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How to Pick the Right Door Buddy Setup for Your Home

Name: Door Buddy Baby Combo 3-Pack Bundle
Brand: The Door Buddy
SKU: DB-BBY-BUND1
Price: 59.0 USD
Availability: InStock

By: Door Buddy Editors | Published: August 2, 2026

A cat's face and whiskers up close, with a Door Buddy Cat Door Prop package softly blurred in the background

The dog keeps raiding the litter box. The baby is headed straight for the cat's food. Your cat still needs to get in — and closing the door isn't an option.

Door Buddy fixes exactly that. We invented the no-cut cat door alternative in 2015, and we still design and assemble it in the USA. It holds a door open just wide enough for your cat, while keeping dogs and toddlers out. No holes, no cut doors, no daily hassle.

There are a few Door Buddy setups — the Door Strap, the Door Prop, and the Bundles. This guide helps you pick the right one in 3 quick questions.

Find Your Setup in 3 Questions: Which Door Buddy Setup Is Right for You?

No quiz to take, no email required — just answer these three questions and you'll know exactly which Door Buddy setup fits your home.

1. Who Are You Trying to Keep Out?

A little girl sitting on the floor, happily eating a handful of dog food

A toddler.

You'll want to keep little hands out while giving your cat free access. Go with the Door Buddy Baby Door Strap + Pinch Guard. It installs high on the door, out of a toddler's reach — no tools, no drilling, just peel-and-stick 3M adhesive. It works best from the crawling stage through about age 2. Around then, a determined 2-year-old may be strong enough to push through the adhesive, so it's time to reassess. Keep in mind: Door Buddy is a deterrent, not a childproof barrier, and it's never a substitute for adult supervision.

A dog.

Which setup you need depends on your dog's size and how hard they push. Customers with dogs of many sizes and breeds — including some over 100 lbs — report good results, though it comes down to temperament and persistence as much as size. A big, determined pusher needs a different setup than a curious sniffer. The next two questions narrow it down.

2. What’s Your Biggest Problem?

My dog keeps eating the cat's food or litter.

Go with the Door Buddy Door Strap with Door Stopper or a Dog Combo Bundle. It's a no-tool, no-cut latch: peel-and-stick 3M adhesive holds the door open just wide enough for your cat, narrow enough to block your dog. It adjusts anywhere from 0 to 6 inches, so you can dial in the exact gap. It works on standard swinging doors plus pocket, double, and bi-fold doors.

I need to babyproof a room but still let my cat in

The Door Buddy Door Strap with Pinch Guard or the Baby Bundle is your baby-gate alternative — no more climbing over a gate or keeping doors closed all the time and locking your cat out. It installs in seconds with adhesive, no drilling, and adjusts to fit your doorway, so your cat can come and go but your little one can't.

I have a large or persistent dog

Go with the Door Buddy Door Prop. Here's the real difference: the Door Strap holds with cured 3M adhesive, which is strong — but a big, determined dog may be able to push through it. The Door Prop replaces your door's strike plate instead, so once it's latched it holds firm with far less give. Customers with larger, more persistent dogs tend to have the best results with it. You can open it from either side by turning the handle, and it adjusts from 3 to 5.5 inches. (As always, Door Buddy is a deterrent that redirects your pet, not a lock or a guaranteed containment device.)

One thing to check first: the Door Prop only works on standard left- or right-swinging doors. If you have a pocket, sliding, double, or bi-fold door, the Door Strap is your option regardless of dog size.

Curious dog looking through the gap of a door propped open with the Door Buddy Door Prop

3. What Kind of Doors Do You Have?

A dog peeks through a door with a white handle, secured by a Door Buddy Door Strap.

Standard swinging doors (left or right).

Both the Door Strap and the Door Prop work here. The Door Strap is the faster, no-tools install; the Door Prop gives you more holding strength if your dog pushes hard.

Pocket, sliding, double, or bi-fold doors.

The Door Strap is built for this — it's adhesive-based, so it doesn't depend on a standard door frame. The Door Prop isn't compatible with these door types.

Heavy doors or a dog that really leans into it.

The Door Prop's strike-plate mechanism is the strongest option. Simply remove your strike plate and use the existing screws to install the Door Buddy Strike Plate. Then use the included T8 Torx wrench to adjust the opening width — no cure time, so it's ready to use right away.

Check out the Door Buddy Installation Guide for step-by-step setup on either product.

