Kitty Cat in the Studio

[Amber]

How in the heck do I keep the cat out of my room? Sneaky little devil isn't like my pooch, Taylor knows the room is off limits and he just doesn't bother with it, but this cat is driving me crazy! I always worked with the door open, rather then juggling handfuls of glass and a doorknob ;). I've thought of getting a baby gate but I don't know how well I can hop over it while carrying a kilnshelf with work on it......
Does anyone just let the cat in the room?

[Elizabeth]

My old lady - now gone to Kitty Heaven  (not a result of 'lead poisoning'!) - always kept me company  whilst I was working.   Her preferred spot was right below where my  grinder is  = maximum inconvenience....!!   I doubt a baby gate would keep a cat out!   Of course if she jumps up on your  worktop whilst you're busy - - - that is another story!   Good luck with convincing a cat to do your bidding!!!

[JoanFrances]

Any time I was attempting to break one of my pets from habits that I didn't want to live with them doing, I sprayed them with water from a spray bottle.  They got the message and all the had to do is see that bottle and they didn't try it anymore.

My dog, Annie gives me a dirty look when I get the bottle and see walks the other way. 

[Graham]

Our studio always had at least one cat in it, unless they were off begging food and belly rubs from the neighbours. They wander right though our work, and that of out students, and would pick the one who like them least and plunked down on top of everything. Magically, there was never a spot of blood from a cat. That's more than can be said for our students and ourselves.

[Theresa]

Dont have a cat but my dogs hang out with me in mine.

[Amber]

I may just let her in, I'm trying the spray bottle and it gets her out of the room but is useless for actually teaching her to stay out :(. I can't count how many times in the last few hours I've run her out with a squirt bottle and she comes right back in. I put up a little blocker with a ceiling tile in the doorway, she hops over it, and also laid down layers of tin foil thinking she would be too scared to walk on them but she thinks they're fun and a toy.

My only worry is the kiln..... I know she learned quick to avoid candle flames but she still had to learn that one on her own. I just hope she doesn't seriously injure herself hopping onto the hot lid....

[Alan]

We use 2 control devices - works well on both dos and cats. One is the water spray already mentioned, the other is a washed out empty soda can with ten or so pennies in it - tape over the opening. When the cats or dogs hear the vigorously shaken can - they head for someplace away from the awful noise - really kinda funny to see who can get away the fastest (especially on the ceramic tile floor), nothing but slippin' 'n' slidin'.

[Becki]

Can you find a way to put your kiln in your studio and shut the door when you're working? Removing tiny shards of glass, or finding them for that matter, in little paws is no fun. My studio is off limits to my 4 legged child.

[Scope Builder]

You mean something like this picture.  This is not my kiln but belongs to a friend of mine, they don't worry about their cats.

[Becki]

Ooh...not a good habit.

[AglassAct]

To keep my cat Teena out, I use 2 baby gates stacked on top of one another. It seems to be high enough to make her think twice about climbing. Depends on the cat , some of them are real climbers. I like the door open also.
Deb in Ohio

[Lynn]

I have seriously considered putting a screen door on my glass room so that I can leave it open.

The problem is that the boy-cats can already open the screen door downstairs, and I fear they would figure it out rather quickly. 

Bob would climb the baby gates, I am sure.  And Harry broke down baby gates back when he was still in the shelter (they tried to keep the group that all came in from the same place in the meet'n'greet rooms, but someone broke down the gates and the group had an unauthorized party in the front desk area one night.   

Both of them have snuck in occasionally-and both have ended up with glass splinters in their feet, so I can't trust them to have the run of the room.

Sigh.  I end up working with the door closed.

[mona]

Put a latch or hook on the screen door so they can't get it open.  Then they at least can see you and feel like they are with you.

[Amber]

For now I've given up, she jumps over anything I barricade the door with and I even tried laying down tinfoil (hoping she would be too chicken to walk on it). Door knobs and latches are too hard, I'm in and out of the room constantly between comings and goings to the sink and kiln.
So I just let her in and it's not as enticing to her any more! Go figure, you finally give the rascal what she wants and the kitty's barely interested *LOL.

[Elizabeth]

 Go figure, you finally give the rascal what she wants and the kitty's barely interested *LOL.
[/quote]

That's usually the case - especially with kitties!   No fun to be had if you're not chasing her!