This is a serious question...why do some dogs eat cat feces and how can we stop it?

Question

One of my dogs has this horrible habit of treating the cat litter box like it's a vending machine. It's really disgusting and I just do not understand this. Is there anyway to stop this nasty behavior (besides getting rid of the dog 'cause the cats stay)? And why do some dogs do this anyway?

I've noticed a lot of answers already regarding blocking the dog from getting to the litter box. We have done the baby gate thing and, only recently, he figured out how to jump over the darned thing. (We didn't expect that since he's such a small dog.)

Answer 1

Dogs are attracted to strong scents...my dog also enjoys "litter fritters." I asked one of the clerks at the local feed store if they knew of a way to deter dogs from doing this...and they HAD AN ANSWER!
Apparently, there is some kind of food additive you can add to the cat's food that will make their feces taste yukky to dogs. The trick is getting the cat to eat the food with the additive....I know. It sounds weird. Cat feces should already taste yukky enough...but this stuff is supposed to work.
I couldn't afford it, so I never got it. But ask your vet (or local feedstore folks) about the "food additive for cat food that makes cat feces taste yukky to dogs."
Good luck!
Btw, I just make sure my dog has lots of chew toys, and this seems to have helped for the time being...

Answer 2

Then use TWO baby gates one on top of another! Or put the cat litter in a room with a dutch door.

Eating the cat poop is very common - and disgusting. Eating the litter is more dangerous - clumping litter can cause a serious bowel obstruction. You'll never train the dog out of this - prevent the dog from getting to the litter box. If the dog is bigger than the cats, make a barrier with a small hole cut in it. If the dog is smaller or the same size, then make a platform that the cats can reach, but that the dog can't get to. You can make a series of shelves across the wall that cats can easily jump across, but the dog can't.

Answer 3

Maybe you just have never noticed, dogs have many disgusting habits . They will eat any kind of fecal matter they can find. Most of them flip out over a fresh pamper full of poop. I like to watch dogs lick their butts and balls and then go over and lick their owners on the mouth !
I am not being mean but this is just something dogs do. Not just yours but most do really like to eat nasty things. They also like to find dead animals, mean ones that have been dead for awhile and roll in the mess.
Maybe that is why when you want to say something bad about a person, you refer to them as a DOG ! Here in the Philippines , where I live, it is even worse because of all the nasty habits the dogs have, the people have one even worse. They eat the dogs !

Answer 4

I was instructed by means of my vet that this can be a natural intuition for a dog, nonetheless by that identical token i have to board off the field where my litter bins are so the dogs don't get in there to make a mess, however at the same time the cats can nonetheless bounce over the board of wooden that i have positioned in front of the door, the dogs cant. I advise you have the ability to stop this behaviour as oftentimes cats have worms and they are undetected for awhile, so de-worm each your cats and puppies on a reg groundwork to be secure.

Answer 5

I know someone who was able to put up a baby gate in a room in his basement for his litter box, the dog stayed out, and the cat jumped it easily.

Answer 6

I have cats and I have dogs. Though my dogs have never had a need for this sort of device, you should keep the cat litter away for the dog, perhaps my manipulating the door where only the cats can enter the litterbox room.

Answer 7

My dogs like cat turds as well. I don't see how in the world they find this to be "enjoyable". But, I've scorned them so bad after they get in the cat litter box that they know not to go near it anymore.

Answer 8

My chihuahua likes to jump in and grab the turds and carry them all over the house. I put a baby gate across the door in the cat box room so he couldn't get in..

Answer 9

Dogs eat cat feces because it is high in protien. It's like they know it's good for them. It'snot bad for them but if you want to stop it then i suggest ( if you have a cat and catbox) somehow blocking off the catbox so that the dog can't get to it. ( And try not to let your dog lick you after having lunch at the catbox)

Answer 10

3 options, 1. Train dog with positive or negative reinforcement not to eat cat crap (negative is faster and easier i.e. a s s kicking) 2. Purchase covered cat box with door or 3. Feed cat to dog thus eliminating need to have cat box.