Comparison Chart: Door Buddy Door Strap vs. Door Prop

Feature	Door Buddy Door Strapfrom $16.94	Door Buddy Door Prop$20.99
Best for	Average dogs; baby-proofing; non-standard doors	Large or persistent dogs that push or paw hard
Keeps dogs out of litter box / food	Yes	Yes
Door compatibility	Standard swinging, pocket, double & bi-fold doors	Standard left- or right-swinging doors only
Adjustable opening	0–6 inches	3–5.5 inches
Install	No tools — peel-and-stick 3M adhesive (48-hr cure time)	Screwdriver replaces the strike plate; included T8 Torx wrench adjusts the opening width
Opens from	Either side of the door	Either side, by turning the handle
Holding up to bigger, persistent dogs	Strong hold — but a big, determined dog may be able to push through	Built for larger, persistent dogs — screw-mounted, nothing to pop off
Baby-proofing	Effective from crawling through ~age 2; reassess once a child can push through	Not the baby-proofing pick — a child who can turn a knob can open it
Easy to remove	A few extra steps — warm the adhesive, then peel it off	Yes — unscrew and swap your original strike plate back in seconds
Guarantee	90-Day Money-Back Guarantee	90-Day Money-Back Guarantee

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Real Pet Parents, Real Setups

We asked our community what they use; here's what they said:

“Installs in minutes. Adjustments are easy and opens wide enough for the fat cats!”

— Sarah Welch, Door Buddy® Cat Door Prop

“I usually do not write reviews, but just had to tell everyone reading this, you will not regret buying this product. It is so simple to install that even a five-year-old can do it. It does exactly what it says, keeps out unwanted dogs/toddlers, and easily opens for people or a robot vacuum. I'm more than pleased!”

— Monty German, Door Buddy® Dog Plus Door Stopper

“It did a great job keeping our Grand Baby out of the litter. She was a little upset at first but then accepted she couldn't squeeze through. Now our dogs don't get litter snacks when we aren't there. We love how simple it was to install and how well it works.”

— Michael Poe, Door Buddy® Baby Plus Pinch Guard

“We are using this to allow our cats access to their food and cat box, but keep our dogs out. We used to use a baby gate that we'd have to step over or move out of the way all the time.”

— Craig Sutton, Door Buddy® Cat Door Prop

Quick Links to Each Product

A cat slipping through a door held ajar by a Door Buddy Door Strap while a dog waits on the other side

Door Buddy Baby Door Strap with Pinch Guard: Simple & effective — ideal for babyproofing for cats and as a baby-gate alternative.

Door Buddy Dog Door Strap with Door Stopper: Easy dog-proofing — give your cat privacy and keep dogs out without any hassle. Perfect for how to keep your dog out of the litter box and dog-proof cat rooms.

Door Buddy Cat Door Prop: Extra strength for stronger dogs — the perfect cat door prop for dog-proof litter box setups and larger, persistent dogs.

Door Buddy Dog Combo Bundle: Ultimate dog-proofing combo — the complete solution to dog-proof your cat's space. Includes: 3 x Door Buddy Dog Plus Door Stoppers, 6 x Paint Protection Film, 6 x Door Buddy Replacement Adhesives.

Door Buddy Baby Combo Bundle: Complete babyproofing combo — keep toddlers out while giving your cat full access. Includes: 3 x Door Buddy Baby Plus Pinch Guards, 6 x Paint Protection Film, 6 x Door Buddy Replacement Adhesives.

Shop Our Bundles

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Door Buddy better than a baby gate?
Q: Will it work if my dog is smaller than my cat?
Q: Do I need to drill or cut my door?
Q: What if it doesn't work for my setup?

Final Tip: Start Simple — You Can Always Adjust Your Setup

There's no single “best” Door Buddy — the right pick depends on your door and your dog. Baby-proofing, an average dog, or a non-standard door (pocket, double, bi-fold)? Go with the Door Strap. Standard swinging door with a large or persistent dog? Go with the Door Prop. Not sure? Either is a low-risk place to start — if one isn't the right fit, you can switch and try the other later. Every setup is damage-free, easy to install, and backed by our 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

And you'd be choosing the original: the no-cut cat door alternative, assembled in the USA since 2015, with over 1 million sold. Still deciding? Explore all Door Buddy setups or check the Installation Guide for a walkthrough.

FIND THE BEST DOOR BUDDY FOR YOUR HOME

Tired of playing door referee? Door Buddy gives you an easy way to control access in your home, from curious cats to energetic dogs to busy little humans. Find the right fit below and take back control of your space.