Please note that some posts contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links Find out More

Best Pet Door, Puppy Gate, and Pet Gate Options: How to Train Pets to Use Baby Gate

by | Sep 8, 2021 | Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care | 3 comments

Best Pet Door, Puppy Gate, and Pet Gate Options: How to Train Pets to Use Baby Gate

According to many who know, a cat is always on the wrong side of the door. They drive us crazy with meow-demands to open the door, let them in, let them out, with rarely any rhyme or reason to their requests. So pet doors, baby gates for pets, puppy gates, and other pet barriers can offer the best options for your cats and dogs.

baby gates

Baby gates offer security for those on both sides of the barrier. Years ago, we introduced Magic to Seren-Kitty using cream cheese and a baby gate!

Why Use Pet Gates?

FCC noticePeople use pet doors and puppy gates for convenience, but also for safety reasons. While dog doors typically give access to the backyard doggy potty area, there are multiple ways a pet door benefits Kitty. Think outside the cat box and a pet door helps you manage your multi-pet household, as well as potential behavior issues.

There are too many risks involved to allow cats or dogs to roam outside unsupervised. Coyotes come right up on my back patio and would love to munch my Karma-Kat. But if partnered with a safe area, a pet door offers lots of convenience for a cat, especially when you aren’t home to do door duty.

Install pet doors in the interior or exterior walls, doors, windows, or even sliding panels to give access to an inside room, or safe outdoor area. Cats love window watching, so this can be a great option when the pet door unit simply fits into the existing opening.

pet gate puppy gate

Karma-Kat could escape through the kitty door, while big puppy Bravo remained behind in the kitchen because of the puppy gate.

Baby Gates for Pets

Cats require easy access to their potty place, but the litter box can be the most challenging part of living with a cat. Former feline strays may refuse to use the box and prefer grass, for instance. Or your family may include dogs or toddlers that get into the box (ew!). You can situate the cat litter box on an enclosed back porch, in the garage, within a cat condo or other safe, secure enclosure and offer the cat in-and-out privileges via the pet door or puppy gate.

When you have only one cat, this may not be important, but most folks share their lives with multiple felines. If you also have a dog, managing mealtimes may be a challenge, especially when each pet requires a different diet. Using a pet door to keep some pets out while giving others access can solve this problem.

pet gates puppy gate

Shadow pesters Karma half to death, so adding pet gates for the cat’s privacy helps reduce stress–for them, and for us!

Karma’s Litter Box Relocation

We recently moved Karma-Kat’s litter box from the master bathroom whirlpool tub (empty, of course!) clear across the house into the laundry room. Having it in the tub kept doggy noses at bay. But we couldn’t use the tub last winter for spare water when the cold weather hit. With the increase in weird weather, we decided to relocate Karma’s potty.

Moving his box took over a week, moving the box only a short distance each day. When introducing a cat to a new potty location, go at the cat’s speed. Once kitty agrees to use the box in the new location, only them move it again (within sight of the previous location). Moving the box too far too quickly risks the cat finding an illegal spot for his kitty-pot!

We already have pet gates on the two kitchen entrances, and on the stairs to limit pet access. So Karma already knew how to use cat doors. We added a similar pet gate to the laundry room to keep Shadow out. Like the other pet gates in our home, it has a Karma-size opening in the bottom for kitty privacy to come and “go.”

We purchased our extra-tall pet gates (with cat doors) on Amazon. They pressure-mount, and (so far, knock wood!) we haven’t needed to screw anything into the door frame.

Kinds of Pet Doors and Baby Gates for Pets

The simplest type of pet door offers a finished opening too small for big pets that allows the little guys access into interior rooms. The next level provides a vinyl flap that covers the opening for the dog or cat to push through and protects against wind and wet.

More expensive models provide a hinged screen or window, which keeps the opening free from buggy intruders or seals air conditioning inside. You can lock most of these so that the cat or dog stays safely inside when you’re not there to monitor antics.

The ultimate in pet doors offer “keyed” access that locks so that only the pet wearing the magnetic collar or microchip ID can get into the house. That prevents strays or wild animals like skunks from invading your home and allows only the designated cat to come and go through that particular portal.

Measure the cat’s height at his shoulders to determine the size door needed. Remember that kittens may have some growing yet to do. If you have other pets, decide if you want them to have access before deciding on the size of the door. You can find extensive selections of pet doors online and at pet products stores.

