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I need a 'safe room' for my cat to go in to use the litter box away from the dog, who thinks it contains treats. I need the door the stay open a few inches without my Labrador Retriever having the ability to enter the room. She is Houdini so it needs to be something she can't push open.

Any suggestions?

Niall C.
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Tazadeh
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5 Answers5

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It may seem too simple to work, but you just need to cut your own tailor-made cat door.

Basically, a cat can get through any opening it can fit its head through. This usually works against us cat owners, since the beasties have a mind of their own and like to explore. This time, it may work in our favor. So:

  • Measure cat head (breadth), add 1/4 inch to make things easier.
  • Cut opening in door about that width, of reasonable height (8" should do the trick, perhaps even less).
  • Teach cat to go through the door, perhaps with some treats on the other side.
  • Watch dog try to fit her wide head through the opening, fail miserably.
  • Watch dog proceed to try to make opening wider by scratching.
  • Patch up the sides of the opening with metal.

Hope this helps (the cat).

ALAN WARD
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You can use cat tunnels that are elevated above where the dog is able to reach. Google has several images of cat tunnels at ceiling height, it is important to check for wires before installing elevated access ways, but cutting and patching holes in drywall is much easier then cutting and patching holes in doors. Also the dog will not try to dig their way through the door.

enter image description here

James Jenkins
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When I had cats, I used a doorway gate that they sell to keep small children away from steps or out of a room. The cat goes right through it but the dog can't.

enter image description here

source

Mazura
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stoney
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I'm going to try for an outside-the-box solution: How about a cat flap or cat passage _away from the door and above the dog's easy line of sight -- possibly from a shelf the cat can climb or jump to, with similar access on the other side of the wall? I think that would be something the cat could quickly learn to use but that simply wouldn't be an idea the dog would grasp, especially if the door itself is hidden so the dog thinks cat just went up there to sleep. And that kind of cat-specific housing design is wonderful for amusing and confusing friends.

keshlam
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You might consider a door guard

door guard

 Images and links are for illustration only, not an endorsement of goods or sources.
bib
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