My cats have free access to my enclosed back garden, but they are not allowed through the front door which would let them on to the road. This can be a problem if I am talking to someone at the door, or signing for a parcel, when a cat can zip past my ankles while I'm distracted. My first thought was to change my front door for one in two halves, like a stable door. However, when I made enquiries, I found that a stable door at the front is difficult and expensive, owing to the complication of being able to lock it from inside or out.
So my next idea was to keep my existing door, but have a gate fitted outside it:
The gate has to be low enough to leave the letter box clear, and a cat could jump it, but not so quickly that they could get past while I'm standing there. I had the gate made solid, not barred, because if the cats can't see through it, they have less incentive for wanting to explore the outside.
Front door opens inward, gate opens out. Note the bolt on the inside of the gate. It can't be opened unless the door is open - to stop local kids playing with it while I'm out. (That's not a ladder outside, it's the support for the porch roof.):
When I come home, I first open the house door, letting me check if either cat is lurking on the doormat, before I open the gate:
All closed, looking quite tidy:
Before I did anything, I phoned the local planning office to ask if I needed permission to change my front door. They checked my postcode, and told me I was okay to go ahead. If you live in a listed building or a conservation area, it might not be so simple.
