My sister-in-law who lives downstairs recently got a cat. I like cats but I am 26+ weeks pregnant and don't want her around me or in my stuff. I tried the essential oil spray on the stairs and she was deterred for a little while but then just ran past it. My sister-in-law went and got one of those ultrasonic cat deterrent radar things but the cat just walks past it like there is nothing there. My sister-in-law doesn't want a gate but I really don't know what else to do. If anyone knows of something that worked to prevent a very persistent cat I, I need some help. It also has to be something that is safe for my baby.
2007-10-18 10:48:41 · 6 answers · asked by Melba 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
I know that a gate wold have to be a floor to ceiling gate. It's against code to put a door there (or else I would have one) the way our house is.
2007-10-18 11:03:24 · update #1
Cats hate citrus. But i don't know how you would put it around your staircase. Maybe set out a jar of lemon juice, or one of those plug in air fresheners with citrus in it. Hope this helps.
2007-10-18 10:57:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have a cat (and have always had cats)and have not found any effective deterrents beyond a closed door. Once determined to go somewhere they will do anything to get there. A baby gate may not be high enough as they are likely to just jump it but you will probably need a gate for when the baby get mobile anyhow so it wouldn't hurt to try. Can you SIL keep the cat contained in her room until the baby is born?
I understand your desire to be cautious and just so you aren't totally freaked out about this cat...I am assuming you want to avoid the cat for health reasons. The danger of having a cat around when you are pregnant is if you ingest feces...It is extremely rare to contract toxoplasmosis from casual contact with the animal (the carrier pathogens don't live in the fur). If you have had any type of prolonged contact with cat feces (ie: changing a litterbox, gardening where cats are present, etc) prior to getting pregnant the chances are that you already have the antibodies and therefore immune to it. The advice I have seen advises against changing litterboxes, but does not require one to withdraw completely from exposure to cats.
Hope this helps.
Peace.
2007-10-18 11:24:54 · answer #2 · answered by sassy sue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way to stop the cat is to put up a door. If you have a gate the cat will just hop over it. My cat can jump 6 feet up onto my tv entertainment center. Sorry I know it wasn't the answer you were looking for.
2007-10-18 10:59:44 · answer #3 · answered by beyondthelimit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey,
you can try those electric blanket things or bubble-wrap type surface covers they sell at Petsmart. Maybe the cat wouldn't like them, so she would avoid the hallway to your side of the house. Citrus hasn't helped in my cat problem case.. :( I was truing to deter her from jumpin up on hte table. I read somewhere that you're supposed to cover the surface you don't want them to go to with a material that maakes noise or is otherwise uncomfortable to the touch or their hearing. I want to say one they recomended was aluminum foil. I don't know how practical it would be. You could try spraying it with a water in spray bottle every time it comes around that way too. OR, do get a baby gate.. They sell tall ones at Publix (yeah I know, out of all places) for around $25 and that's what I got to keep my cat out of the areas that I don't want her to go to. Good luck!
2007-10-18 18:46:20 · answer #4 · answered by Christina 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in case you deter it with a can of compressed air (for the hissing sound) or squirting it with a water bottle it ought to help, yet little as properly actual obstacles and direct action like the flaws i discussed above ever deters my cats. yet on the comparable time, why are you so fearful a pair of cat being around you? as long as you're no longer the single cleansing the muddle container, your probabilities of being uncovered to toxiplasmosis (spelled incorrect, sorry :( ) is larger from beef than from the cat. additionally if it relatively is the clarification your fearful approximately with the cat, as long because it relatively is been stored indoors i'm rather particular you have it examined by utilising a vet to work out if it has it. the way they get that's from uncooked meat or wild animals so if it relatively is examined as quickly as and not around those issues after the sorting out, you will possibly be certain it would not have it.
2016-10-07 04:32:16 · answer #5 · answered by hughart 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have said moth balls...but those are actually toxic..so if anyone recommends them...I wouldn't use it.
Also...a gate will not stop a cat....it will go right over it in a flash.
2007-10-18 11:14:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