Arch - how to block it

Gazelle1985

We've recently moved into a new home, and have an archway between our kitchen and the rest of the house, which is a nice feature. Unfortunately it means that our cat has free reign of the house and we can't contain her in the kitchen, where the cat flap is, at night and when we're at work. She is currently working her way through destroying the stairs and landing carpet - not a problem as we're going to replace it, but we did want to replace it with another carpet.

I've been trying to think of ways to block the archway. Because of where it is situated, a normal door won't work (it would also cost a fortune to have a bespoke arch shaped door made, even if we could put one in). A sliding door could potentially work, but the only wall that it could sit on is where the light switch is, and where we'd like to put a TV, so not ideal.

The only other thing I can think of is a room divider, which we could a sliding door lock onto.

Am I missing anything? Any other way of making a cat proof barrier in an arch door?!

Please don't suggest training the cat not to claw the carpet - we've tried everything, and clawing it isn't even the worst thing she's done...

Lorian

what is the width of the opening?
Height to the bottom of the arch?
Height to the top of the arch?
Twin doors maybe?

PasturesNew

Build a nice "kitty home" outside for the cat, like a large dog kennel .... block the cat flap.

Kitty can only come in when you're in.
Who pays the bills?
Show the cat who is boss.... they respect that.

Gazelle1985

The arch is 210cm high and 85cm wide.

We did have a cat kennel outside in our last house. It wasn't ideal though, particularly in the winter so would prefer her to be able to come in really.

Lorian

That's pretty narrow. I think for any door solution you'd be looking at bespoke. A Pair of very narrow French doors might work.

You can cost/procure such things on the net

for example this company would no doubt give you a price for some softwood French doors to your measurements.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/ron_currie_and_sons

Price who knows, but they have made me some very nice hardwood bespoke woodwork in the past, I'm just a customer.

martinthebandit

IIRC 838mm (almost 84cm) is one of the standard door widths

Lorian

yes, sorry I had 2 doors in my mind, one would be a lot cheaper, if there is room for it to open.

Gazelle1985

Thanks - that's a good link!

Normal doors wouldn't really work because of where the arch is located - a door would block the entrance to the living room. A door frame would also ruin the look of the arch (we have two and it would look odd for one to have a door frame and the other not to). I also suspect that having a bespoke one with an arch would cost a fortune.

Thinking that a sliding door might be the only option...

Primrose

is drawing a very thick curtain across it likely to keep the cat contained ?

MX5huggy

Primrose wrote: »

is drawing a very thick curtain across it likely to keep the cat contained ?

No, but it would be a good game for the cat climbing it.

Primrose

Or roller shutters (the type which cover outside windows) which come down and cover the whole height of the arch, -easier if the arch is a square one rather than rounded one