Stop Your Dog From Litterbox Snacking
Dogs think cat poop is like cupcakes. They must have the cat poop and must have it now! I know it’s beyond disgusting and, unfortunately, I’ve never met a dog that could resist it. Cat poop is sometimes called “doggie crack” or “canine chocolate,” but I’m sure you’re just wondering how to stop your dog from eating cat poop, right? Well, I got you, and I’ll share tips that really work.
Why Do Dogs Like Cat Poop?
It’s a mystery why dogs are drawn to cat poop. We can speculate that the cat’s high protein and fat diet is appealing to dogs, but we really don’t know for sure. What I do know is allowing your dog complete access to the litterbox will only make it worse. Let’s get started on how you can keep your cat’s litterbox safe from canine scavengers.
How to Stop Dogs From Eating Cat Poop
Place Litterbox Up High
Find an area where your dog is unable to reach and set up your cat’s litterbox there. Some pet owners set up their kitty’s litterbox on top of the washing machine or dryer, and it works for some. I would probably discourage placing the litterbox on top of these machines, as cats can be very finicky about their potty areas. I’m sure trying to potty during the spin cycle can be a bit alarming. 🙂
If you’re handy, build a raised study platform with plenty of room for your cat’s litterbox. Add an easy-to-clean surface and additional square footage, so your cat can walk, turn around the litterbox and exit either side of the box. Another benefit of a raised litterbox is it’s super easy to scope–no more bending over.
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Set Up a Barrier
Most pet owners find setting up a baby gate with a tiny access door built into the side of a gate provides cats easy access to their litterbox while keeping the dog out. Just make sure your barrier is super sturdy and your cat can easily access his litterbox when needed. If he can’t reach his litterbox, he’ll use your plant dirt or whatever else is close by as his litterbox and that’s a whole other issue.
Keep It Clean
Removing fecal matter right after it happens is the best way to keep your dog from eating cat poop. If you’re home, it’s a super fix. If you work away from home, I highly recommend having a raised litterbox or placing the litterbox behind a barrier.
Dog Litterbox Solutions That Don’t Work
Everyone has tips, but I’ll be extremely honest the below ideas just haven’t proven to work. If you’ve had success with them, you’re extremely lucky, so rejoice!
Enclosed Litterboxes
For some reason, we feel that enclosing a cat’s litterbox will keep our dogs from eating cat poop, but it’s just not true. I’ve witnessed numerous dogs carefully reach their heads inside the flapping door and eat their hearts out. Some exuberant pooches even end up wearing the top portion of the enclosed litterbox, as a party hat. 🙂
Stool Deterrents
This is usually the first step most pet owners are given once they’ve discovered their dog eats cat feces. However, stool deterrents don’t work. Stool deterrents are added to your cat’s meal with the hope they’ll provide a nasty taste to cat feces. Um I would think cat poop would already taste awful, but I’ve yet to see this tip work. Again, if it has worked for you, bravo! You are super lucky. You may want to play Powerball on the way home today. 🙂
Punishment
Fussing at your dog when he’s caught raiding the cat’s litterbox doesn’t work. Punishment will only teach your dog to quietly eat cat poop or only raid the litterbox when you’re not around. If your dog is found eating cat poop, pledge to do better by moving the litterbox away from your dog’s reach.