[Godsbiggerplan721]

Because I'm like queen of planning I know we are going to have to block off access to litter boxes from little ones.

Currently our litter boxes are in the basement, and we just leave the basement door wide open at all times--which is obviously a safety hazard to children.

So do we put a baby gate at the top of steps, with like a 6 inch gap under it--or put a hole in the basement door? We rent so to do the hole in door option we'd have to remove said door and put a new one with a cut hole, and when we leave here put old door without hole back on.

Leslie

[DancinBear63]

We're not parents yet, but we have 3 cats and a similar setup (food and litter boxes in the basement). We purchased a catdoor, and although we'll have to modify the door to accommodate it, we hope this will be a safer solution than the gate. I've seen some very crafty toddlers slide under gates that were slightly raised for pets.
We haven't installed the catdoor yet, but we think the cats will use it- they'll have to if they ever want to eat again.

[stinky_kitty]

When our daughter was a baby we put a small cat door in the door to our laundry room where the litter box was. At the time we were living in base housing and we had to replace the door when we moved out, but it didn't cost very much. Good luck!

[Godsbiggerplan721]

Thanks for the thoughts!

I fear our one cat may sit outside the hole and hold the other cat hostage in the basement--perhaps meowmy will have to have alittle talk with him before we install the hole and explain why we need the hole and why we can't hold our "brother" hostage in the basement!

Leslie

[onhazier]

We have a cat door into our laundry room where the cat's food and litter is. Replacing the door is super easy. You should be able to get a standard size door. The pins in the hinges slide out of the top. Out goes the old door. In goes the new. It is definitely a lot easier than the baby gate. BTW, your cats will be able to either climb the baby gate or jump it. No need to have it 6 inches off the floor.

[RobinKay]

Originally Posted by Godsbiggerplan721

Because I'm like queen of planning I know we are going to have to block off access to litter boxes from little ones.

Currently our litter boxes are in the basement, and we just leave the basement door wide open at all times--which is obviously a safety hazard to children.

So do we put a baby gate at the top of steps, with like a 6 inch gap under it--or put a hole in the basement door? We rent so to do the hole in door option we'd have to remove said door and put a new one with a cut hole, and when we leave here put old door without hole back on.

Leslie

How nice you care about this.

In our ds foster home, the litter box was right in the living room--literally the first thing you saw as you walk in. The smell of cat urine made my eyes water, even though the sliding glass doors were wide open and all windows.

I am a cat lover and had two Siamese girls for 14 yrs--they slept on my bed (OK, pillow!). Lots my kitties, and now we have a border collie.

[Godsbiggerplan721]

I'll admit that in our apartment the box was in the bathroom which drove me crazy, but it was the only option--only place with a tile floor besides the kitchen.

It is definitely a big concern that everyone fur and skin coexist well. Our cats are our first kids and I know a transition to having babies here is going to be a slight struggle for them--so I'm planning ahead.

Leslie

[RobinKay]

Originally Posted by Godsbiggerplan721

I'll admit that in our apartment the box was in the bathroom which drove me crazy, but it was the only option--only place with a tile floor besides the kitchen.

It is definitely a big concern that everyone fur and skin coexist well. Our cats are our first kids and I know a transition to having babies here is going to be a slight struggle for them--so I'm planning ahead.

Leslie

My bathroom is where the box was--easy to keep clean, kept a little brush and dustpan in the closet for stay bits of litter. No guests ever saw it or were aware of odor.