getting in the kitty litter

[liz2001]

We have 2 cats and their litter box is on the floor of the laundry room. Biscuit discovered it and got some poop out and ate it. Nasty! So we tried putting the litter box up on a short table but someone (not sure if it was the cats or puppy) flipped it over and made a huge mess. Does anyone know how to keep the dog out but let the cats in to the litter box??????

[corgimom]

Liz 2001

I have 3 cats and my dog Cody and I know what you are talking about. Dogs love kitty poop, and my last pem did as well - they think it is a treat and my vet even said that. However, we don't want them eating it. You may be able to put some double sided adhesive product on the bottom of your litter box that would adhere it to the table better and maybe it would not flip over. Our laundry room was not big enough for a small table, so this was not an option for me.

Here are two suggestions. First would putting a baby gate in front of the laundry room work for you? Would the cats jump over it to get to their box? with my cats, only 2 would jump over and the third would not so this was not an idea that worked for me, plus it can be a nuisance for you with carrying laundry in or out.

I used the Soda can method to train Cody to stay out. Put some pennies in an empty soda can(just a few to make noise), Tape over the top and any time your bisquit steps into the laundry room, throw the can on the floor near him and say "out" loudly. This is what worked for me. You have to be consistant and watch him carefully so that you follow through each time. Cats need to have their own area where they can potty without a dog peering at them.

Now when I go into the laundry room with my cats to feed them, Cody will lay outside the room. He no longer steals the cat poop either.

I guess another suggestion would be to retrain your kitty to potty in a litter box in the basement(if you have a basement in your home). You would have to put the box down there and then put your cat down there for a few days so he could get used to the new area. That may work.

Also I was wondering if you have the Covered Kitty litter box - maybe
one like that would deter your Biscuit and he would not want to stick
his head in there.

We have moved 3 times, and we have had to retrain our cats each time to potty in a new area, so it can be done. Don't use something like "bitter Apple spray" near your litter box to deter your Biscuit from going near it, because the cats won't like the smell of it either, and they may decide to not use the litter box at all.

Good luck.

Linda

[darci]

My litter box is in my laundry room as well. Darci LOVES cat poop ewww.
I put a board up in the door facing it's about 18 inches tall, The cats can still jumo over it to get in, and Darci could jump it as well if she wanted to but we used the penny and a can method and she doesnt try to jump in.

[liz2001]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try the baby gate. Have you ever tried the covered litter box? I thought that might help. And the cats kick litter all over, so I thoguht that might help with that as well.

[KatC]

I never tried the covered litter box, but had a deep litter tray with a removable lip that covered in about two inches each side at top. This was excellent for stopping the litter from going everywhere.

My friends have a metal slatted doggie gate sold at pet stores here, similar to a baby gate, adjustable for different sized doors and enough room between slats for cats to walk through. (One old cat can no longer jump.)

[corgimom]

Cindy,

I was wondering how your cats and Darci get along and also what does
Egan think of your cats?

Cody likes to lay on the back of the sofa just like the cats do. Does Darci
ever do that?

Linda

[darci]

Darci thinks she is a cat. Darci lays on the back of the couch too.
Darci used to bug the cats, but they all got along pretty well. Egan doesnt pay much attention to them he plays mostly with Darci.

Now that Egan is here Darci bothers the cats less.

[corgimom]

Cody likes to lay on the back of the sofa - maybe he does think he is a cat.Ha
He will lay on the back and inch closer and closer to the cat until the cat
swats him one.

Linda

[corgimom]

Liz2001

I have never tried the covered litter box for my cats. I made that suggestion
to you because maybe it would keep Biscuit out of the kitty poo. My main
goal was to keep Cody out of the laundry room completely because it really
is the cats room. A cat might not appreciate sitting in his covered litter box
and having a puppy peering at him from the entrance - and no way to escape
for the cat. - It depends on the personality of your cats, but I think cats
like to have some peace and quiet when they are in their boxes.

linda