Can I easily change internal door handles from levers to knobs?

[NWnature]

We recently renovated and I was rushing and bought lever handles for all of our internal doors. However I have a very cheeky Siamese cat and also a one year old who can now both open doors so I would like to change to knobs. However I’m hoping I can perhaps do it myself rather than get a builder in. Can I keep the strike pad and mechanism from the existing and just change the handles somehow?

Knobs are a right pain. Hands full, wet/sweaty hands, arthritis etc all make it impossible to open the doors.

Take the levers off and mount them upside down so you have to lift rather than push down. Will stop the cat and probably the baby, while still being much easier than knobs

Also, you can do it yourself and it'll be free, so win-win

Wow @AndSoFinally what a great idea!

@AndSoFinally

Knobs are a right pain. Hands full, wet/sweaty hands, arthritis etc all make it impossible to open the doors.

Take the levers off and mount them upside down so you have to lift rather than push down. Will stop the cat and probably the baby, while still being much easier than knobs

The downside of this plan is that the doors won't open as people intuitively expect. A visitor or emergency worker could struggle to open one when they're in a rush e.g. due to am emergency.

Thanks @AndSoFinally I had seen some similar comments re knobs vs levers but I grew up with them in my family home and they suit the property. I’m not sure about the upside down handles- feel like it might drive me crazy let alone visitors. Have you done it in your house?

We have knobs throughout without issues. The ones with heavier springs could be awkward though.

Changing over should be perfectly doable yourself.

The only thing with changing to knobs from levers is that the hole in the door for a handle tends to be closer to the edge and the doorframe, so if you swap in a knob you can find yourself with skinned knuckles on a fairly regular basis.

I did this on the porch to kitchen door and we all went about with scabby hands for weeks. On the upside no one got hung up on the handle anymore though.
I hate handles!

Impressed your cat can use door handles!

My handles on internal doors are upside down because the dog can open doors. I did it as a temporary measure until I bought knobs and the dog was young and chewed stuff. I’ve never got round to changing them because I’m used to it. If we have visitors or guests we just let them know it’s never been a problem.
It’s actually great hands full use your knee to open the door straight upwards.

@NWnature my nan always had the lounge and kitchen handles upside down, exactly to prevent the dog being able to open the doors!
PPs are right about it being non-intuitive though. Foxed my grandad on a regular basis despite him actually living there 😂

@titchy I know! She is a Siamese and I genuinely think she might be more intelligent than me.

Thanks all. I have found they also have some ugly plastic things on Amazon you can use to “child proof” lever handles. Going to mull it all over. I think you are right @LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow that the knobs might be too close to the edge annoyingly.