Safety gate at top of stairs with cat

[Sarahsq1234]

Does anyone have any recommendations of a stairgate to fit at the top of thr stairs or any other solutions that a cat can fit through. Our cats are 10 years old, and I imagine that jumping soon may not be a option. I have seen some safety gates with pet doors but all the ones I have seen have bottom bars and would post a trip hazard on stairs. Thanks

Honestly I doubt you'll find jumping is an issue, unless they're quite overweight. My 19 year old cat still happily leaps about the place despite not being in the best health.

If the cats are 10 I'm surprised you think they won't be able to jump over a baby gate, it's hardly old for a cat. I suspect you're overthinking it and they will be fine to jump over such a short height. Although it's worth noting stair gates are not recommended for the top of stairs.

Pretty sure my old boy would've just squeezed through

All our stair gates had bottom bars, not sure how they'd work if they didn't? Pressure- fit stair gates are not recommended for the top of stairs, you need one that screws into the wall.

Our cat is 10 and showing no signs of slowing down, i think your cats will decide what works for them OP, so just get the stairgate that works for you.

Ime no gate will contain your dcat.. They find a way over /through... Ours is 12 and still as agile as ever..

Our very old cat couldn’t do them, but she was 20. We put a gate on DD’s room as well and once she was in her room the stair one was left open. We only closed it when DD was roaming upstairs, but as she was at nursery all day and in her room at night it wasn’t closed very much IYSWIM.

Our 12 year old cats just jump over ours, but when we first installed it and I was worried they wouldn't be able to, my husband made a shelf that sat on top of the gate so that they could jump up, compose themselves and jump down. You won't find a gate where the cat can fit through the bars due to the regulations about gap size.

Gates aren’t recommended at the top of stairs incase they are left open, child climbs or they become loose.
Far safer putto put a gate on the room you want to contain them in, ie child’s bedroom so you have somewhere safe upstairs if needed

Why are stairgates not recommended at the top of the stairs? I wpuld get an anti trip one...how should I stop my little on falling down stairs? Thanks

We installed ours a little bit higher, not high enough so child could crawl under/get stuck but a small gap so cat could squeeze underneath

I wouldn't put a stair gate at the top of the stairs - if your child tries to climb over then they have a long way to fall.