Eating cat poo! UGH!!!

[Madilyn's Mom]

It's the only thing that Madilyn does that we can't stand! Besides the nastiness of it (to us humans, anyway), can it cause any harmful effects healthwise? Putting the cat litter box on a higher surface, and out of Madilyn's reach is not feasible, since my cat is 14+ years old, I just don't want to make things difficult for her (and besides that, tiny Madilyn is able to get up on higher surfaces better than I ever thought she would!). I also have caught her playing with a piece of clumped litter a few times (mind you, it's 'clumped' because it was peed on! Yuck!!!

I even have one of those self cleaning litter boxes (Littermaid), but Madilyn seems to get the poop before it's clean up. Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this, and if so, is there a good way (or any way) to stop it? It's the only time that either of us (boyfriend and me) ever yell at Madilyn, and I know that it only confuses her.

My greatest concern is her health, and if eating cat poo can harm her (second concern is dealing with stinky poo breath!! ). If anyone has any advice---please let me know! Thanks!

 

[Sweet72947]

My dog does the same thing. If your cat gets worms they could be passed on to the dog, but otherwise the poo won't hurt the dog. If your dog eats clumped litter though that could probably cause some tummy problems. I don't know what to do to keep your dog away...our cat's litter is up where the dogs can't get it. Maybe you could try dog repellent?

 

[Fran27]

My dogs would do that if they could also.

14 year old isn't so bad for a cat, our 18 year old still jumps the 4 foot fence without problem. What I did is put it against a wall, with the opening towards the wall, but actually opens in an empty shelf. I left 3 inches on the side, and they can just go in the shelf then get in the litterbox.

We used the same kind of thing for the cat food in the kitchen, except with some cardboard on the front. The cats have to go around a piece of furniture to get there, but they figured it out fast.

 

[Sadie'smama]

I'm new on the forum, but have had this problem. We have 2 indoor cats and 2 months ago adopted a lab/border collie mix. Sadie is 4 months old and loves to get in the litterbox.

We have a spare bedroom, that is "the cats room". My husband built a knee wall at the door to keep the dog out. This way the cats still have access to the whole house, but they also have a room that the dog can't get in. I put their food, water and litter boxes in their room. He then built an enclosure off the window of their room that is screened in. Now the cats have a room they can go to that is "Sadie free" and they can go out to the enclosure and get fresh air. They really like it.

However, if this isn't an option, I'm stumped. I know exactly what your going through and other than being disgusting, it's also worrisome.

 

[mamasobuco]

Is there anything your dog is afraid of that she just won't go near? For example, my dogs seem to be afraid to pass through the curtain that I had in the doorway of the room the kitty litter is in. That did the trick for us.

 

[2BlackDogs]

I don't seem to have that problem. Bear will not touch the cat litter pan or the cat food even though I have not made any effort to hide them from him. The last dog we had did eat cat poo though. So we put the litter pan up where she couldn't reach it. My vet reccomended something I forget the name of it but you put it in the cat's food and when it poo's the dog is not attracted to the smell anymore and will leave it alone. Sorry I can't remember what it's called but maybe you could try something like that. I've never tried it but it's worth a try. Good luck!

 

[PoodleMommy]

I have the same problem... two of my cats are 14 and 15 and would not be able to jump too high, so I have not been able to move the box. I clapped my hands loudly and said NO everytime I saw my dog in the box. It took a few months but now she hardly ever touches it.

You dont have to Yell, just be firm. When you yell, your dog will probably run out of the box, at this time give her a toy or something more tasty to play with.

Good Luck

Elissa

 

[Madilyn's Mom]

Wow, thanks so much for the great ideas everyone! I kept hoping that she'd get over it, but it just seems to be happening more often lately. I'm gonna try a few things that were suggested here---the easiest one seems to be adding that stuff to the cat's food---I'm going to google and/or call my vet and find out more about it. Thanks a million everyone---I don't know what I'd do without you all!!

 

[poodlesmom]

I had the same problem at my house. The dogs just loved the litterbox buffet!

I put the litterbox in the laundry room with a baby gate in the doorway to keep the dogs out. When my cat got too old to be able to jump the gate I raised the gate high enough that Tootsie could get under it but it was too low for the dogs to crawl under.

 

[misticaleclipse]

I heard that sometimes when dogs eat things like poo there is an issue with there diet, what kind of food is he on?

He also seems pretty small? i know a lot of people section off a screen or doorway so only a cat can get through, but with a dog as small as a cat obviously that would not work.

I found these suggestions on another message board

My dogs do this too!! It's SO gross. They actually make a substance you put in your cat's food. Go to Petco and ask about it! It stays in the cat's system and makes their waste undesirable to dogs..

Our dog used to do the same thing. Gross, isn't it? She would snack on the cat's poo every time she got a chance. Good thing it was a closed litter box, so we just turned it. Now the entrance faces the wall. The cat just squeezes in to do her business, while the dog can't get to it any longer. It worked for us, hope it will for you also. Good luck!

 

[bubbatd]

Glad I don't have cats anymore !!! Mine were indoor/outdoor cats ... I've never owned a litter box .

 

[Whisper]

My dogs do this too. I can seem really annoying but it's gotten better.

 

[elegy]

blocking access is the most reliable way to stop it. if that's not an option, you need to be extremely careful about watching your dog in order to stop it- every time it happens the dog has self-rewarded (gah, poo as a reward!) and it's more likely to happen again.

it's not dangerous. just gross. and it's not really a sign that anything is lacking in your dog's diet. dogs are just, well, gross.

 

[Iluvmypuppyx]

i had the same problem...firstly, u could try changing ur dogs diet. Dogs eat poo in order to recycle nutrients and enzymes. So, she not getting something in her diet that she needs. Try switching dog foods or making your own...

The solution that worked for me is getting my cat litter box with a lid. The kind that has an opening for the cats to go in and out. Turn it around to where the opening is agenst a wall (or in a corner). Now slide it back away from the wall just enough to where your cat can still get in and out. I hope this might help at least until your dog figures it out

Also, they sell this spray at a vet or pet store and all you do is spray it around the litter box or other places and it stops the dog from going there but the cat will...

Drs. Foster and Smith sells a powder you can sprinkle on your cat's food that is tasteless to the cat, but makes the cat's poop offensive to the dog. a friend recommended this...try www.drsfosterandsmith.com

I hope u sort the problem out! but theres no need to worry, apart from it being rather gross, its not a major threat and most dogs go through a fece eating stage...gd luck hope this helps!xxx