Thanks for the rays!! Actually, the saw hasn't been run since!! But in true too-smart-for-their-own-good dachsie fashion, once she realized that she could get up the stairs, she saw no reason not to!! The mattress is covered with crib pads that a friend of mine who's a nurse in the local pediatric ICU gave me...heavy quilted cotton with a rubber backing. Sadly, Alex likes to burrow (big surprise!) so putting anything on top of the sheets, or even on the bottom sheet, just won't do it. However, I think the slotted stair system might do the trick...tomorrow is the test!!