15 Best Pet Gates For Cats And Dogs

Reviews

Cardinal Gates Auto-Lock Gate is the best overall
 

• 30 inches tall
• Aluminum is the material.
• Yes, it is expandable.

The Cardinal Gates Auto-Lock Gate is simple to use, long-lasting, and adaptable for usage in a variety of applications ranging from doors to stairwells.

Not only does the gate swing open easily, but it also has an auto-lock latch that will reliably fasten without your intervention.

It also incorporates thoughtful safety features, such as an optional stop bracket that can be used to prevent it from opening, which is useful at the top of the stairs.

The Cardinal Gates Auto-Lock Gate is also adjustable, with a width ranging from 26 to 40 inches.

While this gives it a lot of versatility, it’s not a good option if you require a gate that can be moved around your house.

The gate is hardware mounted, which means it will require some effort to install and should be considered a more permanent installation.

The Auto-Lock Gates, on the other hand, earned its permanent installation designation due to its long-lasting, high-quality construction.

It’s constructed of aluminum with no wearable plastic parts. Its metal design is powder-coated, adding texture and softening the overall appearance.

The Auto-Lock Gate comes in black, white, and taupe.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Made of long-lasting aluminum
• Has an automatic latching feature

Cons

• Height adjustments are available separately.
• Not recommended for stairwells.

 

Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide Walk Thru Baby Gate is the best value
 

• 30 inches tall
• Steel is the material.
• Yes, it is expandable.

Although marketed as a baby gate, Regalo’s extra-wide walk-through gate also functions as a low-cost pet gate.

It’s made of tough steel and features a pressure mount design that makes it simple to set up and use. It has several safety lock mechanisms as well as four wall cups for increased stability.

It expands to accommodate openings between 29 and 34 inches or 35 and 38.5 inches wide and stands 30 inches tall, making it ideal for doorways, hallways, or the bottom of the stairs.

You can add two extension kits if you need to close off a larger opening (sold separately).

Pros

• There are numerous safety lock features.
• The pressure mount design makes installation simple.

Cons

• Not suitable for 34-35 inch apertures.

 

Cumbor Auto-Close Pet Gate is the best walk-through
 

• 30.5 inches tall
• Steel is the material.
• Yes, it is expandable.

Having a robust pet fence often means sacrificing the convenience of simply moving about your house, but with the Cumber Auto-Close Pet Gate, you may have the best of both worlds.

It has an ergonomic lock and a latch that opens smoothly from both sides.

While you step through it, the gate swings close behind you and locks automatically, eliminating the need to re-latch it when your hands are full.

It has a pressure-mounting system that allows it to be installed in less than 20 minutes and moved easily if you need to block off various regions at different times.

The gate’s height is 30.5 inches and it adjustable from 29.5 to 46 inches.

Pros

• It comes in five different hues.
• Both sides of the door open
• Automatically closes and locks

Cons

• It is difficult to move around.
• Does not fit 36-inch holes.

 

Cardinal Gates are the most expandable. Expandable Extra Wide White Pet Gate
 

• 29.5 inches tall
• Aluminum is the material.
• Yes, it is expandable.

Many pet gates are expandable or allow you to buy extensions separately, but this extra-wide expandable gate from Cardinal Gates (the largest one it offers) comes with everything you need to block off areas up to 90 inches wide.

Each panel is 30 inches long, so you can use one or all three at the same time. The hardware-mounted gate has an auto-close and auto-lock door, allowing you to operate it with one hand swiftly and effortlessly.

The gate is 29.5 inches tall, but the height-adjustable mounts allow you to move it up or down to meet your needs.

Pros

• Obstructs a broad region
• Hardware-installed for further security

Cons

• There are no height extensions available.

 

EveryYay Convertible Pet Gate and Play Yard is the best indoor/outdoor pet gate and play yard
 

• 30 inches tall
• Plastic is the material.
• Yes, it is expandable.

EveryYay’s Convertible Pet Gate and Play Yard is great for transferring your pet gate from indoors to outdoors.

It includes six 26 x 30 inch panels that may be assembled into a gate that expands to 192 inches or used in a variety of various ways to create an outdoor (or indoor) play pen.

The lightweight plastic structure makes it easy to move, yet it’s strong enough to keep your pets enclosed exactly where you want them.

All of the panels snap together, or you can mount it to the wall with the provided hardware.

Pros

• Can be utilized in a variety of ways
• Indoor and outdoor use is possible.
• Simple to transport

Cons

• Plastic may be less long-lasting.

 

MyPet Extra Tall Petgate Passage Gate with Small Pet Door is ideal for large dogs
 

• 42 inches tall
• Steel is the material.
• Yes, it is expandable.

