The unforseen consequences of getting a cat

[tdavie]

Sigh, I forgot about the dog > cat and cat > dog interactions.

My Cairn Terrier (the small dog) has previously lived with 3 cats, and thinks it's a grand ole time that there is now a cat back in her life. The rescue cross mix mutt tries to avoid the cat. In turn, the cat loves and follows the mix (of course). The cat is currently equal status to the terrier.

The trouble is that they are all learning from each other, while I am away at work. Both dogs have started to forage for snacks in the litter box, with the terrier eating so much that became badly constipated and was pooping litter The mix is a bit more stealthy and I suspect is hiding it somewhere.

The cat sees the dogs eating poop and I hope is not capable of trying to duplicate.

It really is fun watching different species interact. Now maybe I should learn about getting a bird?

Tom

 

[turtles]

that and cat hairs in your weed if it's left un-contained for >.000001 seconds

 

[OhTheAgony]

You can buy litter boxes that come with a collar for the cat with a microchip in it so it only opens for the cat itself (they make food bowls like that as well, btw). Perhaps that would be a solution to your shit eating dogs ? (i was just imagining what their breath must smell like )

 

[djonkoman]

here also dogs and a cat are present, the litterbox is located in the... well no idea how bit's called in english, but it's the tiny 'room'/hall between the kitchen and the backdoor
the dogs only come trough there when going outside but never go further, the litterbox for the cat(and her food) are further back then the backdoor
also her feeding tray is higher above the ground

 

[biojuggernaut]

that and cat hairs in your weed if it's left un-contained for >.000001 seconds

It seems as if all my dealers have a white cat as well as my myself


my friends and I always joke about that legendary cathair kush

 

[tdavie]

Yup, cat hair got in the weed. Somehow. Even though the weed went straight from the bag into the grinder and from there into a bow, there was still a cat hair in the bowl

djonkoman; the cat food (dry) is placed elevated. Dogs supposedly can not get to that. The wet food is supervised until the cat eats it (fortunately he's a pig and he quickly makes the plate empty). The litterbox is a problem and I suppose it can be moved.

Tom

 

[weedemon]

putting the litter box up on a table will be good in 2 ways. no bending over to clean it. and the mutts will stay out!

 

[pakalolo]

Tom, if you're using clumping litter then you absolutely must make sure the dogs don't ingest it. That stuff expands when moist and can cause serious internal complications, even death.

Oh, and don't flush it either unless you want to become good friends with the Roto-Rooter man.

 

[BHOmb.]

Other options would be to put the litter box in a closet and close the door enough that the dog can't fit , or put the litter box in a cardboard box with a small hole in the side (and no top) that only the cat can get into. I had to do the latter temporarily when introducing a new cat to my other critters a while back.

 

[lwien]

The trouble is that they are all learning from each other....

True story. Knew a girl once who had two older cats. She then got a puppy and the cats took to the puppy like it was one of them. Anyways, a few months later, the dog jumped off the roof of the house thinking it was a cat. Broke his hip. Dog is now in doggy therapy in an effort to get the dog thinking like a dog again rather than a cat.

So yeah, they sure do learn from each other. :/

 

[Vicki]

We keep the litterboxes in the closets, and have a baby gate up to keep the dogs out. BTW, cats will never eat their own poo.

 

[lwien]

We keep the litterboxes in the closets, and have a baby gate up to keep the dogs out. BTW, cats will never eat their own poo.

Ok, this is kind of disgusting and definitely TMI, but being that you mentioned this, I have to mention this also. I had a cat who LOVED it when I took a dump. Every time I did, she'd come running into the bathroom, purring and laying down between my feet with her tail wrapped around my leg and she'd look up at me with these half closed eyes like she was in heaven.

Scat cat.

I wonder to this day why in the hell she did that. I'm thinking that when she was first born, the newborn kittens were kept in a box in someones bathroom. It's the only thing that makes any sense.

 

[tdavie]

Tom, if you're using clumping litter then you absolutely must make sure the dogs don't ingest it. That stuff expands when moist and can cause serious internal complications, even death.

Oh, and don't flush it either unless you want to become good friends with the Roto-Rooter man.

Nope, it doesn't get flushed. When it gets changed, the whole kit n kaboodle goes to the garbage.

The litterbox will be moved as soon as I get home.

thanks for the advice.

Tom

[edit; the letterbox was removed from the spare bedroom and put into the laundry room....and he's found and used it]

 

[AGBeer]

Ugh... I have had that issue before as well with my dog.

The catbox to him = doggy candy.

Its a double whammy when he vomits out his 'candy' on the carpet.

 

[biojuggernaut]

We keep the litterboxes in the closets, and have a baby gate up to keep the dogs out. BTW, cats will never eat their own poo.

Ok, this is kind of disgusting and definitely TMI, but being that you mentioned this, I have to mention this also. I had a cat who LOVED it when I took a dump. Every time I did, she'd come running into the bathroom, purring and laying down between my feet with her tail wrapped around my leg and she'd look up at me with these half closed eyes like she was in heaven.

Scat cat.

I wonder to this day why in the hell she did that. I'm thinking that when she was first born, the newborn kittens were kept in a box in someones bathroom. It's the only thing that makes any sense.

Honestly she just knew when you were free and wanted attention. I've have cats become accustomed to that. Shoe them off once or twice and they'll get the idea.

 

[crawdad]

ya some cats do that...i know.

 

[Vicki]

We keep the litterboxes in the closets, and have a baby gate up to keep the dogs out. BTW, cats will never eat their own poo.

Ok, this is kind of disgusting and definitely TMI, but being that you mentioned this, I have to mention this also. I had a cat who LOVED it when I took a dump. Every time I did, she'd come running into the bathroom, purring and laying down between my feet with her tail wrapped around my leg and she'd look up at me with these half closed eyes like she was in heaven.

Scat cat.

I wonder to this day why in the hell she did that. I'm thinking that when she was first born, the newborn kittens were kept in a box in someones bathroom. It's the only thing that makes any sense.

Ah, a potty buddy!

 

[happyhippe]

Wow cats are crazy, i hate waking up to cat vomit in the floor ew.

 

[tdavie]

I found cat puke (with hemp wick in it no less....and I know, I gotta put it away) for the first time yesterday. Hah hah, the dogs would not go near it

Tonight I'll put a gram of cat nip in the EQ, let it come to temperature a(155 I think?), put the fan on the slowest speed and see if anything happens.

It's been an adventure.

Tom

 

[happyhippe]

hahaa i seen a baloon in my dogs poop once....no i didnt see it come out and dont know if it inflated when it did but man thats nasty, hemp wick haaa

 

[biojuggernaut]

please do not vaporize cat nip. Am I misunderstanding something here . . .

 

[tdavie]

biojuggernaut: I meant for a number of minutes just exposed to the air to see if the cat would be attracted to it (their smell being thousand's of times better than ours). It wasn't aimed at anyone/animal. And nope, I didn't have any hits of the nip.

Sorry if I wasn't precise.

Tom

(no effect cat wise)