Stopping Your Dog from Raiding the Litter Box
In households occupied by dogs and cats, there should be a no-dog zone for safety reasons. The area, of course, is where litter boxes are located. This area needs to be off-limits to dogs at all times.
Cats need and deserve to urinate and poop in litter boxes that are in safe, private locations. They don’t want to worry about a dog in the home accessing that area in an attempt to raid the litter box for a stinky piece of poop.
Yep, I said it. Poop. Cat poop tends to very attractive to dogs because cat food tends to be aromatic to encourage cats to eat. And dogs are scavengers with many always on the hunt for food.
The act of eating feces is called coprophagia. The act of eating poop is disgusting. And dangerous.
Dogs who swallow cat poop covered in litter clay are at risk of:
Choking
Infection from roundworms or salmonella in the cat feces
Suffering from abdominal obstructions that may require surgical removal
Be on the lookout for these clues that your dog may have raided the litter box:
Pungent breath due to litter clumps lodged in the mouth
Onset of diarrhea
Straining to defecate and becoming constipated
Swelling in the stomach
Try these strategies to prevent your dog from raiding the litter box in your home:
Scoop the urine and poop clumps in the litter box at least twice a day. Dogs on poop-eating quests will not be tempted by an empty litter box.
Install a pet door gate tall enough to prevent your dog from leaping over it. Consider selecting pet gates that have small openings that cats can walk through but that are too narrow and tiny for your dog to squeeze through.
Place litter boxes on sturdy shelves at heights too high for a dog to leap up to and access.
Make it stand out
I share my home with three dogs and two cats. The litter boxes are located in a mud room with a pet gate preventing my dogs from entering. And, yes, I scoop the contents twice a day for safety sake. ~Arden
Final Tip:
Show your cat and dog how much you care for them by enrolling in one of our Pet First Aid 4U classes. We offer three options for you to earn veterinarian-approved two-year certificates in our pet first aid/CPR programs:
In-person classes primarily aimed at pet professionals and first responders.
Interactive via ZOOM classes offered monthly and on demand
Self-paced online classes for those wishing to learn anytime, anywhere.
Pick the best option for you and sign up today!
About the Author:
Arden Moore, founder of Pet First Aid 4 U, is a Master Pet First Aid/CPR Instructor who teaches veterinarian-approved, hands-on safety courses alongside her teaching team of Kona (dog) and Casey (cat). Known as “The Pet First Aid & Safety Coach,” Arden is also a nationally recognized behavior consultant, bestselling author of over 25 pet books, and the award-winning host of the “Oh Behave!” podcast. A Fear Free Certified Professional, she brings decades of pet expertise to all her endeavors — with a mission to help pets live safer, longer and healthier lives.
