My partner and I are looking to buy our first house. We've been together for three years and each have a pet—her dog Harlow, a pittie/ACD mix, and my cats. We're trying to find a way to realistically separate the cats from the dog in a two-story home, ensuring that the cats don't end up jumping down the stairs. A simple baby gate isn't going to cut it. Has anyone dealt with this problem before? We really want to make sure our cats are safe, especially since one of them had a near-miss last year. We're hoping to come up with a viable solution before we even move in.
3 Answers
It sounds like you need a house with a clean staircase design, ideally one with a single entry and no balcony. Then, you could build a wall with a door at the bottom. Older homes might have designs that work better for this. Trust me, a dog that's never been around cats could get stressed, so full separation is essential, and forget about baby gates—they won't give you the peace of mind you're looking for.
Putting a door at the bottom of the stairs is actually a pretty smart fix. Our farmhouse has that setup! You could consider a regular interior door or even some creative solutions like enclosing the landing with a screen door or using an upper baby gate designed to be higher to prevent jumping. Just make sure whatever you choose, it effectively keeps the cats contained.
I had a similar situation with some cat aggression. We used two baby gates reinforced with mesh and some cardboard to block off areas. But honestly, I would be cautious if it's a reactive dog—those gates might not hold up. It’s probably best to think of a more permanent solution that keeps the areas completely divided for everyone's safety.