Eating cat poop

[sandshara]

Rachel I think you have been a ton of help~would never think that. Theinformation I get from here isinvaluable to me and I thank you for being there!!! Yorkie hugs

[Chrissy0277]

Originally Posted by abbie's mom

Now, as far as the cat poo eating - I can totally empathize with the frustration! We don't even have cats, but the ferrell cats in the area seem to think my backyard is a litter box. I can't even let Abigail out, because if there is any within her reach, she finds it and scarfs it down. EEEWWWWWWWWWW!!! Last time, I went in after it, scooping it out of her mouth. I always have to be ready to bathe her and - yes - I wash her mouth out with dog shampoo. It IS disgusting, and it CAN make them ill. Cat poo can be toxic to small dogs. And, no one seems to know why some of our furbabies love it, so. I agree that the self-cleaning litter box should help a great deal - I think that's a grand idea for anyone with dogs who take a liking to cat poo. It should take a lot of daily stress from your life, and protect the pooch.

OMG I have the same problem, my neighbor has like 10 cats who roam the neighborhood and my yard is their damn toilet. I almost lost my Tiffany last year because of eating the poop.
Now I have a cat whom I never let out, my dogs NEVER try and eat her poop, they dont have access to it in the laundry room but occasionaly one of them sneek in there when Im doing wash but never go near her litter box.
I had a thought and wonder if it is true. My cat is on a high quality diet (Innova) and its not loaded with junk like the crappy foods out there. I think my cat's body is using all the nutrients in the food where my neighbors cats, I can tell you for sure she isnt giving those cats a high quality food and the food is loaded with junk which her cat's bodys are not using all the ingredients in the food and its coming out in their poop (I hope im making sense). Therefor my dogs are smelling the junk in their poop and trying to eat it and my cat's poop has no leftover junk in her poop and they have no intrest in hers

[Grayson's mom]

We turned our little box backwards, Get a baby gate that will work as your cat can jump over that but your dog can't.

I found this on the net may be helpful to you!

Eating Feces from Cat Litter Boxes


People tend to be horrified to find their dog is eating feces from the cat litter box. One of the first questions they ask is whether this means the dog has a nutritional deficiency. Since the behavior is common even in the most well nourished dogs, the fact that they like the taste is a more likely reason. It's not a good idea to allow it to happen, and training is not a reliable option for a behavior that provides the dog with a "tasty treat"-tasty to the dog, that is.

What to Do

It is normal for dogs to eat cat feces wherever they can find it. If the dog had access to the litter box prior to this and never touched it, that might mean a change in behavior significant to a change in medical status. It could also mean, though, that the dog just didn't discover this doggie delicacy until recently.

Think about whether some change in the household may have made the cat litter box easier to get to--that could be your answer. For example, a cat might have previously intimidated the dog so much that the dog wasn't willing to brave the box. That cat may be less firm with the dog now, or perhaps the dog got through and got a taste, and now is harder for the cat to deter.

If you suspect a medical problem, and especially if the dog is showing any symptoms, of course see your veterinarian. All manner of medical problems can cause changes in eating behavior.

Whether there is a medical problem or not, you'll now need to place the litter box where it is physically impossible for the dog to get to it, but easy for the cat(s). For one thing, cats will often abandon using a litter box when a dog starts intruding. Most people will find this at least as serious a problem as a dog eating cat feces.

People arrange the litter box in various ways, depending on the relative sizes of their dogs and cats, as well as the agility of the cats. Sometimes placing the litter box higher than the dog can jump works well, if the cat is completely comfortable making the jump.

If the dog is larger than the cat, you can put the litter box behind an opening that the cat can fit through but the dog cannot. One idea is a baby gate set slightly above the floor so that a cat can scoot under it (or jump over). Of course it has to be high enough that the dog can't jump it. Sometimes that means stacking two baby gates, one above the other.

It's also possible to use a chain on a doorframe or doorknob, modified to the right length so the cat can slip through the opening but the dog cannot. Another variation is to use wire to make a latch that holds the door partially open. Whatever you devise, remember to make it feasible to take on and off to go in and out of the room.

Another arrangement is to put a box over the litter box with an opening at one end, and then put a bigger box over that one with an opening in the other end. The cat can go in one opening, through the "tunnel" between boxes to the other opening, and into the box. This method may not work with a small, audacious dog who will go through the maze, too! Remember that cats see well in the dark, so the darkness inside this contraption is not a problem.

Conclusion

Having a dog invade the litter box is not a cat's idea of reasonable privacy, and eating cat feces is not particularly good for the dog. The behavior is innately rewarding since the dog likes the taste, so you're unlikely to solve it with attempts at training. The safest and best solution is to simply rearrange the situation so the dog finds it physically impossible to get to the cat litter box.

Date Published: 7/5/2003 1:19:00 PM

[cleo]

My baby loved to get in the litter box. I think he thought he was digging for buried treasure. Our lab does it too. My husband says "he's eating canned food" - gross - we put For-Bid on the cats' food. This is the only anti-coprophagic that I have found that you can give to cats. THey can't taste it and it passes through their system and makes their poop "unpalatable". Sprinkle it on the food for a few days and after two or three "snacks" the dogs should quit eating it. If they start up again just repear the process. It's worked great for us.

[bean.C]

thank goodness for outdoor cats