Cat Gate Use Frequently Asked Questions

Before the gate can function, you must install the Mounting Brackets to both sides of your installation. Once they are installed, the Retract-A-Gate for cats simply snaps into the brackets on either the right or the left side of the opening. All our safety gates are interchangeable and can be attached to either side of an opening as you prefer.

The Retract-A-Gate is fully retractable which means that it automatically retracts and no manual winding is required. The retracting action of the cat gate is smooth, steady, and quiet. Once it is fully retracted, the mesh and handle are neatly contained in the reel of the gate. Retract-A-Gate is the ONLY safety gate which retracts, quietly, easily, and automatically. The opening and closing process can be easily done with one hand, and only takes a few seconds to do. When engineering the cat gate, design, safety, and convenience was paramount. We are confident that you will be satisfied!

To operate the cat gate, simply pull the handle and hook it into the brackets installed on the opposite side of the opening. Once hooked in the brackets, you then lock the retractable gate. The lock is a double acting (push and then turn) mechanism. This keeps the retractable safety gate from being pushed out or pulled down. The lock also allows the gate to be locked at any width up to the maximum width of the gate. When you want to retract the cat gate, simply unlock it, unhook the handle from the brackets, and guide the handle back into the reel of the gate. Keep in mind that the mesh can only rewind when the lock has been turned to the open position which will prevent any inadvertent retracting of the mesh.

Please refer to our Install and Specs page for use and installation instructions.

Why should you get a Retract-A-Gate over other safety gates? Quality! When designing Retract-A-Gate, we extensively tested and meticulously evaluated its features and functions. This continuous and relentless pursuit of quality is why Retract-A-Gate is the best functioning and best value of any gate on the market. With that considered, Retract-A-Gate is priced very competitively for what you get. No other gates are as easy to use as the Retract-A-Gate without sacrificing safety. Other retractable gates are complicated to operate or do not hold up well to extended, everyday use. You can always buy a cheaper retractable gate, but what you lose in price, you will also lose in quality. Here is a quick list of why Retract-A-Gate is better:

• Some retractable gates for cats make a loud ratcheting noise when the gate is retracted. Retract-A-Gate was engineered to be smooth and quiet when operating.
• The Retract-A-Gate automatically rewinds which is not the case for some of our competitors.
• Many claim that their gate can be operated with one hand when they really require you to operate the gate with both. Our gate for cats can be easily opened, closed, and locked with only one hand.
• Others use complex parts for installation; Retract-A-Gate is simple and fast to install.
• Opening or closing some retractable gates causes them to jam if you pause during the process. Retract-A-Gate was engineered to operate smoothly in and out.
• Retract-A-Gate is 100% made in the U.S.A. in Dubuque, IA.
• Retract-A-Gate mounting brackets are clear, nearly invisible, and guaranteed strong and durable.
• Retract-A-Gate is the only retractable gate designed for both indoor and outdoor use.
• The widest any other retractable gate can cover is 55 inches; however, our extra wide gate can accommodate openings up to 72 inches.
• Any other gate is limited to its maximum opening; several Retract-A-Gates can connect together to cover as wide as you need (this is for non-critical applications only).
• The engineering of all our safety barriers allow them to be moved from one location to another using an additional bracket kit. Most other gates do not allow simple relocation.
• Not only do we have the widest gate available, we have one of the tallest available with a mesh height of 34 inches.
• Both size gates, including our extra wide gate, can be used for both children and pets.
• Retract-A-Gate was designed with ease of installation, ease of use, durability, and safety in mind.
• It offers the best balance of features and security of any gate in its class.

The Retract-A-Gate comes in two sizes; 52 inches wide or 72 inches wide. The width is the total distance the cat gate can cover if installed within an opening. If you install the gate on the outside of an opening, the mounting brackets will no longer factor into the width.

The mesh height on the retractable cat gate is 34 inches tall from the floor to the top of the mesh. The height to the top of the lock which is located above the mesh reel is slightly less than 38 inches. The wall brackets must be mounted about 3 and 30.5 inches off the floor and require about 2.5 inches of flat surface to attach to. Because of the design of the gate, the brackets can be mounted higher and lower than 3 and 30.5 inches depending on need. With that said, they can only be adjusted up and down about 1 inch. The Retract-A-Gate is less than 4 inches wide when it is fully retracted which allows the gate to be tucked out of the way when not in use.

