Forbidden love: Teddy Bean and the litter box
The other day I was walking Teddy Bean and revealed The Bean's latest hobby to someone at the park.
"I can't believe I'm actually going to say this cause it's so disgusting," I began, "But I have cats and...."
Before I could finish the sentence, she did: "And he eats the cat poo?"
Sigh. Yes. I think Teddy Bean has developed a taste for the litter box.
While watching TV this weekend, I heard a rustling in the box. Leo was to my right, Pumpkin dozing to the left. I lifted the dome and there was The Bean, kicking gravel with abandon.
This explains the little bits of cat you-know-what that I found near Teddy's play area. And it might explain why Leo smacks him so much.
I actually don't think Bean is eating the poo. I just think he likes to root around and hunt for it and then savor his smelly little prize.
If this is such a common dog thing, why does no one talk about it -- other than its sheer gross-osity? And more importantly: What do people do about it????
Photo of litter box without a dog inside courtesy of Andrew Currie's photostream on Flickr.
Categories: Cats Cats Cats, Dogs, dogs, dogs, Health, Teddy Bean, formerly the Foster Dog
Comments
My mother has an old dog that does this too. The booda dome for the cats has a lid the comes off, and Abby goes in to eat the poop and then gets her head stuck in the dome and lifts the lid off and struggles until a human helps get it off her.
Posted by: Peter | November 3, 2009 10:28 AM
Consider it extreme recycling. Not a good idea but completely natural.
Posted by: Scott Eggleston | November 3, 2009 10:39 AM
This entry made me pee my pants.
Isn't it funny how much money we spend on toys and good quality food, then they do something like this?
Posted by: Gina | November 3, 2009 10:56 AM
We installed a hook & eyelet on the laundry room door. Big enough for the cat, but small enough that our labrador, Jack, doesn't fit.
Posted by: Matt | November 3, 2009 11:11 AM
It's gross, isn't it?! My little chihuahua mix, Pierre, is small enough to fit into both COVERED litter pans, and I have to yell to him, at least 10 times a day, to back away from the poo. He definitely eats it...as gross as it is, I have found no way to prevent it but I've started blocking off the rooms that have the pans with baby gates...
Posted by: Angelic | November 3, 2009 11:52 AM
If the house is quiet...that means that someone is rooting around in my cat Creb's potty.
Sure enough one of the two dogs will appear looking sheepish and having a gross gravel mustache.
I know I could block it off, and I try my best, but part of me says that I shouldn't have to.
I trained them not to jump on people or the couch or do other naughty things...but I just can't seem to train them to stay out of that litter box.
Posted by: Jackie | November 3, 2009 12:49 PM
We call them Kitty Cruchies at my house and as a result, the litter box was moved to the basement which has steps that are too scary for canine travel. Baby gates work too.
Posted by: Lisa | November 3, 2009 1:06 PM
This is the No. 2 reason I won't get a cat (the No. 1 is the allergies) ... my dog looks like she's won the lottery on the rare occasions she gets near cat poop.
Our neighbors had problems with this, too, and they ended up putting the litter box in a room and installing a cat door (the dog was a larger one and could fit only his head through). The other option is to put it up high.
Posted by: Justine | November 3, 2009 5:15 PM
My vet explained to me that cat food has high amount of protein in it (and this is why it is more expensive than dog food). Thus.... cat poo is high in protein. This is why the cat poo appeals to dogs.
Posted by: JoAnn | November 5, 2009 6:56 PM