retractable gates

snicksnack · August 2011

I was wondering what you thought about your retractable gates. We have been baby gate free, other than a tension gate I move around when needed, but I have to put something on at least the bottom of our steps because DD keeps trying to climb the steps. We have ragdolls cats, which are naturally large cats, and they won?t try jumping over the tension gate we have. The type with the door automatically closes so keeping it open when we are not at home won?t work. I saw in a post below someone talking about gates with cat doors and that their child tried going through the opening and I read online about a cat that got stuck in one. Since our cats are large and I can?t seem to find these types of gates in the store that concerns me. I think the retractable gates may be the answer since it gives up the ability to have a secure gate at the top and bottom of the stairs and not worry about the cats since we can open the gates when we are not home. Any recommendations or reasons against them?