Loft living

by Liz
(Los Angeles)

Hi,
We are going to be moving into a condo with a loft that has a railing and spiral staircase. We are planning on carpeting the staricase so the cats don't fall through and there is a guard on both the staircase and the loft. I fear, though, that maybe, one of the cats will try to jump on the railing and fall off into the living room.
What steps would you take to ensure their safety? My friends think I am being overly protective and that cats are too smart to do try to jump on a one inch rail, but I would rather be safe than sorry.
Thanks,
Liz
Also, do you have any tips on how to create an indoor scent garden for their playroom?

RESPONSE:

You can try using netting to protect the cats from a fall. When we had a 2-story house, we put netting from the bottom of the stair rail to the ceiling. A friend expanded the railing to the ceiling but we felt this was too much work. You can also try putting sticky tape on top of the railing to discourage them from jumping up on the rail. While cats are pretty smart and this is not usually a problem, we have a few brain damaged cats that require more measures to protect them from themselves. Your guys will probably be fine but if you are truly worried, try the sticky tape idea first, then the netting if necessary. Then, just keep your fingers crossed!

Regarding making a garden for them, get mature plants and keep them in pots. If you have to grow plants from seeds or cuttings, grow them in an area where the cats can't get to them until they are mature and deeply rooted. Be sure to use only "cat safe" plants. You can get a list of toxic plants on the ASPCA website.

Donna - House Full Cats Mom