Standard standard pet gates may not be adequate to keep exceptionally large—or really smart—dogs contained, but even the largest dog can’t get past this 42-inch tall MyPet alternative.

It is made of heavy-duty steel and includes a locking Grip-n-Twist latch that keeps the door firmly fastened when you want it to be.

When the gate is unlocked, it swings in both directions, allowing you to easily move around the house regardless of which direction you’re coming from.

It also has a small pet door built in, so if you have free-roaming cats, they can easily pass through. With the accompanying extensions, this pressure-mounted gate extends from 29.75 inches to 38 inches.

Pros

• Extra height to accommodate huge dogs and escape artists.
• The door swings both ways.
• Cats have a built-in little pet door.

Cons

• Small dogs will be able to fit through the door.
• It takes time to put together.

 

Carlson Pet Products Design Studio Freestanding Extra Wide Pet Gate is the best freestanding pet gate
 

• 20 or 28 inches tall
• Wooden frame with steel bars
• Yes, it is expandable.

Freestanding pet gates are more versatile than mounted ones since they can be placed anywhere and are not restricted to areas with side walls.

This extra-wide freestanding gate from Carlson Pet Products is especially impressive because of its adjustable width—it can suit areas ranging from 40 to 70 inches wide—and a step-over design that allows you to pass through while keeping your dog exactly where you want them.

Furthermore, you have two height options—20 and 28 inches—so you may select the one that is most comfortable for you.

It also appears high-end with its wood finish and steel bars, so it becomes an intentional feature of your decor rather than an afterthought.

Pros

• Simple to trip over
• There are two height possibilities.
• High-quality wood finish

Cons

• Large dogs may not be able to stand on it.
• There is no door.

 

The best-looking gate is the Primetime Petz 360 Configurable Gate with Door
 

• 24, 30, or 36 inches tall
• Wooden material
• Yes, it is expandable.

If you want to keep your pets contained but don’t want a pet gate that sticks out too much, this wooden option from Primetime Petz appears like it belonged there.

It is available in two hardwood finishes: white and walnut, and it blends into your home decor and appears to be deliberate.

It can be used as a freestanding pet gate or arranged in a square pattern to create a tiny wooden pen.

It’s easy to walk through and includes 360-degree hinges and rubber-pad feet to hold the gate in place and protect your floors.

It also comes in three sizes: 24 inches, 30 inches, and 36 inches, so if you have a huge dog who can clear ordinary pet gates, you can go a little taller.

Pros

• It is self-contained and portable.
• High-quality wood finish
• It is available in three different heights.

Cons

• A larger dog could knock you over.
• There is no option for further reinforcement.

Conclusion

The Cardinal Gates Auto-Lock Gate is our top recommendation for a pet gate due to its sturdy design. Consider the Cumbor Auto Close Safety Baby Gate if you’re on a tight budget.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes that our top fifteen list of the best pet gates for cats and dogs has been useful in your search for the best alternative for your cat.

What to Look for When Purchasing Pet Gates

Durability

When purchasing for a pet gate, durability is high on the list of considerations. After all, if your enormous dog can plow straight through it, it’s not going to help you much.

Steel pet gates are typically thought to be the most robust, although they can be hefty and bulky. Aluminum is another long-lasting material that provides a lot of strength in a lighter shape.

Wood and plastic are two other possibilities. Plastic is the least durable of the options, but it’s still a fine option if you have a pet who won’t try to leap up on the gate.

Materials

Materials are important for more than simply longevity. They also play an important function in the overall appearance of your pet gate.

If you’re blocking off an out-of-the-way place, you may not be concerned with how the gate appears, but if the pet gate is going in a key section of your home, you may want it to blend in a little more with your decor.

Wood and steel gates provide a more upscale appearance, whereas plastic and aluminum may stick out more.

Installation

Another factor to consider is how it is mounted. Pressure-mounted pet gates are held in place by applying pressure to the door frame or surrounding walls.

They don’t need to be drilled and won’t leave holes in your walls. They operate best at the foot of stairwells or in doors, but they can’t be used to close off a room unless you have something to grasp onto.

Hardware-mounted pet gates are similar to pressure-mounted in that they require walls or a door frame to secure to, but they are fitted with screws and are typically considered sturdier.

For use at the top of stairwells, we propose hardware-mounted gates.

Freestanding gates, which have feet that allow them to stand up in any space without the need for a door frame or walls to mount to, are another alternative.

Freestanding gates are less secure than pressure-mounted or hardware-mounted gates, but they provide more versatility because they can be used to block off any space, with or without a door frame.