Expert: Tina - 3/15/2007

Question
I'm having trouble keeping my cat out of my roommate's ferrets pen. He gets in there when we aren't around and finishes all the food. I am unsure how to train him to stop doing that. I've only caught him in there once, and he knows that he can't be in there, so he scrams.

Any suggestions? He is not scared of citrus fruit scents, or water....

Answer
Hi Kevin,

This is one of those situations it is pretty much impossible to train a cat to defer to your rules under. The only chance of success is to startle the cat with something while you are not present, so he associates it directly with the pen. Right now he knows you don't want him in there but when you're not looking he helps himself - typical cat behavior!

The problem is any method of training your cat will also scare your room-mate's ferret and that's not really fair to him. For example the motion-triggered compressed air alarm called "sscat" works well for most cats, but it might really scare the ferret as well. If you can place it in the doorway it may train your cat to stay out of your room-mate's room altogether (it is also sold in many pet stores, possibly cheaper):

http://www.ssscat.com/repellent/home.html

However the best way to remedy this problem may just be to keep your room-mate's door closed when you're not around.

Good luck!