How to Train Pets to Use Baby Gates

Dogs and cats naturally nose poke, paw, and sniff objects to explore and play with their world. Cats also use cheek-rubs to mark territory. Use this natural inclination to teach Kitty or Poochie to push through the flap or to approach the entrance and trigger it open. Don’t discount kitty smarts, cats are easily trained. Here’s how to trick train tabby.

Prop the door flap open so the pet can see through to the other side. Use a favorite treat or toy to lure her back and forth through the opening until she becomes used to the idea.

Remember to praise her lavishly when she’s brave and pushes through the door. It can be a bit off-putting to shy kitties or puppies to take that first dare. So be sure that the reward on the other side (play, treats, games, praise) gives her good reason to remember the game so she’s eager to repeat.

Reward Behavior You Like

Reward even a nose touch to encourage the behavior. Try rubbing a bit of something smelly like a fishy treat, catnip, or even mint oil on the surface of the flap. That can increase kitty curiosity to explore and nose touch.

When the pet first pushes through, have a favorite treat waiting and reward her on the other side. Be sure to give her time and show her the location of the litter box or food bowl. That way your cat knows what’s beyond the barrier. Once she understands that there MAY be a treat waiting, she’ll more readily use the doggy door (and the bathroom facilities or play opportunities) whether or not a treat awaits.

Once your cat knows how to use a pet door, the pester quotient will go down. And you won’t have to worry about Kitty comings and goings, whenever he has the urge to explore, play, munch, or poop.

For more recommended pet products visit my Amazon list recommendations here!

YouTube Button

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!

 

 

3 Comments

  1. Andrea

    Great ideas Amy. Unfortunately the dog I just adopted is even smaller than my cats so she can fit through gates that allow my cats to get through. They are all seniors so I don’t want to make them jump over it. So far the dog, Izzy, hasn’t gotten into the litter pans, I think her legs are too short 🙂

    Reply
  2. Caren

    I now have two baby gates similar to yours but the metal is black and they have wood trim. Ready for this? Levi went right through the cat door when he was younger, I haven’t opened it since. Roary jumps the gates like a champ (when he wants to)……he has this annoying habit of standing by the gate if I am around and he will wait (extremely patiently) for me to open it so he can walk through. Mind you, he doesn’t walk through fast……..he takes his sweet ol time while I’m screaming to get moving before Levi sees that the gate is open lol. Also, I’m trying break our insane and huge Levi of an AWFUL habit. He gets excited and literally smashes himself into the gate……he’s big and I’m afraid of him breaking the gate (rather than hurting himself lol). I have tried everything and he still does it…..he will also do it if he sees Roary “lounging” (make that “taunting”), him on the other side. He is such a different dog than Dakota was. For Dakota, we had those cheap plastic baby gates that were much shorter. He never once tried to jump them. We used those when Levi was younger….until the day Levi jumped over it. Then we got the tall ones (also from Amazon) as you suggested. We use them to give Roary half the condo that is a “dog free zone”, we keep his litter, food and toys on the side of the gate where no woofies are allowed to enter 🙂

    Reply
    • Amy Shojai

      Oh my, Caren! Shadow-Pup also went through the cat door at first–he’s too big now. I worried he’d go through and get caught! The newest pet gate, for Karma’s potty spot in the laundry, has a much smaller cat door and he’s not tried that. I think it’s the newest version of the other gates which we’d had for many years (since Magic, LOL!).

      Your big baby dog sure sounds like fun, despite the gate-smashing tendencies. Ha! What we do for our furries, eh?

      Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Get the Sweet Smell of Success Choosing a New Cat Litter: Here's HowAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Karma’s facilities are in the master bath to contain his digging antics. We use a jumbo-size storage bin…and yes,…
  2. Puppy Proofing: Top 10 Tips to Save Dog Lives for National Puppy Day!AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Most cats can leap onto a tabletop to find their litter box, which keeps it out of dog range.…
  3. Cat Fight: 10 Tips for Stopping & Preventing Cat Fights & Cat AggressionAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Go back to basics and treat the aggressive cats as though introducing them for the first time. It’s best…
  4. How to Stop Dog Attacks and Prevent Dog Fights: Keep Small Pets SafeAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Physically separate small dogs using your body to block access and distract them from each other. Dropping a heavy…
  5. New Puppy Introductions: Intro Dog to Cat ComPETability #adAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Meet Shadow, about 12 weeks old and 12.5 pounds. Bravo, at 2 years 3 months and 125 pounds, adored…
  6. Potty Training Puppies? Here's How To House Train PuppiesAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Clean accidents. Use an odor neutralizer to eliminate the smells that lure your puppy back to the scene of…
  7. Litter Box Problems? 8 Reasons Cats Snub the Box & What To DoAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] to the kitchen, can’t reach Karma’s facilities in the laundry room because of the pet gate barrier. It’s not…
  8. Cat Introductions: Kitten to Cat Introductions & Introducing CatsAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] just open the “safe room” door, stand back, and let the cat’s meet. You can do this using pet…
  9. Kitten Litter Box Training: Learn How to Potty Train CatsAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] box training will be a breeze! And if you already have other pets, you may want to invest in…

