When Dog Eats Cat Litter

A lot of dog owners wonder if their dog has eaten cat litter, but they’re not sure what to do about it. Cat litter can be dangerous for dogs to consume, so it’s important to determine if your dog has actually eaten some and how serious the situation might be.

Although some might think it's cute for pets to share their food, you may end up in trouble if your dog has eaten cat poop on its own.

Learn how to handle your dog eating cat litter with these tips from the ASPCA, Petfinder and The Dogington Post!

First Aid Steps

It’s not uncommon for dogs to have an interest in cat litter. This usually isn’t harmful; however, if your dog does decide to eat cat litter and becomes ill as a result, take it seriously. Some of these side effects may not be obvious right away and some can even be life-threatening.

Since it’s impossible to know what ingredients go into your cat’s litter, it’s important that you work fast if you see your dog ingesting any of it.

See a Vet ASAP

If your dog is eating cat litter, you’ll want to contact your vet right away. If there isn’t any contamination of household food or water bowls and your pet has an empty stomach, an X-ray may be able to give insight into whether blockage is present.

 However, if your pet has eaten material such as clay or bone chips along with cat litter, radiographs won’t show anything useful. Your vet will likely ask you how long he has been eating cat litter and where it comes from (your home vs outside) in order to determine next steps for treatment.

How to avoid your Dog eating Cat Litter?

If your dog has a taste for cat litter, he’s probably craving minerals found in clay litter. Your best bet is to keep an eye on your dog and let him know you aren’t happy with his behavior. However, there’s no need to panic; it won’t hurt him and will pass once he stops eating it.

The main thing is not to bring treats or food that could potentially smell like cat litter around him for a while. To make sure he doesn’t try sneaking over to eat more of your cat's kitty litter, put up some physical barriers between them (like baby gates), or ask guests not to feed him while they're visiting.

Do check out Furvenzy's Cat Litter Box to give your Cat a Secluded Toilet & a Comfortable Environment.