Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Block your cat's access to a room
• Method 2 of 2: Make a room undesirable for cats
• Tips

There can be several reasons for wanting to keep cats out of a room. Maybe you have a baby, there is a family member who is allergic or you are afraid that the cat will destroy a piece of furniture. Maybe you just want part of the house to be cat-free. Whatever the reason, with a little ingenuity and determination, there are several ways to keep your cat out of certain rooms in your house.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Block your cat's access to a room

1. Close the door to the room the cat is not allowed to enter. This is the most effective way to keep a cat out of a certain area. If the room doesn't have a door, put one in as soon as possible.
   • Be aware that this is a physical barrier to the cat, but the cat may still try to enter.
   • By denying the cat access to a room it wants to enter, you can increase the cat's stress level. This can inadvertently cause bad behavior in another part of the house.
   • Only deny access as an emergency measure while seeking advice from a licensed behaviorist or veterinarian.
2. Get into the habit of walking in and out of a room quickly. It can be difficult to keep a cat out of a room it wants to be in, so you will need to act quickly! It is a good idea to try to distract the cat with toys and treats so that you can enter the room with enough time to close the door behind you.
3. If the room does not have a door, create an alternate barrier. It can be difficult to create a physical barrier that will keep all cats out, but try to create a barrier that is tailored to the agility of the specific cat. For example, although baby gates don't work for all cats, if your cat is only slightly interested in the room or if your cat is old or not agile, a small baby gate can discourage you from entering the room.
4. Keep your cat outside in a cat house. Only leave the cat indoors under your conditions when you can close as many doors as you want. This way, you don't have to worry about where your cat is when he's in his own cozy cat house. However, this does limit the cat's territory considerably, which can lead to stress. Stress can manifest in destructive behavior, inappropriate urination or defecation, and some cats can even get sick and develop bladder problems.
   • To minimize this risk, make sure your cat has plenty of room to roam. Provide the cat with high places to sit and look around, places to hide so that it has privacy if necessary, and a litter box and bowls with food and water.
   • If the cat house is outside, make sure there is adequate protection from wind, rain and direct sunlight.
   • Make sure the cat is mentally stimulated. This includes providing toys, at least two 10-minute play sessions a day and giving the cat sufficient attention.
5. Ignore the cat if he scratches the door and you are in the room. If you reprimand the cat, he or she will do it again. If game if your cat doesn't play, he won't.
6. Place a repellent near the door. If it is essential that the cat does not scratch the door, try placing a compressed air canister with a motion detector next to the door. When the motion detector registers the cat, it releases compressed air, which will startle the cat but not harm it. The cat then learns to associate the door with an unpleasant experience, making it less likely to approach the door.

Method 2 of 2: Make a room undesirable for cats

1. Make the room physically unpleasant for the cat. Sometimes you can't put in a physical barrier to keep your cat out of a room. In this case, you need to make the room unpleasant. Make loud noises when the cat enters the room or scare it away. Note that if you do this, the cat may associate the sounds with you and avoid you.
   • In some cases you can take tougher measures. For example, pour a little water on the bathroom floor if you don't want your cat to get there. A cat may hate having its paws wet or having excessive water on a floor annoying.
   • Another example is making sure your cat has nowhere to hide in a room. Sometimes cats like to crawl under a bed or in a corner to feel safe. For these types of cats, you can eliminate access to under the bed and other hiding places. This will make your cat feel uncomfortable in the room.
2. Spray the cat with water from a spray bottle. Every time he approaches the room, spray some water in his direction with the spray bottle. This tells the cat that its actions are unacceptable.
   • However, only use this method if you are willing to harm your relationship with your cat. It is very likely that the cat will associate the spray bottle of water with you rather than the room. So it's more likely that the cat is running and not wanting to spend time with you.
3. In addition, there are commercial electronic cat repellents that give a cat a blast of air as it approaches a room. You simply place the device in the entrance to the room and let it keep your cat out of that area.
4. Post scents your cat doesn't like. Pour a small amount of vinegar into the entrance to the room or parts of the room. This usually works, as most cats hate the smell of vinegar. However, this advice is anecdotal, as it helps for some people and not at all for others.
   • You can also fill a spray bottle half full with vinegar. Fill the other half with lime or lemon juice. Spray that mixture in the entrance to the room and on beds and other places where the cat usually goes. This will discourage many cats from scratching furniture and spending time in the room. If you try this option, the spray will need to be reapplied periodically.
5. Shift your cat's attention. Make another room more attractive to the cat. Make another room cat-friendly so that the cat prefers to go there. Provide the cat with several comfortable places to sleep (although it will likely choose its own spot) and a high seating area. Provide food, water, a litter box, and toys.
6. Use positive training. Hereby you praise the cat a lot and make it a pleasant experience to be in the room where you want it to be. The goal is to ensure that the cat associates the room with good things and likes to return to them. You can spread extra tasty rewards around the room to make it an even more attractive space.

Tips

• If a cat really wants to enter a room, it will scratch the door a lot. This may cause the cat to scrape off the paint or try to open the door and cause the door to move. However, if you ignore this behavior, it will stop after a while.
• Block access to a room where your cat has urinated outside. This is behavior of a cat that is stressed by something. It is best to find out why the cat is trying to calm down in this way. In the meantime, keep the cat out of the room and put in a Feliway diffuser, which releases calming hormones to help the cat calm down.