"No1" wrote in message
...

My parents are not "cat people" and would prefer that the cats stay in the
basement with us. We have no issues with that, but we are trying to
figure
out the best way to keep them there. My thought is to try and have some
"two door" system...meaning they would have to get past two doors to get
upstairs. I thought of this because I know how they get sometimes when in
a
smaller room and bolt past when a door is opened. They did have a door at
the top of the stairs that was removed while remodeling. I believe the
door
will be going back on. So our thought is to find or construct something
to
put at the bottom of the stairs that we could easily move...something
w/wheels perhaps? The stairs have walls on both sides, so I guess you
could
say it's less of a basement and more of a "lower level" of what would be a
two level house.

Any thoughts? Please, please do not flame or ask us to get rid of the
pets.
We are just trying to find a happy compromise.


What about using a baby-gate at the bottom of the stairs? If using a
baby-gate, I would probably put it a step or two up from the bottom step,
since it seems it would be harder for a cat to jump over the gate that way.
Or you might consider a bi-fold closet door--the type that accordian when
you open them, but you wouldn't be able to move that one.

If you don't already have plans to, you might also want to consider getting
harnesses and leashes for your cats so you can take them outside sometimes.
Just carry them upstairs so they don't get used to climbing up and down
themselves (so they don't think it's "OK" to do so). Cats need fresh air
sometimes, too :-).

rona



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