This is why a cat door can be dangerous

Although cat doors are not widely used, they can be especially helpful for outdoor cats as winter approaches. However, caution is advised when installing one.

If you share your home with more than one type of four-legged friend, you should be careful with the design of the cat door. Hank the rottweiler’s adventure is a perfect example.

A curious dog can easily get stuck in a cat door

The Worcester News reported on a funny yet potentially dangerous incident involving Hank, a dog nicknamed “The Tank,” who found himself in a tight spot. The basic setup was simple: the family cat had its own entrance and exit through a small flap in the door. As the cat door was tiny, so there seemed to be no risk of the larger furry friend slipping out through it if nature called. However, as Milne’s classic character Winnie the Pooh taught us, some holes may prove too small for certain individuals who nonetheless want to fit through them.

“Are you stuck?” – asked.
“Not exactly,” Pooh said smugly. “Just resting here a bit…thinking and humming.”
“Well, give me your paw!”
Pooh stretched out his paw, and Rabbit pulled and pulled and pulled.
“Ouch!” Pooh said. “That hurts.”
“The thing is,” Rabbit said, “you’re definitely stuck.”
“This all comes from these modern homes not having wide enough exits,” Pooh remarked, slightly annoyed. “The entrances are fine, but the exits aren’t wide enough.”

It only seemed like a good idea for a while

Just as the bear only partially managed to get into the hole, so was the opening too narrow for Hank, the family dog.

His owners tried various methods to rescue him but to no avail. Photos shared by firefighters show the slightly embarrassed dog with his tongue out before being freed. Afterward, he was extremely grateful to his rescuers, who said:

The station crew rescued Hank. A happy customer.

The story, which ended well, could have resulted in serious injury if the owners hadn’t discovered the dog trapped in the cat flap in time. For this reason, to avoid further elaboration: if you’re installing a cat door for your wandering cat, be mindful of your other animals’ size and ingenuity. Flaps that can be opened with a collar key might be safe if the two animals are similar in size. However, even after this story, we still advocate for keeping cats indoors, as it’s safest for them—and, as it turns out, for dogs too.