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Junior Member
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Last Login: 8/15/2008 11:48:32 AM
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Do dogs mess with the litter box because I was considering getting one and was wondering if it would.         
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Last Login: 8/6/2008 9:54:10 PM
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 8/7/2008 8:15:16 AM
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| Hi, Luci's Mama, in answer to your question about a dog being attracted to a kitty's litter box, there are two answers: 1. It depends on the dog's personality and training to "leave" certain things alone. 2. Basically, yes, for some reason there is an inherent attraction - - instinctual attraction - - to explore potty accomplishments. As a mom of both kitties and a dog, I can assure you it will be okay to go ahead and add a canine companion to your household regardless of your dog's attraction to the kitty potties. First of all, you can make the kitty potties accessible to your kitties while adding barriers around the potties to keep a dog from gaining access. The kittles will LOVE this as it will provide additional privacy for them. Second, be sure to use kitty litter that, if ingested, will not cause intestinal blockage. This may include purchasing a more expensive kitty litter, but it will be healthier for both your feline and canine companions. You may want to speak with your veterinarian about this issue for professional advice. As for my personal experience, after using many different brands of litter over the years and doing recent research, I have changed my kitties' potty filler to a product called Swheat - - it is biodegradable, flushable (if you wish to dispose of it down your commode), and according to the product information, although it does clump when wet - - it is not supposed to cause intestinal blockages if consumed. So far I can say all is well in this regard. Of course, you don't want your dog making regular meals from the litter box, BUT if he / she should not be able to resist a snack, particularly when you are not around, there should not be any serious physical damage done. But again you will probably want to speak with your veterinarian for professional advice. Also, you can add de-scenters to the litter that will help to remove the odor that accompanies even the most sparkling clean of kitty litter boxes. And this will help to keep the room smelling fresher for everyone - - human and fur kids. And accompanying all of this with some basic obedience training for your dog to "leave it" may also help to keep the peace with the kitty litter boxes. I hope this helps you, and will look forward to knowing how things go for you. Best wishes, peace, and blessings, moon_beam
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Last Login: 9/30/2008 10:34:54 AM
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| Absolutely they are attracted to the litter box. There is nothing quite as yummy to a dog as recycled cat food. My 12 lb. poodle is very much aware that the box is off limits to doggies. If the cat goes to it and I don't notice I will see the dog acting very sneaky. She will move very slowly toward the room where the box is kept and keep looking over her shoulder to see if I notice her. That's when I say "No. That's a bad dog thing to do." And I run in and scoop. The dog looks sad. Like I've just eaten her favorite treat. Don't let this stop you. My two girls are best of friends and they keep each other company and play together all the time. When I leave the house I tell the dog to take good care of the kitty. And I really think she knows what I'm saying because when I get home they're lying next to each other just waking up from a nice nap.
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Supreme Being
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Another possible deterrent to a dog can be a top entry litterbox, a small dog can't get into it, and a big dog shouldn't be able to reach the kitty krispies.
My cats own my house they just permit me to live there. Only cat lovers know the luxury of fur-coated, musical hot water bottles that never go cold."
- Susanne Millen 
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Senior Member
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| Yes they will if not trained or if they get the chance. Smaller dogs are more of a problem as they can get in the box about the same as a cat. Our lab is trained never to go on the side of the room where the pan is located. She is very good and has never "stolen the goodies" If you wind up with a dog that is small enough to get in the covered litter box, then you will have to build a container with an opening on top for the cats to jump down. Its like a very large chest made of wood with a hole in the top. Cat jumps down inside and uses the pan and then hops out. I've never heard of a dog that was that anxious to get to the pan that way. If you build it yourself, you'll have to put hinges on the top to open it up to clean the pan out.
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Supreme Being
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We once owned a Pharoah Hound while staying a few years with my mom's parents. Grandma and Grandpa had 5 cats and a small dog. Our Pharoah Hound kept getting into the litterboxes for a snack, ended up with kidney failure, and had to be put down. They used the cheap clay litter that looked like gravel, but the dog just dug the solids out and ate them. He was so sneaky, and we would be busy with other stuff, it was hard to catch him in the act. It was awful, watching a beautiful dog shrink to skin and bones. Definately use one of those "camoflaged" cat boxes they feature in ads in Cat Fancy.
Some cats are more special than others.
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