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How to keep your dog out of the cat's litter box

by pwill

Created on: September 15, 2009   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

I once knew a dog named Recycle because the owner could not keep him out of the cat's litter box. No, I am not kidding. He tried everything he could think of to keep Recycle away from the box. Threatening and scolding words would only make him cower and shrink back as he'd lie in his corner of the room, while his eyes would rest just a short way from the cat's domain, waiting for the next chance to visit. The owner eventually just accepted it and hence, his name was changed to Recycle.

I happened upon this man on the beach and we were talking about dogs eating cat ca ca, as I had a problem with one of my dogs at the time. He said dogs love cat ca ca and will do anything for it. I personally think it must be the high protein in the cat food, in the ca ca, because cats do not chew their food, they just sort of eat their food whole

From what I understand, there are products out there that you can put on the ca ca or to be a little bit more technical feces to give it a bad taste. I cannot even imagine putting something on the ca ca to make it taste bad. Doesn't it already taste bad? Ah! But, not to them!

After talking to a long time friend of mine, she relayed that the dogs do this because they are lacking something in their diet. OK. So they eat cat ca ca! Aren't you glad we don't do this if we have a vitamin deficiency? I have heard of the dog lacking protein or something in their diet and sometimes all they need is a vitamin. Most of the time, these situations are not that simple to deal with. The best thing you can do is to put the litter box in a place where the dog cannot go. For example, the box could go on the back porch or laundry room with the door cracked just enough for only the cats to get through. You will have to rig it so that if the dog pushes a little bit, he will know the door won't budge. You can also put a bell on the door sounding the alarm when he decides to raid the box. Eventually, he will know what happens when the bell rings. Not good for the old boy!

Vets have said that basically eating the ca ca won't hurt dogs, but who wants a pet with ca ca breath? Another suggestion is to get a covered litter box and turn it around to the wall or corner in the room where the dog cannot go, or install a baby gate and have the litter box behind the gate. The cat will jump up and over; the dog usually won't try. You could always put the litter box in a kennel crate with a small cat door installed that would be too small for your dog. I have heard of some people even putting their litter box up high on one of those cat climber exercisers, but the trouble would be getting litter on everything after they come out. It might look like snow, but we know differently.

You will know where the best place in your house would be for the litter box. If you put it somewhere the dog cannot get to, it will save you a lot of unneeded stress and upset in the future. Or you could always give your dog away and lie, telling the new owners how wonderful he is, but he just doesn't get along with cats. Anything to stay away from high blood pressure medicine.



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