Owning a pet is both a delight and a responsibility.  No matter how much your love your pet there are times when they need to be confined; pet gates are the answer.  No one wants a pet underfoot when cooking dinner or performing housekeeping chores.  Dogs are notorious for being in the wrong place at the wrong time when it comes to hot food.  Always curious, cats will climb anything to see what is going on.  Unless you want to risk an accident, using a pet gate to keep an animal out of a certain part of the house is an expression of kindness, not cruelty.

It is true that given their choice your pet is likely to stick with you most of the time.  This is particularly true of dogs.  Placing a pet gate between you and your pet can save you both from a great deal of trouble.  All pets, not unlike children, need rules and boundaries.  Letting your pet know that there are certain areas they can not access is good for the pet.  Just how you wouldn’t tolerate your children everywhere in the house, there is no reason your pets should have free reign.  Gating off your bedroom, for example, is likely to eliminate your dog sleeping with you.  Keeping your kitchen gated off will allow you to make a meal in peace.

Both cats and dogs can learn to accept and utilize gates.  For obvious reasons you need different materials when purchasing a dog gate versus a cat gate.  A well constructed dog gate will allow you to move from one side of the gate to another; preferably using only one hand.   The gate should be of a relatively open construction so your pet can watch you moving about, without feeling completely isolated.  For a cat a fabric mesh gate or a diamond interlocking pattern is often most appropriate.    Cats can climb mesh if they are sufficiently coordinated, and a typical slat gate used for dogs lets a cat walk right through.  Consider the size of your animal before you make any purchases.  Measure the opening you wish to seal, and consider taking a picture of the area to help you pick the best gate.

You can find a pet gate in just about any material and certainly any size.   If you have an odd sized opening you might want to consider a custom made gate.  To match your home furnishings gates are now made of wood as well as plastics, metal or fabric. For instance, wooden dog gates could go great with you kitchen or dining room and metal dog gates could go great for bedrooms or hallways. Select a height based upon your pet’s height, you don’t want them to feel that they can easily jump over the gate, but neither do you want to purchase a gate that is any larger than necessary.  The slats should be spaced closely so that your pet can not get their head through the opening and get trapped.  That is a trauma none of you need to experience.

In the end, a pet gate is designed to keep everyone happy and safe.  Your selection must be based upon your needs.