Can Cats Jump Over Pet Gates – Do They Work?

Everyone has different rules in their house. Some people let their pets in every part of the house. Others limit access to certain parts of the house. A pet gate is usually one of the best options, regardless of the situation. You may wonder, before you purchase a gate, can cats jump over pet gates?

Yes, cats can jump high enough to jump over pet gates. Depending on the situation in your household, this may either be great news or a concerning new development. 

Pet gates are a great choice if you need to limit access for pets in your household. Gates, however, aren’t always enough to keep your cat out since cats are so good at jumping. Stick with me in this article to learn more!

How High Can A Cat Jump

Cats can jump four to five feet high.

We all know what cats look like; they aren’t very tall when they aren’t standing on their back legs. 

Most cats are about a foot tall or just a little higher than that, so it is impressive that cats can leave up to five feet high. A particularly agile cat may be able to jump even higher than that too!

Cats can jump to different heights depending on where they are going.

A cat can jump high straight up, but if they are jumping at an angle onto another surface with something to grab onto, your cat may impress you with the height he can reach!

Of course, some cats can jump higher than others, but some cats aren’t able to jump as high either.

Every cat will be different based on several factors, including height, weight, and age. 

How High Can A Kitten Jump

Kittens can jump about a foot high when they are younger, but they will quickly get stronger and be able to jump higher.

A young kitten will not be able to jump very high. Some kittens won’t even be able to jump on your couch. 

As your cat gets older, he’ll start to jump higher and higher. A kitten that is a few months old will be able to jump as high as a foot, then two, then three.

Your kitten’s legs will get stronger and stronger as he gets older, but when he’s young, his bones are too soft to adequately jump high.

A kitten won’t pose as many jumping problems for you as a fully grown cat. 

Is It Safe For Cats To Jump High

Yes, it is usually safe for a cat to jump high.

It can be concerning when you see how high your cat can jump, but you shouldn’t be too worried about your cat jumping. He knows what he is doing.

However, you should think about where your cat is jumping. This can be the real thing to be scared of.

Check to see what objects are near where your cat is jumping. 

For instance, if your cat likes to jump on the counter, then you shouldn’t leave knives or hot pots where he jumps.

If your cat’s favorite spot in the house is on a bookshelf, then you should clear off anything that may break.

Cats will need to jump from a great height to be seriously injured. 

How High Can A Cat Jump Over A Baby Gate

Cats can easily jump over a baby gate of most heights.

We’ve already said that cats can jump up to five feet or higher. Almost any baby gate is going to be lower than that.

Most gates that you find aren’t going to be five or six feet high. Most gates will be about three feet tall, but you can find ones that are higher or lower than that. 

Your cat isn’t going to have any problem scaling a three foot tall baby gate.

When you see a cat jump, he’ll be able to clear the top of the baby gate with a foot or two to spare. 

How Tall Should A Cat Gate Be

If you want a gate to adequately stop a cat, then it will have to be at least four feet high. 

You will need to shop around for a cat gate that will fit your needs.

Estimate how high your cat can jump. If you see that your cat can jump five feet high almost every time he jumps, then you’re going to need something taller than a five foot gate.

You can start with a lower gate, but I would recommend finding a taller gate to start with to save money. 

Remember that jumping over a gate is different from jumping onto a counter. Your cat may not be as comfortable jumping over a gate as he is jumping onto the counter or your couch. 

Can A Cat Get Through A Baby Gate

Yes, a cat can get through a baby gate.

Scaling over a cat or baby gate could be easy for your cat, but even if it isn’t, there could be other problems that you may run into. 

Your baby isn’t going to be able to climb over his gate or through the rungs of the gate. 

Your cat can, though.

You may not have bought your gate thinking that your cat would slip through the rungs, but it is possible that your cat can fit through the rungs. 

Fewer rungs mean that there are larger spaces between each rung, which means that your cat could walk through the rungs without a hint of hesitation. 

How Do You Train A Cat To Jump Over A Baby Gate

Sometimes you want your cat to be able to jump over a baby gate or other kind of gate.

You don’t always want to use a gate to keep your cat out of a room. For example, maybe you want to keep your new puppy in the kitchen during the day or restrict your toddler to the carpeted living room. 

On the other hand, your cat may still be allowed to go about the house freely whenever he wants.

The following are a few ways that you can help your cat see the baby gate as less of an obstacle:

• Show your cat that it is easy and safe to jump over.
• Give your cat a treat whenever he successfully jumps over the gate.
• Find a gate with an opening for a cat, so your cat doesn’t need to jump.
• Put something on the other side of the cat gate for him to jump onto. 

How To Block Stairs From A Cat

Since your cat may be able to scale a pet gate on the stairs, you may need other options. 

You might have to get creative with some solutions to keep your cats from going up the stairs, so here are some ideas for you to explore:

• Put tin foil on the bottom stair to scare your cat.
• Take your cat back downstairs whenever he goes upstairs to show him that he isn’t allowed.
• Clap loudly when your cat goes near the stairs.

Cats are smart creatures, so you may need to try a few different methods before you find something that works.

One of the easiest solutions may be to let your cat use the stairs but close doors to any rooms in which you don’t want your cat.