Why do Dogs like Cat Poo?
By jennybianca
@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
May 10, 2007 11:40pm CST
Why, oh why, do dogs like cat poo?
I was just emptying the cat litter tray. I have a secluded spot out the back where I dump it, which a little difficult for the dogs to access (although with effort, they still can).
I took the litter tray outside, took off the lid & commenced walking down the back with the bottom tray full of litter & cat poo. The dogs, in particular the Dalmation, were very excited, as usual. As soon as I dumped it, there he was, snuffling around trying to get it at. I don't stay around to see what he does with it!!
Our little mini fox terrier loves dog poo as well. When she comes inside, when she thinks I'm not looking, up she goes to the cat litter tray & sticks her head inside the opening. If I'm not watching, she steals a poo.
Years ago, I had a Jack Russel who loved the cat poo too. One day, I had the litter tray outside, took off the lid, & as quick as lightening, she grabbed a poo from the tray & ran as fast as possible away from me.
What is this attraction dogs have with cat poo??
7 people like this
17 responses
@Lylascomments (161)
• United States
11 May 07
I don't know why they like it either but it is Really gross. I have two taco bell dogs and I can't keep them out of it. The female is a pup, she is so bad, she had it smeared all over her lips one day, it looked like she had lip stick on. I have yelled at her and put her in her pen, nothing works. She sneaks down to the basement. I have the litter box in the bathroom down there so everytime I go I can check the box and shovel it out to put in a covered garbage can.
6 people like this
@Whisp1976 (488)
• United States
11 May 07
I am laughing so hard about your lipstick comment. My own female puppy is so naughty at the moement. You made me imagine her wearing cat poop on her lips like make-up.
5 people like this
@Lylascomments (161)
• United States
11 May 07
Glad I could make someone laugh, it is funny now. At the time it wasn't. My daughter and I laugh about it all the time saying "oh there goes K to put on her lipstick again"
A couple of days before that happened she actually did get into a tube of lipstick and had it all over her lips. I have had alot of dogs but none as unique as her. And none of them ever had anything smeared on their lips.
6 people like this
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
4 Aug 07
Oh me goodness!! I've been reading a few poo stories and am just giggling like crazy. I haven't ever had a dog and a cat living together, so I have no experience in this. It's halarious reading about all the antic of these dogs who are so comical trying to get to the poo. Lipstick huh?? BLAH!!!!!
1 person likes this
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
11 May 07
The way the vet explained it to me, cat food is much more flavorful because cats are so finicky and picky. Obviously, they're poop retains some of that "flavor", which dogs find simply irresistable. I think the little pieces of litter on the poop just add more crunch for the dogs :) I ended up moving our litter box to a higher "shelf" area so the dogs couldn't get to it. Really bugged me to think about what he'd been eating when he'd give me a big old wet kiss on the face...ick.... :)
6 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
11 May 07
So thats why my dogs love left over cat food! And hence, the cay poo...
I have not been able to discouage my mini fox terier from always wanting to lick my face.
4 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 May 07
Now that makes since, I've never thought of that, thank you for opening my eyes to this problem.
4 people like this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I've read that this reason has been discredited. I wish it was the reason, because then maybe I'd just feed my kitties something not as tasty! LOL
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
11 May 07
What the first person said really makes alot of sense. I never thought of that. I am always yelling at my dogs to get out of the litter box. It drives me crazy. And they act like they have just found a wonderful treasure. It is so hard to take it away from them because I sure don't want to touch it.lol.
6 people like this
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
11 May 07
My husband built "cat houses" to keep the litter boxes in at our houses. He did it within a week of getting the cat, because our two dogs not only ate the dirty litter, they also scattered it all over the house.
Now the cat has her own houses that the dogs can't fit into. Our little dog chewed up part of the front wall around the doorway to one when my husband first built it. It was out of pegboard, so it was pretty easy for her to chew. My husband fixed that by putting little metal screws through there. Trixie bit the doorway ONE time, and now doesn't even try to stick her head in there anymore!
We put the cat's food in there, too, to keep the dogs out.
5 people like this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
30 Jul 07
ROFL! Maybe it does taste delicious to our pooches. Haha!!!
@Whisp1976 (488)
• United States
11 May 07
Because it is the cloesest the dog gets to having tootsie rolls. ;)
4 people like this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
11 May 07
Oh thank heavens- I thought our Boxer was just an odd dog- He actually chases me when I go to sumd the litter- He can't reach it where I dump it and he knows- So he chases me the whole way and then he tries to sniff the box when I'm cleaning it outside- When we had our other cats - they were outside inside cats- I would always catch Carmen (dog) eating cat poop out of the yard! And they say dogs mouths are clean??