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories:

Recent Posts

Asian Longhorned Tick Poses Pet Concerns

Spring has sprung, and with warming weather, the bugs come out ready to make a meal of our pets. If you plan to spend any time outside, it’s not too early to think about ticks, those creepy crawly spider cousins that bug pets and spread disease. I’ve written about tick-borne diseases before. Here in Texas, we have pets (and people!) diagnosed with Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and/or ehrlichiosis. Yes, some folks end up with a combination of illnesses. There are other diseases ticks carry, and I recently learned about a new invasive tick species. The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) poses additional risks.

How did the Asian longhorned tick get to America? Officially reported first in 2017, it appeared outside a quarantine facility on a sheep farm in New Jersey. It hasn’t yet reached Texas, but may soon. It looks similar to other tick species and has the ability to transmit many bacterial, viral, and protozoal pathogens that can make humans and animals sick. Kathryn Duncan, DVM, PhD, DACVM, parasitology field specialist with Merck Animal Health, graciously agreed to answer my questions about this new risk to our pets. She says this tick most likely entered our country through imported or shipped animals.

Here’s what you need to know about this potentially deadly pest.

Hero Dog Winners for DARE OR DIE Thriller

The contest is over, and YOU chose the HERO DOGS to appear as a featured character in my next thriller, DARE OR DIE. The voting and interest in these wonderful nominees made me decide to feature both the winner and the runner-up cats and dogs in the story. Besides them being featured in the story, the pets’ humans are also named in the acknowledgements, and they receive a paw-tographed print copy of the book.

DARE OR DIE answers a lot of vexing questions about the main character, September Day, and launches her into new adventures.

RELEASES APRIL 30, AND AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

Find out about the hero pet winners here!

Hero Cat WINNERS for DARE OR DIE Thriller!

The contest is over, and YOU chose the HERO CATS to appear as a featured character in my next thriller, DARE OR DIE. The voting and interest in these wonderful nominees made me decide to feature both the winner and the runner-up cats and dogs in the story. Besides them being featured in the story, the pets’ humans are also named in the acknowledgements, and they receive a paw-tographed print copy of the book.

DARE OR DIE answers a lot of vexing questions about the main character, September Day, and launches her into new adventures.

RELEASES APRIL 30, AND AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

Find out about the hero pet winners here!

Name That Hero Dog for DARE OR DIE Thriller: Vote Now Open!

As promised, it’s time to VOTE for the HERO DOG contenders to appear as a featured character in my next thriller, DARE OR DIE. This story answers a lot of vexing questions about the main character, September Day, and launches her into new adventures. The story also features at least one (1) heroic dog and one (1) heroic feline (maybe more, depending on the results of your votes). Scroll down for more about the HERO DOG requirements–and the poll. The poll for the HERO CAT character is here.

I had so many terrific nominations that I had to include a bunch of options. Many folks also sent pictures of their wonderful companions! I truly wish that every dog (and cat) could have a part in the story. Please forgive me if your dog isn’t on the poll–it had nothing to do with you or them but often with past winners or character names. It’d confuse readers to have more than one Shadow, for instance, or a hero dog with the same name as a human character.

VOTE FOR YOUR HERO DOG

I have planned for ONE (1) dog and ONE (1) cat to include. As always, though, that might change depending on popularity of the vote. So rally your family and friends, your pet’s fan base, and get out the vote. I’m using a new poll software, and hopefully, as in the past, you can vote multiple times (you may have to refresh the page in between votes).

Name That Hero Cat for DARE OR DIE Thriller: Vote Now Open!

As promised, it’s time to VOTE for the HERO CAT contenders to appear as a featured character in my next thriller, DARE OR DIE. This story answers a lot of vexing questions about the main character, September Day, and launches her into new adventures. The story also features at least one (1) heroic dog and one (1) heroic feline (maybe more, depending on the results of your votes). Scroll down for more about the HERO CAT requirements–and the poll. The poll for the HERO DOG character is here.