When the retractable gate is clipped in the brackets, the gate can swivel in any direction. This allows the gate to be installed around the corner of the doorway, either on the door molding or on the wall. Keep in mind that if the gate is installed on the outside of a doorway, the mounting brackets no longer contribute to the full width of the gate.

Lastly, if there are baseboards where you will be installing your Retract-A-Gate, measure the height and thickness to determine if you need 1 or more Wall Spacer Sets. Because of the gate design, baseboards can get in the way of the gate’s ability to attach to the brackets. The spacers push the brackets out over the baseboard so the gate can be attached without interference from the baseboards. For more information on Wall Spacer Sets or any other installation accessory, go to our Online Store page.

The Retract-A-Gate comes with the mounting brackets, screws, and washers needed to install the gate. If you want to install to drywall, a banister post, or a wall with baseboards skirting the wall, you may need some installation accessories such as drywall anchors, wall spacers, or stair banister adapter kits in order to install successfully. Please visit our Retract-A-Gate Online Store to determine what install accessories you may need for your installation.

Absolutely, Retract-A-Gate is certified for stairs use! The Retract-A-Gate for cats was designed, engineered, and tested for use at the top and bottom of the stairs. Once installed correctly, the gate has also been tested and can withstand a push out force of up to 200 pounds.

For Banister post installations, you can connect the brackets to a banister post or spindle one of two ways. You can screw the wall brackets directly onto your baluster or newel post (stair post) or use the Stair Banister Adapter Kit found on our Online Store.

If you install the brackets directly to your banister post, you must have a flat surface, 3-4 and 30.5 inches from the floor that is at least 3 inches wide to accommodate the installation of the brackets. If you want to avoid drilling holes into your stair post or have a round or thin banister post or spindle that you want to attach the gate to, you will need to use our Stair Banister Adapter Kit.

The brackets that come with each cat gate we sell screw into the Banister Adapter and then that whole assembly is strapped to your stair post using the straps provided with the kit. The straps in the banister adapter kit can accommodate any size post up to 7 square inches. Our Banister Adapters are designed to also work with wooden or iron spindles. The adapter was designed with a 1 inch groove in the back that will wrap around smaller spindles 1 inch square or less.

When installing at the top of stairs, we recommend that the retractable safety gate is mounted at least 6 inches back from the edge of the top step. If the gate is installed close to the edge of the step, a gap can be created at the bottom of the gate if the mesh fabric is pushed out past the edge of the top step. If this is a problem for you, Retract-A-Gate can be installed at any angle away from the steps, which can help achieve the 6 inch requirement; see FAQ #6 for more information. If this is also not an option for your installation, you can also block off near-by areas which still restrict access to the stairs.

If you are going to attach both sides of your cat gate to stair posts, you will need one Banister Adapter Kit per post. The Stair Banister Adapters Kits come in two sizes; 36 inches tall and 48 inches tall. The 36-inch adapter works for most installations. Some posts are rounded in certain areas or are narrow in the middle, so the adapter is designed to provide a level surface for the brackets to install to no matter the shape or thickness of your banister post. If the distance from the floor to the upper round or flat area of the post that the adapter must reach is more than 36 inches, you will need the 48-inch adapter. If the adapter is too long for your stair post or spindle, it can be cut, but no shorter than 32 inches. Read through our full Stair Banister Adapter Kit installation instructions on the Install & Specs Page for more information.

Yes, it can! The design of the mounting hardware allows the gate to pivot in any direction once the cat gate is hooked into the brackets. This is a feature that most other cat gates do not have. A good use for installing the gate at an angle would be at the top of the stairs where there is not enough room between the gate and the edge of the steps. If this is the case, you can install the Retract-A-Gate at an angle away from the stairs to create a buffer space between the gate for cats and edge of the top step. We normally recommend a 6 inch set-back between the mesh barrier and the top steps. When installing the gate at an angle, the openings of the brackets should face away from the Retract-A-Gate.

Other than regular wooden or drywall surfaces, there are many alternative surfaces that the Retract-A-Gate can be mounted to. The most common alternate installation surfaces are listed below along with what you need to consider for that surface.

Bookcase or cabinet: The Universal Mounting Bracket Kit can only be installed to a bookcase if the bookcase is stable (wall-mounted). If the inside wall of the bookcase (or cabinet) is thin, you may need to put a backer board on so that the screws have a minimum of 1 inch of solid wood to bite into. If you need to install to a cabinet with a countertop overhang, the wall spacers or blocks of wood can be used under both the top and bottom brackets. The spacers will push the brackets out from underneath the countertop so the brackets will have enough clearance to mount the cat safety gate to them.

