Dogs Getting Into Litter Box...

[Evadig]

I came back from a two week trip to find both my dogs have started routinely helping themselves to the cat's litter box... Annie has a history of eating everything, but my Eva wouldn't have ever touched something like that. Do y'all think they're hungry, not getting enough nutrients, bored, or what? This has to stop. I will provide more details on their food intake if necessary.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I came back from a two week trip to find both my dogs have started routinely helping themselves to the cat's litter box... Annie has a history of eating everything, but my Eva wouldn't have ever touched something like that. Do y'all think they're hungry, not getting enough nutrients, bored, or what? This has to stop. I will provide more details on their food intake if necessary.

But doesn't it cut back on how often you gotta clean the litter box?

 

[Evadig]

But doesn't it cut back on how often you gotta clean the litter box?

Yes.
But I cannot have them eating that. My parents will have a fit. And, it’s still gross. Annie likes to snuggle her nose into my lap…I would prefer it didn’t stink like cat droppings.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Nah, I've worked with dogs for at least 20 years, and I've  never met one that would pass up cat poop Dogs are gross! Seriously though, they're not raiding the litterbox for tootsie rolls because they're lacking anything.

Your best bet is to eliminate access. My litterboxes are in the bathrooms. The downstairs one is in the bathroom closet, blocked off with a baby gate set a few inches off the floor. The upstairs one has a door with a cat sized hole so the cats can access the litter box but the dogs can't. Some people have luck with top entry litterboxes. You could also buy (or modify existing) furniture so the cats can get to the box but the dogs can't. Google "cat box furniture" for ideas.

 

[Evadig]

Nah, I've worked with dogs for at least 20 years, and I've  never met one that would pass up cat poop Dogs are gross! Seriously though, they're not raiding the litterbox for tootsie rolls because they're lacking anything.

Your best bet is to eliminate access. My litterboxes are in the bathrooms. The downstairs one is in the bathroom closet, blocked off with a baby gate set a few inches off the floor. The upstairs one has a door with a cat sized hole so the cats can access the litter box but the dogs can't. Some people have luck with top entry litterboxes. You could also buy (or modify existing) furniture so the cats can get to the box but the dogs can't. Google "cat box furniture" for ideas.

Thank you for those suggestions!

The only problem is, the cat is old and has mobility problems. Any barriers that would keep the dogs out would probably keep her out as well. Maybe I can put it on her table or something (she practically lives on top of a couple folding tables).

I guess I want to know why this suddenly started happening. Because I know they weren’t doing it before.

 

[cassie]

I came back from a two week trip to find both my dogs have started routinely helping themselves to the cat's litter box... Annie has a history of eating everything, but my Eva wouldn't have ever touched something like that. Do y'all think they're hungry, not getting enough nutrients, bored, or what? This has to stop. I will provide more details on their food intake if necessary.

I solved that problem by getting a top entry litterbox. The cats enter through the top and the dogs do not have access. Dogs get into the litterbox because they can and not because they are lacking something in their diet. I found my litterbox at amazon. You can also go on the internet and learn how to make one of your own.

 

[Evadig]

I solved that problem by getting a top entry litterbox. The cats enter through the top and the dogs do not have access. Dogs get into the litterbox because they can and not because they are lacking something in their diet. I found my litterbox at amazon. You can also go on the internet and learn how to make one of your own.

I’m not sure my cat could get into one of those…she’s old, arthritic, and overweight. But thank you for the suggestion! I’ll look into it.

 

[AinaWGSD]

If you got/made something like the cat box furniture maybe you could put the opening facing the wall with enough room for the at to get behind it but not the dogs. Or have an offset double opening?

 

[Evadig]

If you got/made something like the cat box furniture maybe you could put the opening facing the wall with enough room for the at to get behind it but not the dogs. Or have an offset double opening?

Good idea.
Tonight I put it up on the table, and tomorrow I’ll see what I can do with some cardboard.
I’m too tired to think right now!

In gratitude for everyone’s help, here is a picture of the cat :

 

[cassie]

I’m not sure my cat could get into one of those…she’s old, arthritic, and overweight. But thank you for the suggestion! I’ll look into it.

They aren't very high. My old fat cat didn't have any problem at all. If necessary, maybe you could put something beside it she could use as a step. I can't think of any other way to keep the dogs out. That said, have you tried a covered litter box?