My dogs eat cat poop?!?

Question

Ok i have 3 dogs and only 2 of them do it they eat cat poop like its a tootise roll i try to keep the littler box clean so that they cant have a midnight snack but i cant be there everytime my cat poops any ideas on how to stop them and why they eat it in the first place

Answer 1

Our dogs ate "Kitty Roca" also. We cleaned the litter box every day and surrounded the box with kid gates so the dogs couldn't get through.

Another idea is if your cats are still young, you could "potty train" them. There are clear inserts for the toilet that you set litter into, once they get the hang of it, the litter is removed. The last step is to remove the clear insert. This will not work if your dog likes to drink out of the toilet. It will be like bobbing for tootsie rolls.

The last thing you could try is cover the litter box with a larger box with a small opening. Make sure your litterbox is a covered litterbox. That way, the dogs will have to make it through two layers to get to the cat poop.

They like the cat poop because it has more protein, and the cat's don't digest all of the protein. That leaves a tasty snack for your pooch.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Okay, to everyone who says that it's perfectly fine for dogs to eat cat poop, IT ISN'T. It isn't healthy at all. My dog eats cat poop and when I asked the vet, he informed me that dogs can get parasites, intestinal infections and much more from eating cat food. He strongly encourages anyone to take as many steps possible to prevent this behavior, so good for you for trying to find out information!

The best solution, per my vets request, is to buy a product called Rid-All. It's a powder that you sprinkle on your cats food. It's flavorless and 100% healthy. What happens is the powder, for whatever reason, works through the cats body and when he/she poops, it makes the poop have a horribly disgusting taste that will FORCE the dog to not want to eat it. This really is the best solution to the problem. However, have you also tried buying a closed litter box? I bought one that's in the shape of a dome and it works great, as well. Especially if you have larger dogs - they're unable to fit into the hole to get the treats!

Good luck :)

Answer 3

Cat food has a much higher percentage of protein in it than dog food does, because cats need much more meat in their diets. So, they excrete poop with some still left in it. Dogs can sense it, and they'll eat it because of the protein still in there.

I've seen dogs eat their own or other dogs' poop, also. Plus, I once had a horse who ate HIS own, despite a nice healthy diet. Usually, it's about an animal either being very hungry, or missing something in its diet.

For awhile, try putting hot pepper sauce on all your the cats' excrement before your dogs can get to it, and see if that doesn't curtail this nasty little activity. You might also want to rethink what you are feeding your dogs, too.

Answer 4

They really don't know why dogs do this. Mother dogs do it when the pups are little to hide the evidence from other predators and to keep the den clean. Wild dogs eat the intestines of animals too. But to stop your dogs, get a cat litter box with a cover or flap and turn it toward the wall so only the cat can get into it. Also as someone else said there is a product you can add to the cats food which doesn't effect the taste of the food but once it goes through the cats system it comes out tasting awful to your dog! I would try to stop them eating it cause who wants a lick from a dog who eats poo!! Ewwwhhhh!!!!

Answer 5

Kitty Rocha! The delicacy of all dogs. Your dog is only one in a line of a million dogs that would gladly snack from your kitty box. It's repulsive, and not good for them tho. You didn't say what size dog, but if possible, put up a baby gate to the room housing the litter box. Leave a smal area on the bottom so the kitty can crawl under, but the dog cannot get through. That's the easiest. You will have to make sure the dog cannot get to the litter, no matter how you accomplish it though. By the way, cat food is NOT good for your dog, so make sure kitty eats where the dog cannot reach the food.

Answer 6

My dog does this as well. From what I understand it is because cat food is formulated differently. It is almost pure protien and that mainly protein diet makes it soo good to some dogs (yuck I know).

I just try to make sure the box is kept clean, I do keep a lid on it and I have a baby gate across my bathroom door, so the cats can get in and he can't. Even with all of that he still manages a snack sometimes.

Answer 7

Dogs will eat cat poop if they are lacking something in their diet. Si it will continue to happen until you find out what it is. Best thing to do is call your vet to hear a few choices over the phone as to not cost you an arm and a leg

Answer 8

I've seen other dogs do this maybe it means something like a deficiency
How about leaving some poop in the tray but its covered in pepper powder and keep doing this until they realise poop don't taste to good.

Answer 9

join the club!!! a LOT of dogs do this, i have no idea why UCK!. put the cat box up high like on a table in an out of the way spot, where the cat CAN get to it, but the dog CAN'T.
make sure your litter box has a "lid" like thing on it so the cat has privacy ( they get a bit shy with the box so high at first)

here is a couple of links to what I'm talking about.

http://www.ehow.com/buy_5814_covered-litter-box.html
http://www.nextag.com/covered-litter-box/search-html


EDITED:
LMMFAO a powder that makes poop taste BAD!! omg that's funny..thanks Jackie i needed a laugh. oh come on! that's funny!

Answer 10

Many dogs look at the cat box as their personal snack box. The only thing I know you can do to prevent this unhealthy practice is use a covered litter box and place it where the dog can't get his head in or put the box in a place the cat can get to but not the dog, in a room with a kiddie gate for example.