Have you ever thought that your bedroom door was closed, only to realize that your cat somehow got in? Although cats can’t have opposable thumbs, they can learn to open doors through practice.
Highly intelligent cats can teach themselves how to open a door by looking at their owners. Door handles are typically harder to open for felines, but they usually find it easier than not to open them. Most cats would also like full access to their homes, so they can teach themselves how to open them so they can go anywhere they please.
Although it is admirable that your cat learned how to use the doors of your house, it can be very annoying at times. Your feline may also learn how to open the cupboards or the pantry and use newfound skills to enter dangerous areas.
How To Prevent Cats from Opening Doors?
Watching your cat explore their surroundings is one of the most enjoyable parts of being a pet owner. But, you may soon realize they are too smart for their good. Having them learn how to open doors is not ideal, and you may have to find a way to prevent them.
You can prevent your feline from opening your door by adding a child-proof lock or changing the handles on your door.
Although it might take some creativity to install a cat-proof system, you’ll know the various factors that can cause felines to open doors as you read further. Then, we will also talk about ways to prevent them from doing so, as well as how normal it is for them.
Do Cat Opening Doors Usually Happens?
Cats are known to open doors. Although not all of them will be able to do it, it is not uncommon for them to teach themselves. These animals are inquisitive and will go to great lengths to get what they want, especially when motivated.
While most cats will initially push through doors that are not completely closed, it is also a skill your pet can learn to master to open the door fully.
Other than your home’s design, other factors can also affect how your pet learns to handle objects. For instance, tall doors may prevent felines from reaching the handle.
It depends on your cat’s personality and how active they are. Some cats are likely to enjoy climbing and jumping, while others are more likely to be sedentary.
What Push Them to Open Doors?
Your feline’s behavior may be caused by their frustration at being left out of a room. To determine their motivation, start by examining the number of doors they repeatedly open. For instance, are they trying to enter the room where you keep your food or are they trying to go to your office during the day?
This will give you a better idea of the cat’s motivation for being clever. It can also help you identify the cause of the problem and come up with a solution that will benefit you and your pet.
Some cats may also enjoy the challenge. They are very curious about everything. They want to be a part of the action.
Observation: Cats are known to be hunters. They also want to be able to patrol their surroundings to see what is happening. Door Buddy is an example of this behavior. This is why it is important to let your felines have the freedom to roam free and play without being restricted.
Does Opening Doors an Accident or They’re just Smart To Do it?
Cats are capable of making their own way through doors when they are given the motivation to do so. These smart animals are also good at adapting to their environment and learning new skills.
Cats have been using their defensive skills back to a time when they were not domesticated. Back then, they needed to be constantly aware of their surroundings. Although your home is not exactly a wild jungle, it still serves as their territory.
The ability to open a door provides your cat with the freedom to inspect its environment and keep an eye on everything in it.
Observation: Cats are also known to go to extremes to show their presence when their owner is not paying attention. For instance, they may learn how to open the door if they know the owner is behind it and want to be noticed.
Can You Prevent Them From Always Doing It?
Your cat might have learned how to paw the lever to open the door, which can be very frustrating. In some cases, you may have to keep the feline inside a certain area to prevent it from escaping.
If you have door locks, consider keeping them locked while inside. But, this may not be an ideal solution if you have other lever doors in your home.
If the issue is that the cat might try to access the door using a lever, you should consider replacing the entire door with a knob instead. This will allow you to keep the cat away from the door and prevent it from repeatedly opening it.
If you are not planning on replacing the knobs, you might want to get an external lock instead. This type of lock can be used to go around the doors.
Stopping Your Cat From Opening Your Door: 5 Tips
After you have learned that your cat has figured out how to open the doors of your house, it is important that you prevent this behavior from happening in the future. There are a couple of ways that you can do so:
- An external door lock is a must-have for any home. These are made of plastic and have a button to press to unlock them, which will help fend off your cat and solve the issue. These are also great for young children.
- If you leave the door closed, your cat will not be attracted to it. This is because it doesn’t need to be around the door to keep itself occupied.
- You can teach your cat to avoid jumping to the open door by training them in behavioral techniques. When you notice them opening the door, you should reprimand them and show them that this behavior is unacceptable.
- Your cat will most likely not like the scent of bitter apple, peppermint, or lavender. And some cats are afraid of bananas. Spray it around the door handle to discourage them from getting too close.
- You can also add a loud noise-producing device, such as a bell or an alarm, to your door handle, which will scare away felines that might try to damage it.
Although you can train a cat to open a door, you won’t be able to “untrain” them once they’ve mastered the technique. This method is best done through positive reinforcement training, and you can surely wean your stubborn kitten.
The first step is to teach your cat how to grab the door handle, which is pretty simple if you have a lever handle. You can also encourage them to reach the handle by putting a treat on it. They will then try to open it as they continue to chase the treat.
It may take them a while to get it all together, but eventually, they’ll be able to connect it to the door’s opening.
Conclusion
Although most people wouldn’t think cats can open doors, it’s still possible. Not every cat has the motivation or brain to do so, but almost any cat can open a lever-type door handle.
Initially, learning that your cat can open a door can seem like an overwhelming problem, but it is not a cause for concern. You can take action to prevent your feline from doing so, just like they would if they were taught. At the most, feel honored that they would do all in their power to be in your presence.
