# Why do some dogs eat cat poop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219 "2009-01-27T13:38:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elconqueeestador](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@elconqueeestador](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elconqueeestador)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/1 "2009-01-27T13:38:11Z")
My mother has a chihuahua and a house cat. I have on many occasions seen her chihuahua dining on the solid deposits left in the litter box. Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/2 "2009-01-27T13:47:44Z")
Some people eat sushi. ---
**Author:** ![TNWPsycho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/47e85d/32.png) [@TNWPsycho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TNWPsycho)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/3 "2009-01-27T13:48:12Z")
Not much to add, but i have two small dogs who regularily dine on the cats fecal matter. I don’t understand it, my WAG is that it’s one of those things that this object smells really strongly so they take it out to play with/eat it. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/4 "2009-01-27T14:38:31Z")
For all we know, it could taste better than dog food. Like Tootsie Rolls with sprinkles. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/5 "2009-01-27T15:57:04Z")
I’ve heard that it’s because of the high protein content of cat poop. Cats have very short carnivore digestive tracts, so their poop still smells like food to a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/6 "2009-01-27T16:10:41Z")
…and that is why we have a dog and no cat. Or if we had a cat, we wouldn’t have a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/7 "2009-01-27T16:19:42Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I’ve heard that it’s because of the high protein content of cat poop. Cats have very short carnivore digestive tracts, so their poop still smells like food to a dog. This is basically it. Cats are highly specialized carnivores with a comparatively inefficient digestive system, while dogs are more omnivorous. Cat feces retain enough nutritional content so that they represent food to a dog. Dogs won’t eat horse or cow feces (although they like to roll in them) because they lack enough nutrition to make them worthwhile. Likewise pigs will eat feces of humans and other animals, because they can get something out of them. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/8 "2009-01-27T16:35:13Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Dogs won’t eat horse or cow feces (although they like to roll in them)… I’ve heard dogs roll in stinky substances to camouflage their own scent, and to smell more like other things in the area. Any truth to that? I know my pup rolls in everything she can get her back on when I let her out of my car. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/9 "2009-01-27T16:45:28Z")
“Some”? _“Some”?_ All dogs eat cat poop. If your dog doesn’t eat cat poop either you don’t have a cat or you just don’t see him do it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/10 "2009-01-27T16:46:37Z")
Yeah, I’ve considered hanging signs off the cats’ tails that read “Snack Bar”. We’ve solved this problem (and the related problem of the dog eating cat FOOD) by blocking the entrance to the laundry room in a way that lets the cats in and keeps the dog out, and putting both litterbox and food bowl in there. ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/11 "2009-01-27T16:51:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > This is basically it. Cats are highly specialized carnivores with a comparatively inefficient digestive system, while dogs are more omnivorous. Cat feces retain enough nutritional content so that they represent food to a dog. Dogs won’t eat horse or cow feces (although they like to roll in them) because they lack enough nutrition to make them worthwhile. > > Likewise pigs will eat feces of humans and other animals, because they can get something out of them. What about dogs eating goose poop? My dad lives on a lake and frequently has a yard full of geese. Any dog that we’ve ever had has enjoyed goose poop. Is the answer to any “why does my dog eat \_\_\_\_ poop?” question “because it retains enough nutrients to make it worth the dog’s time”? ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/12 "2009-01-27T16:53:09Z")
My puppy has tried to eat her own a couple of times. I wonder if she’s getting any nutrition out of it the second time around or if she just has a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/13 "2009-01-27T17:38:04Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > I’ve heard dogs roll in stinky substances to camouflage their own scent, and to smell more like other things in the area. Any truth to that? I know my pup rolls in everything she can get her back on when I let her out of my car. Yes, many carnivores do this. Lions, for example, will roll in elephant dung. > [@MissMossie](#): > > What about dogs eating goose poop? My dad lives on a lake and frequently has a yard full of geese. Any dog that we’ve ever had has enjoyed goose poop. Is the answer to any “why does my dog eat \_\_\_\_ poop?” question “because it retains enough nutrients to make it worth the dog’s time”? This surprises me a bit, since geese are mainly herbivores. It probably depends on what they have been eating. If they have been eating a lot of corn, for example, the feces will likely have more nutritional value than if they have been eating grass. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/14 "2009-01-27T17:50:10Z")
I don’t have a cat, but one of my dogs takes great pleasure in rooting out the appetizers the rabbits leave for her. Bleah. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/15 "2009-01-27T17:58:03Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > I don’t have a cat, but one of my dogs takes great pleasure in rooting out the appetizers the rabbits leave for her. Bleah. Although herbivores, rabbits only incompletely digest their food the first time through. They themselves eat their own feces in order to redigest it and get more of the nutrients out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/16 "2009-01-27T18:37:20Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > This is basically it. Cats are highly specialized carnivores with a comparatively inefficient digestive system, while dogs are more omnivorous. Cat feces retain enough nutritional content so that they represent food to a dog. Dogs won’t eat horse or cow feces (although they like to roll in them) because they lack enough nutrition to make them worthwhile. > > Likewise pigs will eat feces of humans and other animals, because they can get something out of them. I’ve seen a dog eating horse feces. It looked like a normal healthy dog. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/17 "2009-01-27T19:08:41Z")
Not for nothing, but you wanna see a happy dog? Watch him around a farrier while they are trimming horses hooves. They go nuts over them. I’m certain that is what started the whole cow hooves as treats things. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/18 "2009-01-27T19:23:34Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > I’ve seen a dog eating horse feces. It looked like a normal healthy dog. There are always a few freaks out there, and until you see them doing something weird they usually look quite normal… if you have a strong stomach you can find videos of _humans_ who enjoy eating shit (among other disgusting things) :eek:. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/19 "2009-01-27T19:23:34Z")
My dog loves eating guinea pig poops. What’s up with _that_? Guinea pigs are vegans, so I doubt there’s leftover protein. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219/20 "2009-01-27T19:58:17Z")
Maybe your guinea pig has been eating cat poop. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-dogs-eat-cat-poop/483219.md?page=2)