Bi-fold closet doors & kitties

I don't know where this thread should go, so I put it here for now(please move it if there is a more appropriate place for it).

My parents being as brilliant as they are put bi-fold doors on all of our closets. Rather, as we like to call them, kitty toys! Twitch especially seems to have a deep fascination with them, or what lies behind them. Right now we have ugly folding chairs set up in front of the closet doors. Twitch still has her paw under them & tries to open them several times a day. She "fishes" under normal doors(i.e. @ the top of the stairs, bathroom doors). I have thought about bricks or rocks, but mom & dad don't want the closets wrecked. They don't mind the chairs & neither do I, but when Christmas comes we don't really want to misplace any cats in a closet or have anyone trip on a chair.

Any ideas how we can keep the cat out of the closet? I think the doors are handles are too far apart for the baby things(if you have any idea what I mean). I hope to get the doors cat proofed before both cats figure out if they work together they can open the doors. I cna't believe my cats are smarter than I am! lol

I have bi-fold doors in my apartment... personally I can't stand them... but I gave up trying to keep the 'kids' out of the closets behind the doors.

Yes, the handles are too far apart for the baby locks... The only thing I can think of doing is installing a hook latch near the top (or at least high enough for the felines to not reach) and keep it latched unless you need to get into it. But if your parents don't want to mar the surface of the doors, there's not much you can do.

The hook latch idea came from my dad... who has a cat at their house who can and will open the screen door from the outside and let everyone inside (they're outdoor kitties), so he installed a hook latch, so she can't open the door. It should also work for bi-fold doors.

Amanda

I also would say a hooklatch, or, if you want a free solution, possibly rubberbands?

This is so funny! Just yesterday I came home and found that the boys had figured out how to open the front closet (bi fold) doors. Not a huge deal I thought, they just want to explore after all. Then I went to feed them and discovered a big rip in the new 4 kg bag of cat food in there. Seems they decided to help themselves. Least I don't have to worry about them starving when left alone.
I think the latch idea is a good one - I think I'll put one up myself as I don't want them helping themselves all day and I've nowhere else to put the food.

I was thinking a rubber band or ribbon. loop it around both knobs and they shouldnt be able to open it. But then again they are cats, they will get into anything they set their minds too......

I really don't want them into the closets. Well, one closet specifically. It is a normal sized closet that has a doorway(no door) that goes under the stairs. There are Legos, ceramic stuff, in general things that could kill a kitty. I guess I will just start trying stuff out. I think we could rig a hook latch thingy somewhere no one will notice it right away. I'll just do it while the parents are gone!

If I use two bricks for each pair of doors, then maybe they couldn't get in. Any ideas on how I can keep the bricks from wrecking a closet doors?

Originally Posted by white cat lover

If I use two bricks for each pair of doors, then maybe they couldn't get in. Any ideas on how I can keep the bricks from wrecking a closet doors?

Click to expand...

Wrap them in towels?

When I had a bi-fold door, a simple hook-and-eye latch did the trick.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

If I use two bricks for each pair of doors, then maybe they couldn't get in. Any ideas on how I can keep the bricks from wrecking a closet doors?

Click to expand...

Get some felt and cover them. I have a brick covered in purple felt that makes a wonderful doorstop in my office.

Hahaha, bi-fold doors. The last time I had a cat get into a closet with bifold doors, we had little red paint pawprints everywhere!

We had that problem with our Max. The hooks didn't solve the problem because he put his paw under the door and jiggled until he worked the hooks loose. My husband had some metal pieces made to go over the top of the door across the bifold part. That solved the problem.

Lol the our kittys first home had lots of them , just wait till they figure out how to get on the top of the doors and realize it's a long way down .......


I think we used 2 sided tape to try and keep them out but they always outwitted us

There is a baby proof gadget just for bifold doors. I have it on my closet doors that houses the washer/dryer. It goes on the top of the door where they fold so you can't fold them. Check at Home Depot or any local hardware store. Good luck.

Cynthia

I bet Twitch would jiggle & hook & eye latch loose! Poo! I will have to check for a baby proofer from bi-fold doors.

My bifold doors must be heavier (each door which consists of two panels look like our 6 panel wood doors we have in our house) None of the cats ever open the doors. They have gone in the closets when they are open however. I looked that them and we might have them closer to the floor that they can't wedge a paw underneath.