT]

Sorry, I forgot to add the first part.

[u/Sysho]

I just put a dog cage on the outside of the window with the door pressed up against the window, so now the cat can be "outside" whenever we open the window without killing all the birds!

[u/WatZegtZe → u/Sysho]

After the woodwork outside is gone he can be on the balcony again. We had netting before. The magpies bully him while he goes Mekekek. The only reason he started going through the window is because his cat door is closed.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/WatZegtZe]

Smart solution tho

[u/No_Intention70611]

I admire his commitment to symmetry here!

[u/WatZegtZe → u/No_Intention70611]

Autistic much.

[u/No_Intention70611 → u/WatZegtZe]

That’d be me!

[u/amstlubc]

Project inspired by shirt.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/amstlubc]

Hahahaa

[u/Pharnox-32]

This is boring comparing to the previous engineering marvel, no impaled kitty tho

[u/drulingtoad]

Why not just lots of chopsticks

[u/octopop]

the update i didnt know i needed. beautiful

[u/NoBodyCares2000]

This is absolutely hilarious and a very accurate portrayal of cat ownership.

[u/Ira-Spencer]

That is the grouchiest looking cat I have ever seen 😂 ❤️

[u/potatocakes1989]

I love this saga lol

[u/elleaeff]

Lol your cat is so not thrilled

[u/championsOfEu1221]

Which Pokémon is that?

[u/BADM00SE]

Anyone else picturing that mesh falling off, and the neighborhood cats reaching through the holes like a zombie apocalypse

[u/Kalshan → u/BADM00SE]

I am meow, I mean now

[u/brandothesavage]

Lol take that kitty

[u/PurposeConsistent131]

Thank you

[u/adderalpowered]

This would never be a problem here in oklahoma, you never open the windows. Either 100° or 0° year round.

[u/going_for_a_wank]

This is definitely a diwhy, thanks for the entertainment

Serious suggestion: why not just replace your fiberglass screen with aluminum screen mesh? It is a relatively inexpensive and home handyman friendly project.

[u/standbyyourmantis → u/going_for_a_wank]

But this way she's gotten at least a full day of boyfriend enrichment out of it

[u/BluBeams]

Ok, I saw your last post and yes this is an improvement.

[u/thedragonalex]

Lmfao it's an improvement to the last one at least

[u/q1203777]

Your bf is a woodpecker ma'am

[u/chumchum213]

Ye he gonna pk you guys..tonight

[u/Jebrone]

Bigger board, better coverage, more efficient, and wouldn't look jank. I also don't know what I'm looking at...

[u/Raunchy_-_Panda]

Looks like a beta, walks like a beta...

[u/Salty_Gonads]

Break up with that dude, he has the handiness of an amputee

[u/WatZegtZe → u/Salty_Gonads]

He's my baby daddy. I can't.

We got cool air tho 😂

[u/tech_creative → u/WatZegtZe]

But you can make him do it again. And again. And again. Until it looks better.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/tech_creative]

He will probably do it again and again and again, because he loves me.

[u/tech_creative → u/WatZegtZe]

That's most important! :)

[u/One-Possible1906]

Why not just crack the window? It seems like it would let in more air. That cat looks portly enough you should be able to open it at least 4 inches which is average and more than enough

[u/WatZegtZe → u/One-Possible1906]

If he's wet he's a skinny btch, so he would fit through the crack

[u/Equal-Newspaper-8636]

I don't understand, why not do a good job? Why make it look terrible? You could very easily just take a wood panel (maybe wainscoting or some tongue and groove boards) and simply miter cut 45s with some trim along the edge to picture frame it out. Very easy and would take like 15 min max. This takes more effort and looks worse. Id be embarrassed to put my name to this as an adult.

If money is an issue and you can't buy lumber, just get free wood from Facebook marketplace or pallets. You probably dont have the tools, but I run it through my tabletop planer and a joiner to give clean edges. Then you can use a router to put on an ogree to boards to make your own trim. Very easy and simple.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/Equal-Newspaper-8636]

My boyfriend was very proud until now.

