Portable cat-segregator

Cats sometimes have to be confined to a limited space.  They're sick, or new, or visiting, or very young, or have to have special food and a chance to eat it in peace. Ot some other householder is allergic, or very young, or moving furniture, or working with {power tools, toxic chemicals, fire, irresistibly tempting people-food}.  And a crate or cage is just too small is many situations.

Unfortunately, 
 1. Sometimes the most suitable area doesn't have a door, and
 2. Even when it does, there are few things most cats HATE!! more than a closed door.  
    - They'll shoot through like lightning the nanosecond you open the door.  
    - If you don't open the door they may make an insufferable racket until you do.
    - And it's almost impossible to convince them they're not being abandoned or punished.
3. Hip-high "pet gates" sold in stores do not faze any able-bodied feline older than about 2 weeks.  
    - The usual reaction is "Hey, thanks for the jungle gym, helper-monkey!"  
    - New-mommy cats even climb over carrying their kittens.

Like a regular door, this barrier protects the entire doorway.  
Unlike a regular door,
  - It  lets air, light, and sound through so the cat feels less isolated and doesn't get as upset.
  - It's climbable without making lots of noise.  
  - A helper-monkey like you can get (or just reach) in and out without creating escape space around your shins.  
  - Putting it up requires no tools and leaves no marks.  
  - And, partially disassembled, it rolls up for transport and storage or parts can be "used for the other use!"

Although designed with cats in mind, it would probably work for under-20-pound dogs, many birds, large lizards (iguanas, tegus, monitors), lemurs, tarsiers, coatimundis, sloths (jeez I want a sloth!!); in short, anything that likes to get altitude but isn't majorly heavy and wouldn't consider vinyl aviary netting a tender yummy dessert.

Step 1 Parts is parts

Dimensions are based on a US standard doorway, 36x80"  (91x203cm).  They'll tolerate plus-or-minus a few inches, but if you've got something really different like a double door or narrow "pocket" door you'll want to measure it and scale up or down,

ADJUSTABLE LOCKING TENSION RODS (they make these for shower curtains.  If you can't find ones long enough search under "tension poles."
  - 2 rods adjustable from (at most) 30"(76cm) to (at least) 40" (102cm).
  - 2 rods adjustable from (at most) 75"(191cm) to (at least) 85" (216cm).

GRIPPER SHEET (you want something a bit compressible with a lot of static friction.  Those lacey-rubbery pads for on shelves and under rugs work well),  64 sq." (163 sq, cm)

MESH, 2 pc., 24"(61cm)x96"(244cm).  I prefer plastic aviary netting: it's very strong, just stiff enough, the holes are just big enough to admit a scritching-finger, a treat or a small toy, and the cut edges won't shred your skin (which after all is Kitty's job).

HEAVY-DUTY HOOK-AND-LOOP TAPE, e.g. Industrial Strength Velcro (TM): 2"(5cm)x96"(244cm).  Usually this is adhesive-backed; if yours isn't, get a strong adhesive that stays flexible.

FOIL TAPE, 2"(5cm)x192"(488cm).  High-performance duct tape can be substituted or added as an underlayer for the foil tape.  The thing about foil is, cats don't like clawing it, for roughly the same reason we don't like chewing it.

CABLE-TIES, preferably the releasable/re-usable kind, 30-40ea., 8"(20cm) long,

CUTTING TOOLS: Heavy-duty shears. small sharp slicing blade

RUBBER GLOVES (optional, not shown)

Comments

[CJSudduth]

How about using furniture felt on the end of the curtain rods ,,, they usually come in the shape that fit on the botton of chair so they can grip without causing marks ,,, then you do not have to use cable ties,,

[MollyBednum]

Thanks! I imagine it would be excellent for protecting the woodwork. It would also look more civilized than the shelf-liner / cable-tie version. I just wonder how "grippy" it would be on something like gloss enamel. I'll have to run it by the test crew next time I put one up. Meanwhile, if anyone else gives it a try, please let us know how it works!

[CJSudduth]

A little adjustments and this would work as a pet barrier when traveling with your favorite pets,,,

[MollyBednum]

Thanks!  Funny you should mention that; I have to take multiple cats to adoption fairs every week so I'm working on that very thing! I'm trying:

1. a structure that's fairly amorphous (easy to adapt to different vehicles and pack other things "around")
2. fully enclosed (in case of mess, yank it out and hose it off)
3. aviary netting on the top to admit scritches and treats, let the cats see you (less anxiety), and the surroundings (less car-sickness),
4. a tarp on the bottom (protect upholstery, plus many cats enjoy the crackle),
5. bungee suspension from headrests & seatbelt-hooks (no dents in the ceiling, unobstructed rear view for the driver).

First proto results:

1. Need some kind of a frame to support the aviary netting; It sags & the cats find it claustrophobic.  
2. For multiple cats, need some kind of double "door" to keep Cats 1 through N in while loading Cat N.
3. Tarp coating had poor adhesion.  First cat got out in <7min by yanking the duct tape, and the tarp-coating it was stuck to, right off the tarp!  

[scoochmaroo]

Fantastic! It's good to have beta testers to point out weaknesses in the system from the beginning :D