Why Dogs Eat Cat Poop: 7 Reasons, Prevention, & FAQ

VET APPROVED

Reviewed & fact-checked by

Dr. Paola Cuevas

MVZ (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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If you’re a dog parent, you know that these four-legged creatures have all kinds of funny and weird behaviors, such as eating strange things, including cat poop. Eating poop is also known as coprophagia, and it’s considered developmentally normal for puppies, but if it continues into adulthood, it may pose health, hygiene, and behavioral concerns.

If you’ve noticed your dog munching on cat feces, you may have been shocked and maybe even slightly disgusted. Why do dogs eat cat poop?

Let’s unravel the truth behind this strange behavior, if eating cat poop is dangerous to dogs, and how to prevent the behavior in your furry companion.

The 7 Reasons That Dogs Eat Cat Poop

1. Habit

Much like humans, dogs are creatures of habit. Many dogs like to scavenge for food, which can include things like cat poop or even their own feces.

This is a habit that dogs can carry from their puppyhood, as it’s biologically normal for a mother dog to consume the feces of their pups in order to keep their den clean and reduce odor that could attract predators.1 She will typically continue this behavior through the early nursing period, but many puppies may observe and repeat this behavior from their mothers and then continue it in adulthood.

2. Access & Opportunity

In many cases, dogs eat cat poop simply because they have easy access to it. Dogs are natural scavengers, and if cat feces are readily available, whether in an uncovered litter box, an accessible room, or an uncleaned yard,  a dog may take advantage of the opportunity without any underlying behavioral or medical issue.

Repeated access can quickly turn this into a learned habit. Each successful attempt reinforces the behavior, especially if the feces are palatable or strongly scented. Over time, even dogs that are well-fed, well-exercised, and emotionally balanced may continue eating cat poop simply because the behavior has been unintentionally reinforced.

This is why environmental management plays such a crucial role in preventing coprophagia. Limiting access to litter boxes and promptly removing feces often reduces or completely resolves the behavior without the need for additional intervention.

3. Boredom

It’s typical for puppies or dogs that are bored or understimulated to do all kinds of strange things to entertain themselves. If they find your cat’s litter tray, they’ll explore everything inside and maybe even get a taste. Dogs may find cat feces reinforcing due to novelty and odor, which may cause them to repeat this behavior.

Dogs and puppies that are regularly active and get plenty of exercise, enrichment,  and playtime are less likely to develop boredom-related behaviors, including coprophagia.

4. Other Behavioral Reasons

Besides habits and boredom, other behavioral issues can lead to your furry companion eating cat poop. Some dogs may consume feline feces if they’re craving your attention, as they are trying anything to get you to notice them.

It’s also possible for dogs to eat cat poo when they’re stressed or anxious. This behavior may be self-soothing because it resembles early maternal-associated behaviors from puppyhood.

Simple curiosity can often take dogs to strange places, resulting in them sniffing, touching, and eating all kinds of strange stuff, including feline poop.

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5. Taste

Some dogs like the taste of feces. Most cats consume high-protein, highly digestible diets, and canines can often smell the strong scent of undigested fat and protein residues from the cat’s poop, which draws them to eat it.

Since dogs are often attracted to the scent and taste of feces, they may even consume their own poop or the poo of your other pets. Once the poop passes their standards of taste and quality for edible items (which usually happens straight away, as dogs like to eat weird stuff), they may continue this habit throughout their life.

6. Nutrient Deficiency

This situation is not that common, but it’s possible for dogs to eat cat poop due to malnutrition or nutrient malabsorption. Canines can experience deficiencies when fed improperly formulated diets (certain home-cooked meals/non-AAFCO-certified foods) that don’t meet all their nutritional needs.

These dogs may suffer from malnutrition and seek out the required nutrients elsewhere. Your cat’s litter box may appear attractive due to odor, and in their mind, turn into the go-to place for tasty treats.

7. Medical Problems

In most cases, coprophagia has a behavioral cause, but dogs may engage in eating cat poop for a medical reason. Medical problems in dogs that can lead to coprophagia include:

If this behavior started recently, it’s best to monitor your dog for other changes, and speak to your vet if necessary. If the veterinarian finds an underlying medical cause for your dog eating cat poop, appropriate treatment often reduces or resolves the behavior.

The 6 Ways You Can Prevent Your Dog From Eating Cat Poop

The first step toward resolving this problem is to speak to your vet to rule out any medical conditions that may be causing your dog to consume poop. If your dog is healthy, there are several things that you can try to prevent your dog from eating cat poop.