3 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
12 May 07
That must look so funny, with your dog chasing you down the back yard, desperate for some cat poo.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85681)
• United States
11 May 07
Well, I've had several dogs over the course of my 26 years. Every dog I've ever had like poo. Not just cat poo, but their own poo, horse poo, and the like. I've watched them when I couldn't get the poo away, and they sniff it, but ultimately most of my dogs played in it, they didn't eat it. Although 2 of my previous dogs come to mind who DID eat poop, their own. My dogs usually just like things that smell bad to my human nose. If it smells good they are just casually interested. Ah, the mystery of dogs.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
11 May 07
Do you mean your accidental duplicate response? I have done that before. I have one friend who accidently posted her response three times... the My Lot errors!!
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (85681)
• United States
11 May 07
Well, I've had several dogs over the course of my 26 years. Every dog I've ever had like poo. Not just cat poo, but their own poo, horse poo, and the like. I've watched them when I couldn't get the poo away, and they sniff it, but ultimately most of my dogs played in it, they didn't eat it. Although 2 of my previous dogs come to mind who DID eat poop, their own. My dogs usually just like things that smell bad to my human nose. If it smells good they are just casually interested. Ah, the mystery of dogs.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
12 May 07
I can spell.... dogs, feeling.. it is my typing that is poor!
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 May 07
LOL - not the most pleasurable discussion but I couldn't resist. I don't have an answer to this except maybe dogs just like to eat anything they can get away with - I've seen many dogs do this. What's really bad is when they do it and then want to get in your face or lick your hand :( NO NO NO!
I babysat a dalmation this last weekend and was surprised, my cat's litter box is in my bedroom which has also become my office and where I spend most of my time thus the dalmation was also in here most of the time. Never once did he go for the box :) Good dog :)
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
12 May 07
LOL same thing happened to my dogs as well about liking the cat poo.
I had to move the litter box in a way that they couldn't reach it hehe
My dogs also love to go around waiting for the cats to eat and see if they can still something. I guess cat food is better :)
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
12 May 07
My dogs love cat food too. It's a good way of getting rid of left overs!
2 people like this
@OURDEW (4809)
• United States
11 May 07
That is so funny, at least I'm not alone with this problem. My crazy dog is a German Shepherd. She goes right after my cats litter box. She thinks that I'm not looking and there she goes. I have to keep her out of the room where the litter box is. We tried useing the litter box with the lid. It didn't work. My dog would just stick her head in it. She also likes to eat her own poop. I have to clean it up right after she goes, or she will go after it. She has a high quality food, and dog vitamins. She she is not lacking anything.
3 people like this
@cami_love (87)
• United States
11 May 07
What I have heard is that they like the taste of it and that it (the cat's poo) is full of nutrients. Whether or not that is true, I don't know.
@dnatureofdtrain (5273)
• Janesville, Wisconsin
30 May 07
I don't know. I have many Two English Shepards, and many cats and kittens.. And well they too love the ... poo..
I was sleeping on the deck one day in my shorts.. and I woke up to this slurp on my foot, and half way up my leg, to discover that my happy dog painted me with cat poo. Needless to say this is a very good reason for me to wear long pants all year around!.. As my happy puppy poos! Will, lick my knees if I don't and if they had gotta into the poo, blech lol.
Now why we are all talking about this? I don't know.. Guess we are tired and having a pooo pey morning.
Due to this. I nicknamed my Dogs Puppis. Which means Poop in Latin. :) - DNatureofDTrain
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
30 May 07
I honestly dont know! My dog is the same way. We took her to the beach the other day and she ate some kind off poop off the beach. It made her sick and she was throwing up!! Maybe its because of what cats eat. Its diffrent than dog food and dogs want to taste it. All I know is its GROSS!!!!!!
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
30 Jul 07
It's REALLY gross to us, but it sure isn't to our puppies! LOL
@66jerseygirl (3877)
• United States
30 May 07
you got me on that one,lol. We used to have a beagle who always had his nose stuck in the litter box til i went out and bought a litter pan with a lid.That kept him out,lol
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
30 Jul 07
I have a covered cat box. Unfortunately, though, my dog can fit inside of it! I wish someone had an answer...LOL
