About Dog-Proof Litter Boxes

One of the more nasty habits that many dogs share is a taste for "kitty bon bons" eaten right out of the cat's litter box. Not only is this potentially dangerous for your dog, it is a gross habit best discouraged. Instead of gating off an area for a litter box, consider one of several styles of dog-proof litter boxes on the market.

  1. Theories/Speculation

    • There are many theories about why dogs like to eat cat feces. One is that because cat food is higher in protein than most commercial dog food, the poop is attractive to a dog trying to get more protein into her diet. Most experts discount this theory, however, since well-nourished dogs are just as likely to eat feces as nutritionally deficient dogs. Another more plausible theory is that dogs are natural scavengers and their wild cousins eat feces for nutrition, especially in lean times. It could be merely that dogs simply like the taste, just as they like the taste of dog kibble, which most humans would find extremely unappetizing.

    Warning

    • Eating cat poop, and the surrounding litter, can be dangerous to a dog. It is possible for intestinal worms and viral diseases to be passed on to a dog eating feces. Ingesting a large amount of the litter, especially clumping litter, can form a mass in the dog's gastrointestinal tract that may cause an impaction and have to be surgically removed.

    Types

    • There are several types of dog-proof litter boxes. The most common has a small door on the side. This is large enough for a cat to enter, but keeps most dogs out. Most cats adjust quickly to using a top-entry litter box. Another option is to buy a litter box cover. Most of these are designed to be fairly attractive and use materials like wicker or wood to hide unsightly litter boxes. Unless your dog is large and determined enough to knock it over, a cover also serves as dog-proofing for the box.

    Considerations

    • Consider the size and determination of your dog when choosing a dog-proof litter box. If your dog is small, the best choice will be a top-entry box. Large dogs may be able to get their heads into a top-entry box but cannot access one with a small enough side entry door, and very determined dogs can knock over a litter box cover.

    Expert Insight

    • Attempting to train a dog to stay out of the cat's litter box will usually be in vain because the scavenging drive is very strong. While the dog might stay away in your presence, all bets are off when you leave the house. There are some products on the market that when added to the food, make feces unpalatable to dogs, but these are not universally successful and most are not formulated for cats. The best way to stop dogs from eating cat poop is by preventing the dog access to the litter box, and dog-proof litter boxes make this easy.