How to Prevent Your Dog from Going Into the Kitty Litter Box
If you have both dogs and cats, you might struggle with your dogs going into the kitty litter boxes. Why on earth would they do this? It’s gross! There is actually a reason for why your dog might be going into the litter box:
It’s actually “normal” dog behavior. Cat poop, to them, smells like cat food, which is why they don’t think there is anything wrong - it’s just candy to them. But dogs eating cat poop and litter can actually be quite harmful.
It can carry harmful bacteria, which can make your fur baby sick.
It can carry a parasite that causes humans to get sick (toxoplasmosis) if your dog licks your face.
Cat litter can also be harmful to your dog if they eat enough of it to cause intestinal blockage.
Here are some things you can do:
Scoop the litter box every day (twice a day if you can). Realistically, you probably won’t be able to scoop the box every single time after your cat uses it, but it does decrease the number of opportunities for your dog to go in there.
Get a self-cleaning litter box that cleans/scoops after every use. The potential problem with using one of these is that not every cat likes it
Train you dog (but rule out any medical conditions first. Schedule a vet visit to make sure they’re not lacking any nutrients). Work with a trainer to train your dog not to go into the litter box.
Make sure your dog gets enough exercise so they’re not going in there out of boredom, stress, or anxiety.
Training your dog to not go into the litter box is easier said than done. I struggled with this a lot with Mochi (Zucchi was a fast learner). No matter what I did, she just wouldn’t leave the litter box alone. I tried everything listed above. Nothing worked. It even got as far as her not going in there when I was around, but as soon as I stepped out, she decided to sneak in there. Little trouble maker!
I couldn’t find any elevated litter boxes, so I eventually found a system that worked. It’s simple and effective: I elevated the litter boxes by placing them on cabinets and have it set up as “stalls” (see the picture in this post). I’ve never had a problem since! Some people might be worried that it will look odd/weird to other people ding it this way. Every time I have people over, they actually think it looks great! Definitely a solution I would recommend!
References:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/why-does-my-dog-eat-cat-poop/
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/coprophagia-in-dogs-dogs-eating-poo
