My two young cats want to be in the basement. I don’t want them there. They have destroyed the screen that I put in the open doorway, but it was a PITA anyway.
I thought this was a novel idea
http://www.brianosaurus.org/catvac.html
but not practical for me. Then I found this:
http://www.safepetproducts.com/scat-mat-for-cats-and-dogs.html#.VvwngnAtlAo
There are good reviews on Amazon but it’s a bit pricey. I’ll try it if there are no alternatives though.
No door?
The scat mat should work if it’s WIDE enough. If they can jump over it, they will. Pairing it with a baby gate may help.
There’s no way to put in a door. It’s an old farmhouse that’s been modified and this is loosely the floor plan
exterior wall ?
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ / ?? slider to the deck
???/ ?? ?
interior wall ? ??
doorway
My cat would jump over a baby gate quick. I know some animals who don’t mind the scat mat so that could end up just being pricey and useless. Not saying it couldn’t work, but you’d have to jump over the mat too to get to your basement so is that really worth it? Fail safe solution is to get a door and keep it shut.
Some other ideas I found (but have not tested):
Catscram http://www.amazon.com/Powerhouse-Products-LLC-Electronic-Repellent/dp/B003HHFW8S/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Ultrasonic Animal Repeller http://www.frontgate.com/ultrasonic-animal-repeller/20444?SourceCode=ZZ511204
Ssscat Pet Deterrent https://www.chewy.com/cat/petsafe-ssscat-pet-deterrent/dp/48579
http://www.valuepetsupplies.com/pet-safe-pawz-away-indoor-pet-barrier-system-2pk.html (not sure this is cat approved)
The idea behind adding the baby gate to the scat mat is difficulty. It is not hard for a cat to long jump over a scat mat. It’s not hard for them to high jump over a baby gate. It is more difficult for them to do both at once 
Another option if installing a door isn’t one is to stack a couple baby gates.
Stacked baby gates FTW.
I really wish someone would just make a six foot tall baby gate! How awesome would THAT be?
[QUOTE=Simkie;8598996]
I really wish someone would just make a six foot tall baby gate! How awesome would THAT be?[/QUOTE]
I think a 6ft baby gate is just a door. :winkgrin:
OP, how often do you go down to the basement? I’m just trying to figure out how important it is that you be able to very easily access the area. i.e., is your laundry downstairs and you need to be able to open the door with one hand our anything?
[QUOTE=Lazy Palomino Hunter;8599080]
I think a 6ft baby gate is just a door. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
Yeahbut I want one that’s removable and requires no installation!
I don’t think there’s a way to install a door in this cobbled up old farmhouse configuration that has the stairway opening at an odd angle in the corner of the house and to further complicate things one side of the corner is a slider that opens onto the deck. I think the cheaper way is to try the catscram. Even a six foot tall baby gate would only be a matter of time because these rotten little kittens can jump to the top of the 5 1/2’ screen from a dead standstill. I only go in the basement to do laundry and change the furnace filter so it would be great to solve the problem cheaply. As others have noted, these hardboiled little dickens would learn to jump over the scat mat quickly.
Best way to keep cats out of anyplace is to make them think that is where you want them to be 
even if they wouldn’t learn to jump over the scat mat, the mats themselves are not very reliable. i have 3 cats and 2 would go nowhere near it, and the other one would just walk on top on it and move when she got shocked. i don’t know how feasible it is for you, but i’ve heard that cats don’t like walking on tin foil on the ground. it didn’t work for my cat, but it may work for others
[QUOTE=Simkie;8599082]
Yeahbut I want one that’s removable and requires no installation! ;)[/QUOTE]
Simkie, my bf had the same lamentation. He bought 2 baby gates, stacked them on top and ziptied them together.
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