Why would a dog start eating cat poop out of the litter box?

Answer 1

Probably because that is where the cat poop is.

Long Live Jambi

Answer 2

look on the bright side...thats one less mess ya need to clean... I found this hope it helps...
By Theresa A. Fuess, Ph.D.
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine

Some dogs can't resist a tasty morsel of feces. These dogs will eat their own excrement or
that of another dog. Some prefer horse feces, others cat feces. Frozen feces are popular in
the winter time. Why do dogs do this?

In the past it was believed that feces eating, also known as coprophagia, was caused by
either poor diet or poor health. However, this theory is not supported by current research.
"Behavioral research has discounted the idea that it is a dietary deficiency or a pancreatic
enzyme deficiency," says Dr. Jo Ann Eurell, a veterinarian and animal behavior specialist retired from
the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. "Dogs are historically scavengers,
and this is believed to be a scavenger behavior.

"It is important for dog owners to know that this behavior is normal for a mother dog with
pups," adds Dr. Eurell. Newborn pups must learn to urinate and defecate. The mother
teaches the pups by licking their bottoms. The pups respond to this "tickle" by urinating and
defecating. The mother then consumes the pups' excrement, which serves two protective
purposes: it keeps the den area clean and it removes smells that could attract a predator.
Some pups learn this behavior from their mothers and will stimulate themselves and
consume their own feces. Most pups stop by the time they are weaned.

It is more difficult to understand why adult dogs eat feces. Some dogs will learn this
behavior from other dogs. In some cases, eating feces may be an attention-seeking
behavior. For some dogs it is possibly due to anxiety or boredom. Most often the
motivation for eating feces is just not known.

Owners find this habit in their pet disgusting -- particularly when the consumed feces are
thrown up all over the new carpet. In addition to being socially unacceptable, eating feces
exposes the dog to parasites and diseases. So, what is a dog owner to do?

"Eating feces is a problem that is easier to prevent than to cure," says Dr. Eurell. "Don't
allow the opportunity to arise. Keep the dog's yard clean by disposing of feces promptly.
Move the cat box out of the dog's reach. If cleaning the outdoor area is not feasible, then
keep the dog on a leash or use a muzzle when outside."

There are some "cures" that have been used with limited success. Punishment generally only
works in the early stages, before the behavior becomes habitual. Feeding the dog MSG,
garlic, or pumpkin is believed to give feces a bad taste, making it less attractive to the dog.
Other products can be applied to the feces directly; however, dogs are very perceptive and
can probably distinguish between tainted and untainted feces.

Answer 3

Man, I wish like hell I knew the answer to this too lol. I've wondered for years!

I've caught the dogs in there, caught them with kitty litter crystals in their fur, etc.

Some say it is because the dog's diet lacks certain nutrients that appearantly the cat poop gives them.

I think they just do it because they like it. Nothing more, nothing less. They enjoy the cat brownies straight out of the oven.

Some will tell you that you can add a scoop of pumpkin or some stuff you can purchase to the cats food that should make their poop taste "worse" (worse than what...poop?) and the dog won't eat it. But these methods are totally ineffective.

Best bet is to put the litter box in an area the dog can't reach.

Good luck!

Answer 4

It's more like a habit...hey, it might even taste good to them? Who knows why. But there are a couple of ways to make them stop. There's an over the counter product called: FORBID. You mix it into the food of the animal whose poop is being eated. The Forbid will make the poop taste nasty and the dog will not want to eat it. Nomally it only takes one dose...but some dogs are just determined.
Otherwise you can just put the litter box in another room...or better yet, pick up the poop more often.

Answer 5

I call it Kitty Litter Rocca. :>) Yuck! The term for this problem is "coprophagia" and it's not just related to cat poop. You can look it up on the internet for lots of sometimes contradictory information.

It is a disgusting habit which not all dogs have. I heard it had to do w/ a lack of certain minerals &/or protiens and I gave my dog some suppliments that were supposed keep her healthy and/or uninterested, but they didn't work. So I put the covered littler box with the open end against the wall which only leaves room for the cats. It works pretty well and my dog doesn't seem malnourished because of it. :>)

In regard to the comment about using pumpkin... dogs LOVE pumpkin!!!! My vet told me to feed my dog canned pumpkin for the extra fiber so that her anal gland (yuck) didn't get plugged up. When the anal gland needs expressing, you can tell it is bothering your dog when you notice him/her scooting around dragging it's butt on the ground or carpet. The vet or groomer will express the gland (another oooh-yuck!!) if asked... for a minimal amount of money. (cheapest vet visit ever!)

Answer 6

It's just a dog's nature to snack out of the cat box. They will also eat cat poop if they find it outside. Dogs will eat a lot of strange stuff. When my small son threw up, the dog rushed over and wanted to eat it. I've also seen them eat the dead mice which the cats left laying around.

Answer 7

I have wondered that myself. I didn't know it such a common problem. I had a boyfriend, many years ago, whose dog did the same thing, but I just thought there was something retarded or insane about that particular dog. This dog ate everything....shoes...couches...cat ****.....and everything else you could possible think of. The boyfriend would buy the dog really huge rawhide bones (more than a foot long), and that dog would go through it in less than a day.

But, I always have been, and always will be a cat person, and the only way I would have a dog, is if my man really wanted one, and he would have to accept my cats, if he expected me to accept his dog.

I am also curious about why a dog question was in with the cat questions?

Answer 8

I've been told they do this because cats don't really "digest" their food. They just swallow it mostly whole.....So when your pooch goes to the litter box, he's not eating the "poop" he's going after the food that happens to be surrounded by poop. Because of worms, parasites etc that may be in the poop, I suggest you get one of those self cleaning litter boxes that will swoop the poop before the dog can get it. Especially get one if you are using the self clumping litter. You don't want your dog digesting clumps of clay in his belly. Good luck

Answer 9

Disgusting isn't it? My dog does it too. I'll find him with his head through the opening of the covered litter box or running around with litter stuck around his mouth. The only good thing was there was never any poop in the box to clean out.

Answer 10

It's possible that the dogs are looking for vitamins, minerals & nutrients that they may be lacking. There is a product available through your veterinarian called "For-Bid". It is an additive for the dog's food that supposedly will make the stool less desirable for them. And remember that the clumping cat litter today can be harmful if enough is consumed. Good luck!

Answer 11

Because dogs sometimes like to eat poop, their own, or another's. That's called cropophagia. Had to stop mine from doing that, since it's not very healthy.

Dogs will eat anything, from poop to cell phones, even if it will make them horribly sick. Makes you wonder about the size of their brains...