1. Never Punish Your Dog for Eating Poop

Most people consider any kind of poop-eating to be gross, and the situation might be even worse if your dog completely empties your cat’s litter box. However, it’s up to you to rise to the situation and react calmly.

Reacting negatively, yelling, or punishing your dog could easily backfire and lead to increased anxiety and stress, or unintentional reinforcement of the behavior, which is probably not something that you’re looking to achieve.

So, try to stay positive or don’t react at all. Seek reward-based, positive reinforcement training methods that focus on redirecting and reinforcing alternative behaviors in which you can encourage your dog to stop this behavior.

2. Move/Change the Cat Litter Box

If you’ve noticed that your dog has been eating cat litter straight out of the litter box, it might be a good idea to move or change it.

If you decide to move the litter box, relocate it to a hard-to-reach location that your dog won’t be able to access, as that will decrease the chances of poop eating. If you decide to change it, look for covered, top-entry, or dog-proof litter boxes.

Another helpful tip is to try to maintain good litter box hygiene and clean it at least once daily to prevent feces from collecting inside. This way, there will be fewer chances for your dog to consume them.

3. Repel Cats From Your Yard

If you don’t have cats in your home, but your dog consumes cat poop outside in the yard due to neighboring or stray cats, look for ways to repel them from your space. Although this may be easier said than done, there are several ways to repel unwanted felines from your property, including:

4. Keep Your Dog Stimulated (Both Mentally and Physically)

Dogs may eat poop out of boredom, stress, or anxiety, which is why you should keep your furry friend mentally and physically stimulated and engaged to prevent this behavior. Dogs are naturally curious, so ensure to provide them with plenty of playtime, exercise, training sessions, and environmental enrichment to entertain them and reduce the likelihood of consuming feces.

5. Ensure That Your Dog Has a Well-Balanced Diet

Contrary to common belief, some dogs may consume cat poop not because of protein deficiency, but due to palatability, high fat content, or undigested nutrients present in feline feces. True nutrient deficiencies are uncommon in dogs fed complete and balanced commercial diets. If your dog suffers from poor body condition, malabsorption, or a medical condition affecting nutrient utilization, you should ensure that they have a well-balanced diet, as that should decrease the chances of their eating poop.

If you’re unsure about the foods that you should include in your dog’s meals, it’s best to consult your vet for additional advice. Your dog’s diet should be complete and balanced and appropriate for their age, activity level, and similar factors.

6. Be Patient

For dogs, eating cat poop can be a hard habit to break, so you shouldn’t rush into stopping the behavior. While the ultimate goal is for your dog to stop eating cat poop, try to approach this problem calmly and be patient. Give your furry companion all the necessary time to learn how to stop this behavior, and practice positive reinforcement throughout the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Normal for Dogs to Eat Cat Poop?

Dogs are natural explorers, and with their curious nature and evolutionary scavenging behavior, it’s relatively common for them to eat trash and other non-food items. Since it’s common for mothers to eat their puppies’ poop to clean the environment, many dogs pick up this habit in puppyhood.

However, just because consuming cat poop may come naturally to dogs, that doesn’t mean this behavior is good for them. Eating the feces of other animals carries several risks, which is why it’s best to deter your canine from engaging in such behavior.

Is Eating Cat Poop Bad for Dogs?

Eating cat poop or the poop of any other animal could potentially be harmful to dogs. They could unintentionally be exposed to diseases, bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter, and intestinal parasites such as roundworms or Giardia.

If the feline whose poop your dog is eating is on any medication, drug residues may be present, which could also negatively impact your canine. Consuming large amounts of poop could also lead to gastrointestinal upset, manifesting as vomiting or diarrhea.

Another thing to consider is general hygiene, as dogs often lick their family members and everything around them. Spreading fecal bacteria through saliva is quite possible if your dog likes to consume cat poop. To be safe, always practice good hygiene, like regularly washing your hands and properly cleaning surfaces, and work to prevent your dog from eating cat poop.

How to Clean Your Dog’s Mouth After They Eat Cat Poop

One of the grossest things about your dog eating cat poop is the fact that your furry friend will likely try to lick you or other family members after the fact. Therefore, you should know how to clean your dog’s mouth after these incidents happen. Here’s a list of tips that might help:

Conclusion

There are many reasons that dogs eat cat poop. Some do it out of habit, boredom, stress, or anxiety, while others do it due to behavioral learning, environmental access, or underlying medical conditions.

Consuming feces from other animals is a common behavior in dogs, but it carries infectious and hygiene-related risks, which is why it’s best to prevent your dog from eating cat poop through management, training, and veterinary guidance.

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Featured Image Credit: David P Baileys, Shutterstock