PLEASE, what does this mean (GROSS)

[Bon Bon]

Recently, my two dogs picked up the habit of getting into the kitty litter box while we are away and eating the little nuggets! I'm sorry to gross you out , really I am, but I'm so afraid something is wrong with them, and if it isn't that they'll get really sick. They are fed plenty (more than we should feed them I'm sure) and they haven't ever showed signs of being upset that we are away. Sometimes we'll be gone for only 1/2 hour and come home to find evidence around the house. Does anyone know what this means? Are my dogs just demented or is this a common occurence? We certainly can't leave our indoor cat in the house without the kitty box either.

 

[cynsaun]

Other than being really gross, it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your dogs. Cat food is really fatty to entice cats to eat it. Therefore, the dogs can smell it in the litterbox, and want it.

Try getting one of those self-cleaning boxes, or one with a lid.

Good luck.

 

[Bon Bon]

A self-cleaning litter box? I never knew there was such a thing. We have one with a lid but little Maggie can fit her head into it and shares her treats with Abby! We clean it every day too.

What you said makes a lot of sense! Thank you.

 

[cynsaun]

You can find these litter boxes at Walmart and Target. They run around $90 (!! !!), but from what I hear, they are well worth it! After kitty does it's duty, the box has an arm that extends across, runs the length of the box, filters out the mess, and finally puts it in a little collection bag on the end.

 

[sweet angel]

Dogs just seem to enjoy "cat box crunchies".

I've heard those self-cleaning litter boxes can be dangerous...starting to clean before the cat gets fully out of the box.

 

[BrerLizzie]

Self cleaining kitty box= awesome! Ours is a "litter maid" kitty goes, 10 mins later a rake come and scoops it into a plastic box. There's a sensor, so it won't rake up the kitty. My dog can open the garbage can, but not this box.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Our dog would kill to eat the "cat treats"...bleech. He loved 'um.

 

[DLCharmedOne]

Our dogs love the little "tootsie rolls" in the litter box too. Most people I know that have both cats and dogs have this problem, so I think its pretty common. We got a cat door for the laundry room door and put the cat's litter box, food, and water in there so only she can get to it.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Pretty normal behavior. Don't sweat it =)

 

[luv2nascar]

kitty fritters with extra sprinkles
all dogs love em

 

[yeartolate]

Almond Roca anyone???


Just to let you know coprophagia is very common. An internet search will yield many suggestions.


What we did is get one of the cheap round cat boxes with a lid and place it in the bathroom to the side of the toilet. The opening to the cat box is turned to the side, so the cat has to go behind the toilet to get in. Unless the dog is small, this should work.

 

[Bon Bon]

What we did is get one of the cheap round cat boxes with a lid and place it in the bathroom to the side of the toilet. The opening to the cat box is turned to the side, so the cat has to go behind the toilet to get in. Unless the dog is small, this should work.

GREAT IDEA! Thanks! You all are too funny!!

 

[grinningghost]

Totally normal for dogs. Gross, but normal. Our dog loves to try and sneak a kitty nugget now and then, therefore, I scoop frequently.

 

[denisenh]

I have never, in all my living days, heard that dogs eat cat poop. blech

 

[Phrebert]

Ask your vet about something you can add to their food that will discourage them from sampling the poopsicles. It is harmless but it sours the taste.

 

[phillybeth]

You can also put the cat box somewhere the dogs don't ahve access to or can't reach, like on top of the dryer or behind a baby gate.