[ospunkyo]

I need a way to block off a portion of my house - from the middle of a hallway back - to keep my cats safely contained, but floor to ceiling gates for cats don't seem to exist. Any thoughts? Here are more details...

I have two cats and an upcoming wedding that will take place at my home. Because we've only recently bought this house, many of the guests at the wedding will want to come in to see the place, PLUS, we will have several vendors who will need to access the inside. The cats are not allowed outside.

My fear is that one - or both - of the cats will slip out, unnoticed, when someone (vendor, child, me in my big dress, etc...) comes in or out. Also, of the two doors that would be used, one doesn't shut without you pulling/pushing it, and the other is a slider, so the chances of a cat escape are high.

I don't want to shut them both in one room for the entire day - my little cat needs her "safety" spot in the bedroom, and they both need access to the food and litter boxes in the room next door.

Has anyone seen anything that could work? Any kind of gate or any ideas on what I could rig up for the day so I won't be stressing about my cats?

Any thoughts are appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[Aonir]

Have you ever thought of moving the kitties stuff into the one room, so the other room will not be needed?

Anyway, do you have a friend 'NOT' attending the wedding? Silly question, I know... There are petsitting services also, but I really don't like doing things like that, unless I'm the petsitter lol.

What you 'could' do is nail a blanket up in the hallway, and have the bottom of the blanket and the sides secured with nails/bricks. Of course if they get desparate, they'll tear right through it :shock:

When we did that to keep cold air in just one room, the animals didn't figure it out for a while

 

[ospunkyo]

I like this blanket idea - although the cat I'm most concerned about has this idea that getting his claws stuck in things - window screens, curtains, door knobs, etc. - will get him his way because we'll feel all bad for him. I'd hate to think that he might be on one side crying and crying with a claw caught in a blanket while we are all outside eating cake.

So, the idea of moving some food and a litter box into the "safety" room is actually a really, really good solution - I must have one too many things on my mind to have thought of this.

Ooh, and I could keep the wandering people away from the room with a little gate set up in the hallway!

Thank you for the very good thoughts!

 

[AngelZoo]

Well I think putting them in one room, best to be the largest room you have, with all of there food/water/litter in there is the best way to go. I"ve had to do this several times for different occasions.

Another option is that some people have stacked baby gates on top of eachother, with a cat you would probably want to use 3 of them.
However that's no garuntee the cats wont try and climb out haha.

 

[Lori]

I too vote for putting the cats in a room with food, water and litter box. I would also put a sign on the door, something to the extent that your cats are in the room and please by careful not to let them out if you open the door. I would think some of your guests might like to see the kitties, I would. Hopefully everyone will be respectful and careful so your cats are safe.

 

[Richo]

You could purchase a cheap 4 X 8 sheet of paneling, about $10-15 at a home center. Cut it to size if need be and use it to block off a doorway. Just a thought.

 

[tanyuh]

I agree with Lori. Once you put them in that room, put a sign on the door. You should put on the sign that if people want to see the cats, they have to find the designated-let-cats-visit-person and designate someone or some people to "guard" that room. That way you know they will stay in there and if the designated people know your cats and their "tricks" for getting out of the room, they will be better able to keep them inside. Just don't make that person you! You will be having too much fun! Congratulations on your wedding, I hope it is a fun day!