How to Make a Cat Hole in a Baby Gate

There are a variety of reasons to make a cat hole in a baby gate. You can provide your feline friends with a private entrance and exit to specific areas of your home. You might prefer to keep a larger pet or small child away from a litter box or cat food. No matter the reason, this is a simple and economical project that will be most appreciated by your cat.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden-framed baby gate with white plastic interior
  • 3 foot section of tubular, pre-slit foam pipe insulation
  • Dark marker or crayon
  • Utility scissors
  • Yard stick with a level
  • Measuring tape
  • White duct tape
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Instructions

  1. Making a Cat Hole in a Baby Gate

    • 1

      Use the yard stick to measure the opening where the baby gate will be installed and purchase the appropriate width and height gate for the task. Install the baby gate in the opening with the bottom rail touching the floor and the pressure arm facing away from you.

    • 2

      Measure the height of your largest cat from the floor to the top of the head and the width of your cat across the widest area of its body.

    • 3

      Use the magic marker to draw a square that is two inches wider than your cat and half its height, starting two inches above the base of the baby gate and at least two inches in from the right side of the gate. Use the level for an accurate square. For an elderly cat you can make the hole slightly larger. You want to make the smallest hole that you can to accommodate your cat.

    • 4

      Remove the gate from the opening and use your scissors to cut out the plastic within the marker lines to make a square hole in the gate. Discard the plastic cut out.

    • 5

      Cut the foam tubing to fit the raw edges of the hole. Open the pre-slit sides of the tubing and push down so that the tubing fits securely and completely over each edge.

    • 6

      Use the white duct tape to cover the tubing and secure the tubing to the plastic of the gate. Make sure the tape holds the tubing securely as the tubing will cover all sharp edges of the opening.

    • 7

      Install the gate securely in the opening with the pressure arm of the gate facing away from you and the cat hole on the lower right hand side of the gate.