How to block gaps so a cat can't squeeze through
Cats can easily slip through small openings and holes around the house, which leads to constant escape attempts and dangerous situations where they might get stuck. Plugging these holes immediately prevents them from squeezing out, stopping the ongoing risk of escape before it leads to a security deposit loss or a trapped pet.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 13.4× more often in r/cats than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1plugging the holeDid this help you?
- 2Taking the cat for walks when time permitsDid this help you?
- 3Relying on the cat not successfully figuring out how to unlock the door consistentlyDid this help you?
- 4Leaving the cat leashed in the backyard instead of going for walksDid this help you?
- 5Attaching plastic bird spikes to panel sections with zip tiesDid this help you?
- 6Using silicone to fix spikes perimetrically on the pillarDid this help you?
- 7Building or converting the area into a catioDid this help you?
- 8Placing cats into a mesh carrier instead of walking them on a harnessDid this help you?
- 9sealing up the gaps completelyDid this help you?
- 10using zip-tied plastic netting temporarily until the cats are biggerDid this help you?
- 11Living in a house with no open windows or fresh airDid this help you?
- 12Locking the cat insideDid this help you?
- 13Attempting to fix the window screenDid this help you?
- 14sticking a fence in front of itDid this help you?
- 15using cinder blocks to block the spaceDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“he was suddenly startled by a loud sound and squeezed under a small fence and when he tried to pass back underneath his harness pulled off.”source ↗
“recently he learnt how to get out of his harness!”source ↗
“Does anyone know of an escape-proof one or is he doomed to be inside forever?”source ↗
“I am now faced by the worrysome combination of cats and stairs for the first time.”source ↗
“What I've not managed to find is whether they should be blocked off permanently, or only for a while during kittenhood.”source ↗
“In particular there is a small gap in between the two banisters on the first floor that's open all the way from the attic (second floor) to the ground floor”source ↗
“I can’t always have the time to take her for daily walks, but any time I do days later she’s tryna escape hard rip to my gfs security deposit.”source ↗
“She does know how to unlock the door too, but something in her neuron reactor aint clicking right most of the time fortunately for us.”source ↗
“My cat is driving me insane. Let me set the scene. I live in an old house with custom made screens. Well my one cat has gone through a few screens (even with the pet proof screen) and gets out.”source ↗
“Then wanted in front door. Well she brought a live rat in and has been playing cat and mouse with it most of the night. I am losing my mind and sleep.”source ↗
“The only option I can see is living in a house with no fresh air.”source ↗
“So he is going to keep doing this until he gets bigger and gets stuck, id plug that hole asap”source ↗
“I even bought a smaller one (same brand) and its VERY snug I have no idea how he keeps doing it!”source ↗
“today he escaped for the second time so I am unsure on what to do tbh.”source ↗
“My cat is currently missing (11 days) after slipping out of a Travel Cat harness”source ↗
“It's difficult to attach things to a 450x450mm pillar that's exposed to the weather. We could drill or damage the top of each pillar but we're renting so we can't make serious modifications.”source ↗
“this gap is about 4.5 inches across and i need something to plug it so my new puppy can get through. we live in a city and can’t take him out to the public till he gets his shots.”source ↗