I have used a chair pad or pillow to block and gently push the cat back. It does become hard when they see the door as an escape. I use a pass through baby gate. It's a pressure mounted gate that has a door you can open to easily walk through. I sometimes still need to use a pillow or cushion to push him back from the door.
What would you suggest is the best way to get Henry back away from the bathroom door when I want to enter? I have been saying his name and softly knocking on the door before entering, and so far he's always been back away from the door on his blanket, or in the back of the room in the tub. When I went to go in tonight for the last time he was much closer to the door, which I had not expected, and he startled me and I startled him, causing him to hiss at me and jump back into the bathtub. I need to be prepared now for him to be quite near the door, and I certainly don't want him to jump past me and get out into the bedroom, but I don't want to have to startle him either. Any suggestions here? I only open the door a crack to make sure he's not too close, but if he is, what do you think would be the best way to get him to move back so I can open the door without scaring him too much?
Just be prepared he may squeeze by you one day. If he does, just remain calm. Then do your best to put Izzy elsewhere and close off all other doors. Most likely he will run out and then go to hide underneath something.