# Do you close the bathroom door? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834 "2011-01-24T21:11:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/21 "2011-01-25T03:12:21Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > It’s a kind of “cocoon” thing with me - anytime I’m in a room by myself, I prefer to have the door closed. This, pretty much sums it up for me…the ‘coccoon’ thing. If I’m home alone, I don’t bother to close the door, though. You have to sort of shove the bathroom door to make it latch, so when I shower, I close it, but it doesn’t always catch, which means I end up with the kitties wandering in and out. There’s nothing like finishing a shower and opening the curtain to see two cats sitting on the edge of the sink, staring intently at you. I just know they’re thinking, “Oh my God, you were in there with all the scary water! Are you okay?!?” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/22 "2011-01-25T03:37:23Z")
Door is always closed. Pre-teen son, pre-teen daughter, and a dog. Enough said. ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/23 "2011-01-25T04:02:39Z")
I live alone, so only when showering, because otherwise the shower curtain sort of sways in the breeze. Also, of course, when I have company. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/24 "2011-01-25T04:03:06Z")
I pretty much always close it, even if there’s nobody in the house. Force of habit, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/25 "2011-01-25T04:07:07Z")
Actually, I just thought of an “other.” I live alone and always leave the door open unless I am using my neti pot. Then I have to shut the door or the cat will come running to lick the snot water draining from my nose. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/26 "2011-01-25T04:09:49Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Our cats do not allow any interior door to be closed, especially if one of their “hoomans” are on the other side. Same here. If it’s closed, HRH KittyFace must open it. And in the winter you have to keep the space heater on when you’re taking a bath because you’re going to freeze since she keeps shoving the door back open. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/27 "2011-01-25T04:16:35Z")
> [@YoSaffBridge](#): > > \ > There’s nothing like finishing a shower and opening the curtain to see two cats sitting on the edge of the sink, staring intently at you. > I just know they’re thinking, “Oh my God, you were in there with all the scary water! Are you okay?!?” My cat sits there and starts washing herself when I’m having a bath or shower. It’s like she’s thinking - “Oh, is it cleaning time? Guess I better get on that!” (Or the fact that cats are always either sleeping, eating, or cleaning themselves, but I like my version better.) My husband’s cat has taken to the occasional nap on the bath rug right where I have to step out of the tub. I figure that’s because she’s a cat and inconveniencing humans is right in the job description. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/28 "2011-01-25T04:27:54Z")
The door stays closed, all the time. If a cat needs to get in while I’m in there (one of them ALWAYS wants in when I’m pooping, never any other time, and generally not when my wife is in there), she’ll scratch. If no one’s in there, the door stays closed because otherwise the same cat will unroll the entire toilet paper roll while no one’s looking. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/29 "2011-01-25T04:38:05Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > From then on, my mother always closed the door. Hilarious! Sometimes I leave the door open if I’m brushing my teeth, but usually I close it automatically once I step in. My cat occasionally stands guard outside, but she rarely makes a fuss about it. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/30 "2011-01-25T05:47:56Z")
Another cat slave here. The only time I’m allowed to close a door is if they are with me. That doesn’t last long, though. After about 30 seconds, they realize they are on the wrong door and exciting things MUST be happening in the other room. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/31 "2011-01-25T05:55:42Z")
Closed unless my roommate is out of town and there’s no chance of someone walking in (my apartment complex has permission to deliver our packages into our apartment). Then I leave it open to feel “rebellious.” Always closed when I’m in the shower, though. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/32 "2011-01-25T06:02:38Z")
It’s nice to have the few minutes of privacy, so I close the door unless I’m alone. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/33 "2011-01-25T06:36:02Z")
I used to close it 100% of the time. Now, I never close it. Unless I’m in that rare mood where I don’t mind if my son takes everything out of the refrigerator, breaks all the dishes, unfolds the laundry, destroys my laptop, and burns down the house. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/34 "2011-01-25T06:41:05Z")
It’s just me and the feline overlords, so why bother? I wander around the apartment in the buff, too. If I have guests, I’ll close it, but man it drives me up a wall to shower with the door closed, and then attempt to put clothes on in the steam. Bleh. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/35 "2011-01-25T06:58:42Z")
“if I’m pooping” in the bathroom, there’d be more serious issues than whether the door was open or not. I prefer to use the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/36 "2011-01-25T07:20:10Z")
I’ll leave the door open if I’m just brushing my teeth or fixing my hair (anything that doesn’t involve dislodging any clothing) so that my husband and son know I can be chased out if there’s a need (we have just the one bathroom). We all close the door for the most part whenever we’re in there. The cat objects but I find it entertaining to watch how much of herself she can squeeze under the door. It’s a surprising percetage. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/37 "2011-01-25T08:10:36Z")
OK, I was resisting, but I MUST post this: [http://www.twolumps.net/d/20040326.html](http://www.twolumps.net/d/20040326.html) . Keep clicking “next” til the end of the arc, about four or five strips. The Two Lumps are two Russian Blue kitties, and Snooch (the one who’s squeezing under the door) is a particularly dumb kitty. Ebenezer, his brother, is quite smart…and quite evil. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/38 "2011-01-25T10:43:16Z")
You know, I have a cat, and sure, sometimes she wants to investigate the bathroom when I’m in it. But you know what? Tough shit. I still pay the rent, and if she wants to open doors, maybe she should evolve opposable thumbs. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/39 "2011-01-25T11:04:45Z")
> [@Cugel](#): > > “if I’m pooping” in the bathroom, there’d be more serious issues than whether the door was open or not. I prefer to use the toilet. 😛 Explanation for Americans: In NZ/Australia, the bathroom refers to the room with a shower/bath/basin. There is a seperate ‘toilet’ which contains, well, the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834/40 "2011-01-25T11:16:08Z")
I keep my bathroom door almost all the way closed most of the time, not having much to do with modesty. My daughter’s snakes ‘live’ in the bathroom, and we keep a space heater in there for them, so I keep the door closed to keep the heat in. I _do_ like my privacy when I’m having a tub soak, though, so at those times, the door not only gets completely closed, sometimes it even gets locked! I do like to close it all the way when I’m on the toilet because one of my kitties thinks bathroom time is an appropriate time to jump up in my lap! :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-close-the-bathroom-door/568834.md?page=3)