Cats and child stair gates - how does that work?

[Plateofcrumbs]

At some point we will have to get stair gates, when DS gets mobile. Our cat currently has free reign of the house, with litter tray upstairs and food downstairs.

How do cats tend to negotiate stair gates? Ours isn't much of a jumper/climber so I'm not sure if she will end up stuck on one side of the gate!

[Pipbin]

cat flap stair gates: www.tesco.com/direct/bettacare-gate-with-lockable-cat-flap/269-5506.prd

[TheBitterBoy]

Our cats used to just squeeze between the bars of our stair gates, never gave them any trouble.

[petalsandstars]

Jumps or squeeze through the side gap

[QueenOfGeeks]

One of ours will jump a stairgate but would rather shout until you come and let him through. The other cat won't jump them at all. However due to our house layout we only had a gate on DS bedroom and one on the living room door (not possible to put one at the top/bottom of stairs), so it wasn't a massive issue for us. I believe you can get babygates with catflaps if necessary though.

[BertieBotts]

Cats can squish themselves pretty small. Unless you have a very fat cat they should be able to manage.

[Pointlessfan]

We leave it open at night and when we are out. Might have to rethink when the baby can get out of the cot!

[Dwerf]

In my experience a skinny cat will go through the bars and a bigger cat will jump over it. None of my cats have ever had a problem with it. And I've seen how high the feckers can jump, so if they think I'm getting up to open the gate for them, they'll be waiting a long time.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

If its a one without a bar on the floor, just fix it a couple of inches higher than normal so the cats can wriggle undrrneath

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

Even my lazy fat lump of a cat will jump the extra high stair gate if she absolutely must.

[northernlurker]

Yup they go under, through or over. Don't worry about it.

[Plateofcrumbs]

Ok this is reassuring I hope. She is a funny little cat and a bit slow to learn but hopefully we'll find something that works.

I saw those gates with a cat flap advertised on another site and it said they weren't suitable for use as child safety gates. So what is the point of them?!

[Passmethecrisps]

Our aged cat just squeezed herself through the slightly wider section which connects to the wall. She would rather no have and would wait if she knew we were around to see but she managed it fine

[moonbells]

We just got Lindam wall-mountable gates for the kitchen and utility room and made sure there was a gap underneath that was too small for DS's head but big enough for the cat! Except for the top of the stairs; that she had to lump being either open or shut. Bottom of stairs was one of the roller fabric gates, and she would squeeze under that easily.

[sparkysparkysparky]

We had one cat who worked it out and other (sibling) that couldn't. We stuck a chair on stairs side at night (dc couldn't get to it) and the less sneaky cat worked it out from there. Not a flawless plan but it it did the trick.

[Velocirapture]

Mine was v fat but slinky and managed fine. In fact, I think he used to go in and out of the kitchen on purpose to taunt DC.