Brick, stone, concrete, or mortar: Our screws are wood screws and cannot be used with brick, concrete, or mortar surfaces unless they are used with the appropriate masonry anchors. Simply take the screws that come with Retract-A-Gate to the hardware store and have them size an appropriate masonry anchor for you. If you need to use masonry screws be sure to use #6 flat head screws and use the included finishing washers. You can also fasten a board to the brick/stone/concrete/mortar and then attach the brackets to the board.

Fiberglass: When installing to fiberglass, we always recommend mounting the brackets to the support/stud behind the fiberglass if possible. If there is no stud then you need to use appropriate anchors or a backer board.

Vinyl siding on a house: The Retract-A-Gate wall brackets can only be installed to house siding if there is solid wood sheeting/boards underneath the siding (this is normally the case). If the screws of the mounting brackets cannot bite into wood, the safety gate cannot be installed to the thin siding alone.

Retract-A-Gate can be used outdoors! Our gate for cats has been extensively tested in all types of weather and climates. We have even tested the gate outside during a full Iowa winter with flawless results.

When installing the retractable gate outside, we do recommend you bring it inside during freezing temperatures because if the gate is frozen open or shut, the safety gate will not function as required until it is unfrozen. Anything left outside will have a reduced life compared to only indoor use. The gate is completely UV resistant, but one thing to be aware of is that some fading or degradation due to extended sun exposure is possible, but you can feel confident that the Retract-A-Gate will stand up well to outdoor use.

If installing the cat gate outside, we would recommend pre-drilling the holes and using #6 flat head stainless steel screws. Stainless steel will hold up much better when in contact with the treated wood posts or Trex surfaces. If you want to install the safety gate to siding, ensure that the screws are biting into plywood sheeting behind the siding.

Currently we offer two size gates; 72 and 52 inches wide. We do not make custom size gates, however there are several options listed below to connect two or more gates together to cover wider openings: Option 1: Probably the best solution would be to connect multiple Retract-A-Gates together using our Gate Connector Straps found on our Online Store. The handle rod of one gate can be strapped to the reel-side tie rod of the second gate and so on. You connect as many gates as required to cover your opening by daisy chaining them as described above. Using this solution, you can still operate the gate with one hand very easily. An example of this sort of installation is shown below. If you decide to use this solution, you must make sure to lock all the gates to keep them taut and avoid unnecessary slack in the gates.

Keep in mind that this solution is for non-critical applications or where only a visual barrier is needed because hooking multiple gates together has not been certified for use with children. Installing this solution at the top and bottom of stairs where safety is a major requirement is not recommended.

Option 2: A second option would be to connect two gates together using the S hook Set. To make this work, you would need to install one gate on either side of your opening and connect the two gates in the middle. Using this option, you could cover a distance up to 144 inches if using the 72-inch wide gates. One of the S-hooks would be used in the top cutouts and one S-hook would be used in the bottom cutouts in the handle of the gates (see photos below). With this option you would need to operate the gates with both hands versus the option above where you would still be able to operate the gate with one hand.

This solution is also only for special situations such as low traffic areas, non-critical applications, or where only a visual barrier is needed. The S-hook solution is not certified for child use, and we do not recommend using this option in critical areas such as the top of stairs. If you decide to use this option, a set of S-hooks is available for purchase on the Online Store page.

Option 3: Your last option would be to custom build a partition in your opening that the standard size gates could install to which would negate the need for connecting multiple gates together.

Retract-A-Gate has been used successfully with many different cat breeds. There are some breeds of cats that will not be stopped by any gate and will jump or burrow past any obstruction. If this is the case, you will need to utilize training devices in conjunction with the gate to effectively corral your pets. Because the gate is retractable, there will be some amount of give to the mesh material; however, if installed incorrectly there may be too much flexibility. By following these guidelines, you can minimize most issues:

• Always lock the gate for cats. This will keep the mesh taut and help prevent your pet from pushing underneath the mesh.
• When installing the gate ensure the base of the cat gate is resting on the floor and not mounted up off the floor at all. When installed correctly, there should be no more than about 1/4″ gap between the bottom of the mesh and the floor.
• If your cat gate is mounted near the top of the steps, make sure the mesh of the gate is installed at least six inches back from the edge of the step. If installed too close to the edge of the step, the mesh can be pushed out past the edge and create a gap for a cat to squeeze through.
• Both the top and bottom of the gate should be tight with no slack. Slack at the bottom probably means the bottom brackets are spaced too close to each other (compared to the upper brackets). The horizontal distance between the upper brackets should match the horizontal distance between the lower brackets.
• If additional tension is needed in the gate, close the gate by pulling it out and hook it into the opposite brackets, then turn the roll clockwise about 1/8 of a turn and while holding it in that position, lock the gate.

