Locking cats in room during the day

[Bojangles33]

I have three cats, two of which are indoor only (one has three legs so gets beaten up by other cats when he's let out or gets stuck in people's gardens and the other is a very timid British shorthair who refuses to go outside unless we are in the garden with her!)

They have destroyed the carpet on my stairs which has been replaced but have noticed a few snags in this now so they are obviously still scratching at the carpet but the newer one is a bit more hard wearing so hasn't disintegrated like the last one! I never see them scratch the carpet, they have a selection of scratch posts and I have tried anti scratch spray.

As the weather is getting better would be it be unreasonable to put the one cat who will go outside out in the day whilst as work, and shut the other two in the kitchen/diner? Their litter boxes and food are in there anyway and they usually sleep a lot on the chairs in there. I just can't justify having to replace the carpet every year!! I love my kitties but I don't know what else to do, DH thinks I'm being mean.

I'm more concerned about the one who would get shut outside for the day. Do you not have a microchip catflap?

Get an outdoor cat shelter so that your cat has somewhere dry and warm when it is raining. It will be fine then.

Have they also got flat scratchers as not all cats like vertical scratching.

Outside Cat has access to the shed and there's a covered patio area bit. Can't have a cat flap as there is nowhere easy to put it (double glazed glass back door). I have had flat scratch pads before but almost seemed to make it worse because they would get carried away on the scratch pad and then move onto the carpet 🙄 it's a good job they're cute.

I have a cat flap in a double glazed back door. It is perfectly doable. I had to get a glazing company to install it, but it wasn't a big or expensive job.

I sympathise over the stair carpet scratching. I also have 3 cats, all free to roam inside or outside, and they (mainly one of them) has mutilated the bottom stair.

@Dumbledoresgirl I'd read it was pretty expensive and easy for it to go wrong if not done properly, condensation inside the double glazing etc?

I can't remember how much I paid to have mine fitted as it was over 12 years ago now, but it wasn't as much as a stair carpet and there has never been any problem with it, eg condensation. But yes, you need to have it done by a proper glazier. Worth ringing up someone for a quote maybe?

I think it cost around £200 to have our double glazed back door fitted with a cat flap. A microchip one would be perfect for your situation as you could programme it so only the outdoor cat would be able to use it.
How big is your kitchen diner? And how long would they be in there? I would think they'd be ok but may get a little bored if its a long day. Then again mine sleep for most of the day and wake up when we all come home!