I had so many terrific nominations that I had to include a bunch of options. Many folks also sent pictures of their wonderful companions! I truly wish that every dog (and cat) could have a part in the story. Please forgive me if your dog isn’t on the poll–it had nothing to do with you or them but often with past winners or character names. It’d confuse readers to have more than one Shadow, for instance, or a hero dog with the same name as a human character.

VOTE FOR YOUR HERO CAT

I have planned for ONE (1) dog and ONE (1) cat to include. As always, though, that might change depending on popularity of the vote. So rally your family and friends, your pet’s fan base, and get out the vote. I’m using a new poll software, and hopefully, as in the past, you can vote multiple times (you may have to refresh the page in between votes).

September & Shadow Audiobook Trilogy only $2.99!

In a lead up to the release of thriller #7 DARE OR DIE, I’ve discounted the first three books in the September & Shadow Thriller Series in a CHIRP deal yee-haw! So if you’ve not yet listened, here’s your chance to get all 3 for under $3.

LOST AND FOUND (#1) kicks off the saga, with September searching for her missing nephew in a snowstorm–aided by Shadow the service dog.

HIDE AND SEEK (#2) shares September’s tragic backstory when a stalker from her past finds her, and Shadow helps her heal.

SHOW AND TELL (#3) gives previous victims the chance to become heroes, helping September and Shadow vanquish a deadly drug dealer.

All three books combine in the trilogy (audio), discounted from $24.99 to $2.99 for a limited time at these links…

Leaving Pets Behind: Choosing Pet Sitters

When the holidays or business travel rolls around, pet sitters can be a big help when you plan vacations with or without your dog or cat. After delaying plans for over two years due to the virus, many of us now will travel to visit family and friends, have folks visit, or spend vacation time away from home. Time off from work and a change of routine offers humans much-needed stress relief. But the same is not always true for furry family members. That’s where pet sitters come in. This week is the 29th annual Professional Pet Sitters Week™ — do you have a pet sitter for your furry wonders? Here’s what you need to know!

Cover Reveal: DARE OR DIE, a September & Shadow Thriller #7

COVER REVEAL for the latest September & Shadow Thriller! If you love thrillers, mysteries, or suspense that include pets, watch this space for DARE OR DIE, coming soon! In each of my thrillers, I include HERO PETS nominated by readers and voted on by the public. In the past, the books have included every day dogs and cats, service animals, and beloved companions that now live on in the stories. Last week, I announced the latest contest, and today I sent out the invitation to nominate pets to my newsletter list. The suggestions already started pouring in. Watch this space to VOTE on your pick for HERO CAT and HERO DOG.

AAHA: THE STANDARD OF VETERINARY EXCELLENCE

While I was at the BlogPaws conference some years ago, I attended a special session sponsored by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA.org). Having previously worked as a vet tech, I’m familiar with this organization and learned even more during the presentation by Dr. Heather Loenser. If you’re not familiar with this wonderful organization, here’s what you need to know.

What Is AAHA?

The American Animal Hospital Association, founded 82 years ago, is a voluntary accrediting organization for small animal hospitals in the United States. That’s right…accreditation is VOLUNTARY, and it is not required by law. Only 12-15% of animal hospitals have gone through the rigorous and stringent evaluation process to attain this distinction.

That’s not to say that animal hospitals without AAHA-accreditation don’t offer great care from talented and dedicated veterinarians. Dr. Loenser noted that to achieve accreditation requires cooperation and dedication from the entire staff, from veterinarians and technicians to front desk staff and everyone who has a “paw” in the success of the practice.

6 Easy Fresh Breath Tips & How to Brush Doggy & Kitty Teeth (Without Getting Bit!)

Do you brush dog teeth? How about brushing cat teeth? The AVMA sponsors National Pet Dental Health Month every February to help prevent pet dental problems.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3.

But it’s never too late (or too soon) to get your pets’ pearly whites checked out by your veterinarian. Often the doctor has some great tips for keeping cat teeth clean and dog breath at bay, including how to brush doggy teeth.

Does the thought of brushing dog teeth make you cringe, roll your eyes, whimper, slink away–and feel guilty? You’re not alone. But once that puppy-sweet breath morphs into curl-your-eyebrows stench, it’s long past the time to address that stink-icity.

Visit Amy's Website

Amy Shojai CACB is an award winning author.  You can find all her publications and book her to speak via her website. 

On Demand Writer Coaching

AmyShojai.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com http://amazon.com/.

Awards

Memberships