With a mesh height of 34 inches, Retract-A-Gate is one of the tallest gates available. Retract-A-Gate’s tightly woven mesh fabric makes it difficult for a cat to climb over and most cats are inclined not to jump up and over things; they usually want a flat surface to land on first before they jump back down so that they can see where they are going to land. Since the retractable pet gate doesn’t offer a “ledge” for them to jump up to, most cats will not jump over the pet gate. If your cat loves to jump and can jump over a three-foot fence or safety gate, you will need a taller cat gate. One option for a taller gate is to install one gate over the top of another gate utilizing our Clip Set, or you can use other training aids to deter your cats from jumping over.

The Retract-A-Gate’s mesh is made from a reinforced polymer composite that is both tough and non-toxic (does not contain Lead, Phthalate, Latex, BPA chemicals or formaldehyde). We are very concerned with these sorts of chemicals and are proud to be ahead of the curve in regards to eliminating them from all our products for cats.

The mesh is composed of a very durable, yet see-through material which is UV and mildew resistant and in other applications this same mesh is used for truck tarps to hold down cargo.

If you would like a sample of the mesh, contact customer service at (877) 588-2530 or email us at info@SmartRetract.com. Be sure to include your name and mailing address so we can ship you a small fabric sample of the Café, White and Black Retract-A-Gate mesh.

We recommend cleaning the cat gate with mild soap and water if required. When dealing with tough stains, rubbing alcohol may be used.

We’ve worked hard to price our retractable baby, dog, and cat gates fairly, and because of that Retract-A-Gate offers the most value of any safety gate in its class! Our attention has always been on bringing you the best products and service to equal the most value of anything on the market. Now, there have been times, every so often, when we do have general discounts or promotions, and if any of those offers are available, we will publish those on our Online Store – just scroll down to the first step of the Check Out section. You won’t find any discounts or coupon codes anywhere else on the internet including sites like Groupon, Rakuten, RetailMeNot, Coupons.com, Zulily or any other coupon house type sites. If you do find Retract-A-Gate coupons on sites like those – don’t waste your time, they are not real.

The most common way to use the Bow Wow Barrier with your cats is to attach it to an exterior door to keep your cats from either getting out or getting into your house. Attach the brackets for the barrier on to the wall and then to the inside edge of the door, using the included hardware. After you install your Bow Wow Barrier and latch the handle into the brackets on the door, the mesh will automatically extend or retract with the door as it opens or closes. If you want to walk through the door, simply unlatch the handle from the brackets on the door and either guide the mesh back to the reel as it automatically rewinds, or hook it back to the door for safety. The Bow Wow Barrier is quick and simple to use and keeps your cats or kittens or other pets from dashing out the door.

The differences are:

• Retract-A-Gate is certified for use with children AND pets; the Bow Wow Barrier is specifically for pets only.
• Retract-A-Gate is designed to block off an area for a period of time; the Bow Wow Barrier is used momentarily as your exterior door opens.
• Because of the momentary usage of the Bow Wow Barrier, it does not need a lock; the Retract-A-Gate has a childproof lock to keep the mesh locked in place.
• Retract-A-Gate covers openings up to 72 inches; the Bow Wow Barrier is used exclusively on your door for short opening distances.
• The door side screws for the Bow Wow Barrier are 1-inch long; all Retract-A-Gate screws are 2-inches long.

The similarities are:

• Both products are made of the same durable mesh fabric.
• Both have a mesh height of 34 inches.
• Mounting brackets are identical.
• Both available in Café and White (Retract-A-Gate is also available in Black).
• Both retract to about a 4-inch roll.
• Retract-A-Gate can also function similarly to Bow Wow Barrier, but it includes other features normally unnecessary for simple temporary exterior door use as compared to Bow Wow Barrier.