Crate as safe retreat from cat bullying

A cat bullying a dog at night is more common than people expect — and for a dog on the receiving end, having a crate that's genuinely theirs, somewhere the cat can't follow, can make a real difference to their stress levels and sleep. Crate training works best when the crate becomes a positive space the dog chooses to use, not just somewhere they're shut in. The right size and type matters a lot — as does how you introduce it, especially if your dog hasn't used one before. To point you in the right direction: what breed and age is your dog, are you starting from scratch with the crate or has there been a bad experience with one already, and is this primarily for overnight home use?

That's a clear picture — and honestly a very solvable one. A Miniature Bull Terrier is compact but solid, typically around 10–14kg, so she needs a crate that's roomy enough to feel comfortable but not so large it loses that den feeling. What size is she roughly — do you know her weight or have a sense of whether she's on the smaller or larger end for the breed?

Perfect — that gives me exactly what I need. For a 12kg stocky Miniature Bull Terrier using a crate as a permanent safe retreat from a cat, I'd recommend the MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate in the 30-inch size. It's a folding metal crate with a single door, a removable plastic tray base, and a divider panel — though at her age and size you won't need the divider, it's there if useful. The metal construction is key here: it's completely cat-proof. Your cat cannot get in, cannot push it open, and the solid visual barrier of the tray at the base means your dog can settle without being eyeballed from floor level. It folds flat if you ever need to move it, but for a permanent spot in a corner or bedroom, it sits very solidly. It's around £35–45 on Amazon UK and genuinely one of the most reliable crates at this price point. The door latches securely, which also means you can leave it open during the day so she can come and go freely — that's important for building a positive association rather than it feeling like confinement.

At five years old she can absolutely learn to love it — it just takes a bit of patience in the first week. Start by placing it in the room she already prefers, door open, with a blanket that smells like you inside. Don't push her in or lure her in repeatedly — just let her sniff it and ignore it on her own terms for a day or two. Then start dropping high-value treats just inside the entrance, then further in, over several sessions. Feed her meals just inside the door, then gradually move the bowl further back. Most dogs start voluntarily stepping in within three to five days once they associate it with food and calm. Once she's going in reliably, start closing the door for ten seconds, then a minute, building slowly. Because the cat situation is stressful at night, you might also add a covered blanket draped over the top and sides — it increases the den feeling and blocks the cat from sitting on top, which some cats will absolutely attempt.

Bedroom, without question, especially given why you're doing this. The whole point is that she gets the safe space in the place she wants to be — near you. Putting it in another room would just relocate her isolation problem. Position it so the door faces away from wherever the cat tends to enter, and if the cat is persistent, a simple clip or small carabiner through the door latch will stop a determined cat from pawing it open. Once she's settled into the routine, you'll likely find she starts putting herself to bed in there — Miniature Bull Terriers tend to be creatures of habit once they've decided something is theirs.