How to make a temporary pet barricade out of a/c filters

Naughty boy, Scooter! He has suddenly started leaving nasty surprises in the living room. He's getting quite old, maybe that's why.

This morning he lifted his leg on the piano, so I had to move it to clean up. Ugh! While I sort out the root cause, I need to keep him out of the living room. There's no door, so how to close it off?

Materials: Air conditioner filters (as many as needed to span the space you need to close off - I used three 20 x 30 filters to cordon off a 6 foot span); Duct tape; Scissors

Put two filters edge to edge and cover the seam with duct tape. (My duct tape is white so it's hard to see, sorry) My dog's short, so I joined my filters on the 20" (not 30") edges.

Now fold the two filters that you just taped together one on top of the other.

That exposes the backside of the seam you just made. Reinforce each end and the middle with more duct tape.

See how the filters are seamed together on one edge? Now lay them flat so the tape seam is underneath, touching the table. You'll be adding another filter with the seam on the opposite (top) side.

Alternating the side that you put the seam tape on will allow it to accordion fold and be self-supporting. Tape your next filter to the other as before.

Again reinforce the seam on reverse side, with duct tape at each end and in the middle. Add as many filters as needed this way to span the distance you need to cover. (alternating top/bottom seam)

Voila! Living room Is now closed off with a self standing barricade. This is lightweight and probably appropriate only for small pets. It would need to be secured for pets that tend to jump up.

To secure gate to wall: Make duct tape tab on edge of screen. Add a loop made from a twist tie. Attach to a Command hook placed sideways on wall. (3M Command hooks are self-sticking and removable)

"What's this??! Where did the rest of the house go?"

Acceptance: "I guess this new wall is the end of my house now. Oh well, I might as well take a little nap."