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Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop?

Yes... there are dogs who do eat cat feces. And these are the real reasons why dogs eat cat poop if you're extremely confused yourself.

By Alicia SpringerPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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Yes, that's the title. And believe it or not, there are actually dogs out there who do eat cat poop. Before I get into the reasons why, your dog isn't the only dog that's doing this. There are so many dog owners out there who've witnessed their own dog eat their cat's poop right out of the cat's litter box. I can just imagine your reaction. You were utterly disgusted, insanely confused, and either stood there dumbfounded or immediately yelled at your pup to stop what they're doing.

So no, you're not the only one who's seen this. And the majority of the dog owners out there are begging for answers to why their dog does this. They're not even eating cat food or anything that's less disgusting, but cat poop! If you're desperately wondering why your dog does this, these are the real reasons why dogs eat cat poop.

They really like the taste.

Yes, this is true. Your dog is probably very fond of the taste of cat feces. Even though we may think that that's the most disgusting thing we've ever heard, this is certainly one of the main reason why dogs eat cat poop. Perhaps there's a distinct taste to cat poop and they can't get enough of it?

Perhaps your dog finds eating his cat buddy's poop a way better enjoyment than chewing on a dog toy, a treat, or even eating their own dog food. While we'll never... ever find out what cat feces tastes like, dogs seem to be really liking the taste. Maybe it depends on what your cat ate that makes your dog love it so much?

Your dog might have medical issues.

If your dog is always tempted to eat cat poop, then there's a chance that she can have a medial issue. Her taste for poop can be triggered by intestinal or pancreatic issues. In addition to that, it can also be from any medication that she’s taking. However, either way, you should certainly take your dog to the vet.

If your vet doesn’t find any medical issues with your pet, then there’s also a chance that your dog has picked up parasites like coccidia, giardia, roundworms, or even whipworms. And this can be from eating the poop. Still, the vet can test for any sign of parasites in your pup.

It can be from nutritional deficiency.

Among the reasons why dogs eat cat poop, it can be from nutritional deficiency. When your dog is eating cat poop, it can be a sign of a vitamin deficiency in your dog’s diet. And if you believe that this is the cause from any nutritional issue, then you should talk to your dog’s veterinarian.

In this case, you should totally switch your dog’s diet. Change your dog’s food to a formula with much higher fats, fibers, or proteins. In addition to that, your dog probably also needs more vitamin B in their diet.

They're just bored.

Yes, boredom is certainly one of the real reasons why dogs eat cat poop. Since they're chilling at home all day, they actually get excited when there's fresh poop in the cat's litter box. Especially if you go to work everyday, your dog can really start to get bored.

That's why it's super important to keep your dog entertained throughout the day to prevent him from eating cat poop! Take him out for a walk often, play tug-of-war with him, anything that will literally drain his energy. Because if he's not finding anything to do, he'll wander off and end up eating your cat's feces right out of the litter box.

It's from inherited behavior.

If your dog is eating cat poop, it can actually be an inherited and they were simply programmed that way. While wild canines like wolves actually hunt for poop if they weren’t able to find or catch a pray, their last resort would be to eat poop from other animals. They can also gain essential vitamins from eating feces.

While your dog can possess this behavior, your cat’s litter box is the perfect gateway for them to eat cat poop. And the sight of the feces might trigger their instincts and eat it. You can't blame them if they inherited this aspect! But you can certainly stop them... stop them actually.

Because they're just... dogs.

Finally, from the reasons dogs eat cat poop is because... they're just dogs. You can never anticipate what dogs do when you're not around the house. And this can certainly be associated with their boredom when their owner isn't around the house.

Either way, you should never allow your dog to continue eating cat poop. If you catch them doing it once, never allow them to gain access to the cat's litter box. There are certainly ways to stop your dog from continuing any further. And you should for the sake of their health.

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About the Creator

Alicia Springer

Mother of two. Personal trainer. Fitness is about determination, not age.

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