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How To Introduce Cats And Dogs

Name: Door Buddy® Cat Door Prop
Brand: Door Buddy
SKU: DB-DOG-PROPW
Price: 20.99 USD
Availability: InStock

By: Door Buddy Editors | Published: October 20, 2026

A mastiff resting on the floor beside a blue cat litter box.

You brought home a dog. Your cat has questions.

Whether your new dog came from a shelter, a rescue or a breeder, the first few weeks set the tone for how your pets live together. Dogs are social and usually keen to say hello. Cats like their routine, their territory and a way out. Rush the first meeting, and your cat may spend the next month on top of the fridge.

Plenty of cats and dogs learn to share a home. What gets them there is a slow introduction that lets your cat decide when to engage. Here's how to introduce a dog to a cat, one week at a time.

Bringing a cat into a home where your dog was there first? The same steps work the other way round, so you can use this guide to introduce a cat to a dog, too.

Your Dog and Cat Introduction Timeline

When	What Happens	Move On When
Before Day One	Set up your cat's safe room and your dog's space	Both spaces are ready
Days 1–3	Keep them fully apart and let everyone settle	Your dog is eating, sleeping and exploring calmly
Days 4–7	Swap scents and feed on either side of a closed door	Both eat calmly near the door
Week 2	Short first looks, plus space swapping	Both stay relaxed for 5 minutes in view of each other
Weeks 3–4	Supervised meetings with your dog on a leash	Your dog looks away from the cat when asked
Month 2 and Beyond	Longer time together, with the cat's space kept dog-free	They're relaxed together, day after day

Every pet moves at their own pace, so treat the weeks as a guide, not a deadline. If either pet growls, hisses, barks or lunges, go back a step and try again the next day.

Why Is Your Dog Suddenly Interested in the Litter Box?

A dog pushing its head into a covered cat litter box.

If your dog ignored the litter box for months and now can't stay away, something has usually changed. Knowing what changed helps you pick the right fix.

A new dog, or a new cat. A dog who just arrived, adopted or brought home as a puppy, often finds the litter box within days. A new cat brings a new litter box into a dog's space.
The teenage phase. Adolescent dogs get bolder. A puppy who left the litter box alone can start raiding it as they grow up.
Boredom. Dogs explore with their mouths, and a dog with too little play and exercise looks for something to do. The litter box is right there.
Stress or a change in routine. A move, a new baby, a new work schedule, or a new pet can bring back puppy habits, including eating stool.
Habit. Once a dog finds the litter box, it becomes a reward they keep going back to. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to break.
A change in diet or health. A new food, or a dog who suddenly seems hungrier than usual, is worth mentioning to your vet. So is an older dog who suddenly starts.

Veterinarians point to habit, boredom, and stress as the most common reasons, with medical causes less common, according to PetMD's vet-written guide. For more on why dogs find the litter box so appealing, read why do dogs eat cat poop.

8 Ways to Keep Your Dog Out of the Litter Box

1. Move the Litter Box Out of Reach

Placement matters. A spare bathroom, a laundry room, or a raised spot your cat can reach and your dog can't all help. Just don't shut your cat out: cats like an easy way in and out, and a closed door can lead to scratching, meowing, and accidents elsewhere. See where to put a litter box if you have dogs for more ideas.

2. Keep the Litter Box Clean

Less in the box means less to tempt your dog. Scoop at least once a day, and more often if your dog is home all day. Fully replace the litter and wash the box with mild soap on a regular schedule. A clean box matters to your cat too: read about the hidden dangers of a dirty litter box.

3. Teach "Leave It"

A solid "leave it" helps your dog walk past the litter box. Keep treats handy, watch your dog as they approach, give the cue, and reward them right away when they turn away. Keep sessions short and consistent. Training works best while you're home to reinforce it, so pair it with a way to control access while you're out. Start with puppy obedience training basics.

4. Give Your Dog Something Better to Do

If boredom is behind it, more play and exercise helps. Puzzle feeders, chews, and a daily walk give your dog an outlet. Try these brain games for your dog.

A dog sitting for a treat during training.

5. Check In With Your Vet

If the habit started suddenly, if your dog's food recently changed, or if your dog is older, ask your vet. They can check your dog's health and diet. Our guide to feeding dogs is a good place to start before the visit.

A cat walking through a door held open by a Door Buddy Door Strap

6. Control the Door With Door Buddy

For most homes, the fix that sticks is controlling the door to the litter box room. Door Buddy holds the door open a cat-sized gap, so your cat comes and goes and it helps keep the dog out. There's no gate to step over, no door left wide open, and no cat meowing to be let in.

The Door Buddy Dog Door Strap + Door Stopper Combo goes on with adhesive, with no tools and no holes, and you adjust the gap to fit your cat. The foam Door Stopper keeps the door from closing all the way, so your cat's gap stays open.
The Door Buddy Cat Door Prop is the stronger choice for large or persistent dogs. It installs with a screwdriver and the included Torx wrench, reusing your door frame's existing strike-plate screw holes, so there's no cutting and no new holes.

One honest note: set the gap to your cat, then check it against your dog. A very small dog may fit through a cat-sized gap, so a dog close to your cat's size may need one of the other fixes here too.

Here's how one Door Buddy customer put it in a 5-star review:

"This thing seriously changed our lives! Our dog would constantly be getting into the litter box in the closet and we could NOT think of a way to solve the problem."

Door Buddy invented the no-cut cat door alternative in 2014, and we're still the original, assembled in the USA. Over 1 million have been sold, with 50,000+ positive reviews, and every one is backed by our 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

7. Consider a Pet Gate, With Trade-Offs

A pet gate across the doorway can work, but it's a lot of stepping over for a room you use often. Many cats won't jump it, older cats may not be able to, and bigger dogs often can.

8. Try a Covered or Top-Entry Litter Box

A covered or top-entry box makes the litter harder to reach. It isn't dog-proof, though: small dogs can still get their heads in, and some cats, especially older cats, don't like enclosed or top-entry boxes. If you try one, watch that your cat keeps using it. See our guide to the best cat litter box for your home.

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What About Small Dogs, Big Dogs, and Puppies?

Small dogs fit through gaps big dogs can't, so they usually need more than one fix. Read keep your small dog out of the litter box. For a large or determined dog, see the big dog litter box fix. For a new puppy, start early with training your puppy to stay out of the litter box.

Have a crawling baby, too? Door Buddy is also designed to keep curious babies and toddlers out of the litter box room. Here's how to keep a baby out of the litter box.

FAQ: Keeping Dogs Out of the Litter Box

Why is my dog suddenly eating cat poop?
How do I keep my dog out of the litter box for good?
Is there a dog-proof litter box?
Is cat poop bad for dogs?

Keep the Litter Box Your Cat’s Space

The right fix depends on your dog, your cat, and your home's layout. Most homes do best with a mix: a clean box, a little training, and a door that lets your cat in and helps keep the dog out. Because cats need space.

FIND THE BEST DOOR BUDDY FOR YOUR HOME

Tired of playing door referee? Door Buddy is how the litter box stays cat-only — no cutting, no holes, no new door for your cat to learn. Find the right fit for your dog below and take back control of your space.

Door Buddy is a deterrent, not a childproof barrier. It helps keep pets and little ones out, but it isn't a substitute for adult supervision. Full safety information is included on our product listings and packaging.