It sounds like a good plan. I have a cat that scuttles I try to tell her, if you didn't run like that, they (the dogs) wouldn't pay any attention to you, but she doesn't believe me. I have a baby gate in the door to the cat room, mounted about 8" above the floor, so the cats can come and go, but the dogs can't get into that room. Would something like that work for Mandy? Good luck!