I have had my kitten for about a month. I have witnessed my 3 year old maItese mix eating from litter box several times. My dog has plenty of fresh food and water at all times.
2006-09-26 18:53:16 · 12 answers · asked by Hello 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
There is a name for what your Maltese is doing. This behavior is called coprophagia. What causes this is an attraction to the smell and taste of undigested food in the feces or a nutritional deficiency.
What you should try to do is change your pets diet as long as their not on a special diet. And move your cats litter box to a place where you dog cannot get to it. Some pet stores do have supplements that will prevent this. They also carry treats that you feed to the cat so when she goes the scent will be disturbing to the dog and the pooh eating will stop.
2006-09-26 20:25:19 · answer #1 · answered by racha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is so very simple, and yet so gross..Dogs like the taste of cat poop....the only solution is to keep it away from the dog..Some people find that turning the opening to the wall, just leaving enough room for the cat to come an go will keep small dogs out of the box..
No, it is not lack of nutrients..it just plain tastes good..Cat food is high protein, strong smelling, and candy bar to many dogs..
2006-09-26 18:58:48 · answer #2 · answered by Chetco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of our old vets said it's like a doggie treat. Since cats are so "finicky" cat food has much more flavor in it than dog food. Obviously when they poop, the dog still smells/tastes it. Like a gourmet meal for them I guess.......ick......Try to put the litter box higher up some how. My mom has an extra countertop in her laundry room, she put it up there.
2006-09-26 19:22:06 · answer #3 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never met a dog who did not LOVE cat food.
I have not met a dog who given the oportunity would not
eat cat poop. I guess it still has that cat food taste.
My own dog prefers a cat treat to a doggy treat and loves cat poop too.
Go figure?
2006-09-26 19:08:13 · answer #4 · answered by together420yrs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
kittens and cats often don't digest all the food that they ingest. your dog knows this and therefore eats the poop. if it becomes a problem, try getting a litterbox w/a lid on it or putting it somewhere that the dog can't get to it.
2006-09-26 18:56:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because he can!!!
Keep the litter pan away from the dog. Put it on a higher shelf, in another room, use a cat door or use a baby gate to block the litter area.
2006-09-26 18:55:53 · answer #6 · answered by imadogcop 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The vet says, "Because it tastes like cat food!" I think it's so disgusting...blech. However, if we forget to leave the gate on the litter box room our Golden Retriever loves to "snack". He comes out with cat litter on his nose! (burp)Grosses me out. It's not the sign of anything off whack with your pooch, it's just one of those disgusting things dogs do.
2006-09-26 19:04:27 · answer #7 · answered by cwriter2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of our dogs loves to eat cat crap. My old dog ate any kind of crap. It seems to be in their nature. Just block the box from the dog if you can.
2006-09-26 18:56:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having stepped in it many times, I get a little queasy imagining what your dog's breath must smell like. Keep the two separated.
2006-09-26 19:01:52 · answer #9 · answered by hott.dawg™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, you can play with him. But, go to Yahoo Search and type------what to do if dog eats poop---------there's stuff to read and try.
2006-09-26 18:57:25 · answer #10 · answered by regwoman123 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