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I should have stopped and formally evaluated it before I opened my mouth. ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dormouse_in_tea asked for photos to look at, and I went to take some just now. And was struck by three things:
1) It's wider than I thought, at the narrowest point. That will make the baby-gate solution very, very hard.
2) It's deeper than I gave it credit for.
3) It does NOT go clear to the ceiling, there is an area of it that is only one story high and then it opens up.
Which means that a baby-gate solution may not work (unless they make those very wide), but a construction solution WOULD. Adding a wall with a door in it might work okay. (Probably need to involve glass somewhere to not make the entry area miserably dark, as it has no light of its own.) Of course, that means arranging for, living through, and paying for the addition of same. But, we'll see. A short-term solution may be to baby-gate the hallway prior to the garage door, and come and go through that (again, making sure the garage door's closed before coming in, in case they DO scale the baby gate).
Right now I just want to wail to the universe. I shouldn't have to be doing this. These cats should be staying at home with Dad taking care of them. I love them and I'm glad to take care of them, but they ought to be there and none of this to have happened.
dormouse_in_tea asked for photos to look at, and I went to take some just now. And was struck by three things:1) It's wider than I thought, at the narrowest point. That will make the baby-gate solution very, very hard.
2) It's deeper than I gave it credit for.
3) It does NOT go clear to the ceiling, there is an area of it that is only one story high and then it opens up.
Which means that a baby-gate solution may not work (unless they make those very wide), but a construction solution WOULD. Adding a wall with a door in it might work okay. (Probably need to involve glass somewhere to not make the entry area miserably dark, as it has no light of its own.) Of course, that means arranging for, living through, and paying for the addition of same. But, we'll see. A short-term solution may be to baby-gate the hallway prior to the garage door, and come and go through that (again, making sure the garage door's closed before coming in, in case they DO scale the baby gate).
Right now I just want to wail to the universe. I shouldn't have to be doing this. These cats should be staying at home with Dad taking care of them. I love them and I'm glad to take care of them, but they ought to be there and none of this to have happened.
no subject
If they can't adapt, I will look into the options to let them out like the one you describe, but considering that their definition of 'out' means 'roaming freely'...it might not go over so well.
And I deeply appreciate your offer and I do have your message saved in case it's necessary. I hope it won't be. It's not so much not knowing you - it's that I want to have them here. They're my family too; I brought Basta home (sort of inadvertently, I was trying for her brother and we got her first - they were semi-feral) twenty years ago. Babe is younger and was born after I moved out, but is still family. The idea of not having them here / nearby / with family is heartbreaking. If they can't adapt, I may have to look at it. So far, I think it will be okay. Scott thinks I am over-worrying about even blocking the door, but...I'd rather over-worry than under-worry. :P