Purrley you are oh so right about cats being funny when you change their routine. I was also afraid that the baby gate would cause them to go potty elsewhere. I had Bella in the kitchen a lot of time in the beginning, and the door with the flap to the basement is also in the kitchen. For them to get to the basement they had to pass her, and in the beginning they were a little afraid of her. Someone on these boards suggested that I place a chair next to the baby gate so that they wouldn't have to scale the gate each time and they could also watch her from the chair on the other side of the gate before taking the plunge into the kitchen and escaping through the flap. I had no problem but my cats had lived with dogs before so maybe that made a difference in their adjustment. I hope everything will work out well for you. Unfortunately these things take time. Good luck!