How to keep a door ajar???
We have a dog and a cat. The dog loves eating the cat food. To solve that problem, we have been putting the cat food on the stairs leading to the basement, with something sitting in front of the door so that it is left open about 4 inches. This way the cat can sneak…
We have a dog and a cat. The dog loves eating the cat food. To solve that problem, we have been putting the cat food on the stairs leading to the basement, with something sitting in front of the door so that it is left open about 4 inches. This way the cat can sneak through, but the dog cannot. However, the dog has recently figured out how to push the door open despite the door weight. We have increased the weight of the “stopper” but she still pushes it open.
Does anyone have any sugguestion on a better way to do this? Ideally, we would like to do it without ruining the door or the door frame (ie by screwing into it).
thanks!
Denton, your post made me laugh a bit. Our dog is a yellow lab, and like all other labs, she will eat as much food as possible. I used to have a Yorkie, and he would only eat when he was hungry. The lab, on the other hand, scarfs everything down and then still wants more! She is a total pig.
Vinca, i was sort of wondering if i could rig something along the lines of your suggestion using the doorknob and door strike, but have not come up with anyhting feasible.
Feed them less, more often. If they eat everything they are fed, not an issue.
You might want to look at: http://www.wedgeit.com/ which you can wedge into the top of your door (but you can do that with the shim Dave suggested, too).
Even a dog that’s not too smart will eventually figure out how to defeat a bottom door wedge. You might also want to look at hinge-pin door stops or floor-mount door stops, both of which can be found at House of Antique Hardware (and probably corner hardware store). Hinge-pin is probably more workable for you. There are tons of reproduction or actual vintage door stops on the market, some very heavy. There’s probably some travel store door wedge with alarm. Eventually, it’s likely the dog will cause more damage to door by pawing at it, then that you will damage horribly by installing a hook and eye. Probably some way to rig a chain and hook
to the doorknob and door strike.
dog is much bigger (a lab). But, we dont want to ruin the door (eg with a cat door). I guess we might have to go the latch route, but I would prefer not drilling into the door. But I cant think of another option (although I will try dave’s idea).
We did it in my parents’ house with a large hook and eye.
Something like this:
http://riccasarchitecturalsales.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=106
Is the dog the same size as the cat? What about a cat door that’s too small for the dog to use?
Jam something into the hinge end of the door like a shim or a wedge that will prevent it from opening further.
I keep a door slightly ajar with a covered brick & then have a hook on the door & in the wall of the basement that I put a small bungey (bungie?) cord on so door can’t be opened farther.
We always used to put our cat food on a high table in the kitchen that the dog couldn’t reach.
They’re both gone now. Sigh.