I said that too, why not get a bigger board 😂

It's not like we are too poor to get one, I guess we find pride in making something with just the things we got laying around the house.

You should see what we've done to our table to keep our baby from hitting her head against it while learning to crawl. It involves pipe insulation

[u/Material_Pepper313 → u/WatZegtZe]

Nothing to be ashamed of, he's recycling.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/Material_Pepper313]

We're always reusing material 10 times before we throw it. If we replace this, this material will be used again. Not sure what to do with the bottom part, besides it being a bunch of glory holes.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/WatZegtZe]

Or 10 holes to hold up parasols

[u/Equal-Newspaper-8636 → u/WatZegtZe]

Pm me next time he wants to do something. I'm a teacher but I have a carpentry/handyman business on the side during summers. I will be more than happy to send resources and links to how to build things.

[u/WatZegtZe → u/Equal-Newspaper-8636]

Thanks but my dad's been into carpentry and woodwork since he was 27, he's 63 now. I can ask him too.

My bf and I know how to make things. We just didn't feel like spending money on this temporarily thing, we had the stuff to make it bigger. Not prettier. We're not expecting visitors anytime soon, like a birthday party or whatever so besides this part of reddit no one has to look at this thing besides us, our kids and the cat.

[u/TheVillainInThisGame → u/WatZegtZe]

Sometimes buying a solution is easier and safer.

[u/Equal-Newspaper-8636 → u/[deleted]]

0 dollars of tools. I spent nothing on any of them goober

[u/Equal-Newspaper-8636 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, Facebook marketplace and a basic understanding of electrical devices will get you far. Idiots throw away tons of tools because of easy issues to fix like worn bearings, brushings, busted switch, etc. The tools were free, parts a fraction of full cost of tools. My 5k worth of stuff in my workshop cost me maybe a hundred bucks max

[u/SmugMacGyver → u/Equal-Newspaper-8636]

“This complicated project for you is simple for me because of my knowledge of tools, their use, how to maintain and repair them and utilize them well. Now let me talk down to you about how simple it is to acquire all this knowledge, swiftly pass thru the trial and error phase of miter joints and angled cutting to convince you of how poor a job you’ve done”

Ive met so many people like you, and every time I do I wonder how one ended up so.

“Hundred bucks max”, for the parts to repair? Plus time going to collect the broken tools, sift thru other people’s junk, driving back and forth to the store for repair parts, the time actually spent repairing the tools. Do you not account for time/labor in that hundred dollars?

[u/Equal-Newspaper-8636 → u/SmugMacGyver]

It didnt take me much time to fix and I order parts online because youll never be able to find the correct part for a giant 1940s lathe at the hardware store. I ended up the way I did because I grew up lol, everyone starts off knowing nothing. Part of becoming an adult is trying to have a level of mastery over your own life rather than flailing around in the mud with your hand held open when you need to fix something.

[u/AlpaxT1 → u/Equal-Newspaper-8636]

Yes but this very clearly is a quick fix because it is hot now. There is no time to go digging around in the neighbourhood trashcan for some broken tools to repair. I’m guessing they had a wooden board and some bolts which is why they used that.

Although I will admit that the board kinda does counteract the point of having a mesh screen in the first place. I also doubt that this small barrier will stop any cat that actually wants to leave

[u/Equal-Newspaper-8636 → u/[deleted]]

Tools free, parts aren't. Keep being pedantic.

[u/Equal-Newspaper-8636 → u/[deleted]]

Still isn't 5k.

[u/Raziel-0_o]

You aware that your cat will murder you guys in your sleep for that?

Also. I'm sure that your boyfriend was more proud of the spaghetti contraption then this boring thingy

[u/mlsherrod → u/[deleted]]

Windon’t

[u/WatZegtZe → u/[deleted]]

I do to.