****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I don't write many reviews, but this product is honestly so good, I felt compelled to share with others who are on the fence with this due to the price. It is pricey, yes, but there's nothing else out there like it and it immediately solves for all the issues you currently have in your life with integrating a new cat into the home, or cats that don't get along, etc. Immediately.It took about 2 hours in total to set up, and none of it was difficult - most of the time was spent adjusting it to fit our hallway archway and the top part of our hallwaly is sized differently as the arch curves in. Wasn't sure if it would work, but it sure did (see picture). We did take measurements before ordering, so be sure to do that. It DOES help to have 2 people; my husband set up most of it and then both of us were needed to make adjustments while he held it in place. It is sturdy once you tighten all of it up, but doesn't damage walls or sideboards - all will be restored once we take it down. It isn't super heavy once fully assembled, so yes, one person could do this themselves, but if you have someone who can help you it does make it easier. He assembled it all on the ground first, and then we together moved it into the hallway and made the adjustments as needed. Follow the instructions on configuration for your setup.We took in an outdoor cat that someone dumped in our neighborhood. After a few weeks of her making her home on our patio, we brought her in permanently. Our 14 year-old senior "only pet his whole life" cat did not take too favorably to this, so we are letting him acclimate slowly to this idea and baby gates have helped, but are cumbersome and the new kitty learned how to open them, jump them, etc. so we resorted to unfortunately having to keep her in a bedroom all day and only letting her out when she was supervised. Even the "tall baby gates" were not a solution - this cat gate is the ONLY solution and I'm so grateful I found it, we were at our wits end of not having to shut the new cat in a room all day to keep her seperate, and also give our own senior cat time to adjust...and being able to still maintain normal life like getting a laundry basket from one end of the house to the other. This gate has been great as my husband and I don't have to fiddle with the baby gates and screens anymore either - just in and out like a regular door. Its also very quiet and latch handle is high enough the cat will not be able to open it either!We don't intend to have it up forever, just until the cats are more integrated. For now it gives us peace of mind, and if we are gone all day at work, we don't have to feel badly that the new cat is shut in a room all day. She has half the house and the senior resident cat has the other half. We switch them out once a day as well so they become familar with each others' areas. Its sturdy and she cannot climb it either - the bars are close enough together so neither cat is able to shove their head thru the gaps (which was a problem with some other traditional baby gates) so that also gives us peace of mind. Not sure if it will work for kittens who may have smaller heads and bodies - that is something to consider. Also, this likely would not be strong enough to hold back a medium sized or larger dog. For small/tiny dogs less than 20 lbs, it probably would work just fine.Pros: Ease of use, ease of assembly, return to normalcy of life's daily tasks, airflow through the house, cats can see each other and put paws through the bars to touch each other, structure is sturdy and safe, no sharp parts or jagged edges that we can see - overall a huge win.Cons: Price, but it is what it isThrilled with the purchase and if you are on the fence of if this will work for you, just do it...you will not regret it!
