[Lara's mom]

The second one looks pretty good. I'm hoping the cat would have left the box by the time the scooping starts. I wonder how much one of those things would cost and if a 15 year old cat would be able to get used to it. It would be great to start a small kitten off with though.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

The second one looks pretty good. I'm hoping the cat would have left the box by the time the scooping starts. I wonder how much one of those things would cost and if a 15 year old cat would be able to get used to it. It would be great to start a small kitten off with though.

Some have censors I think or somewhere where the cat steps. There also may be a censor on some that detect the wait in the box and scoop when the cat's done. All systems are different. These would be great for you just be sure not to get one that requires you manually press the button for clean up.

Here's a link where you can fine some inexpensive ones on Ebay. You may also want to check Craigslist.

self cleaning litter box, Pet Supplies, Clothing, Shoes Accessories. Great deals on eBay!

[Lara's mom]

Thanks! I'll check out the link!

[Yogi]

The problem with these type of litter boxes as all electronic gadgets that they have created to solve the litter box problem over the past few years, they simply break and you are out a small fortune. There is none on the market that actually work for more than a short time without having problems. Take it from someone who has many cats and has had for many years. I have looked into these several times and found them to be simply useless. Putting traditional covered boxes under a table facing the wall usually suffices. Just envision the dog, its size and look around the area to where you see a place that the litter box will fit but the dog cannot. Cats will use a litter box even if it is difficult to get to unless they have a health issue. Even old ones.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Yogi

The problem with these type of litter boxes as all electronic gadgets that they have created to solve the litter box problem over the past few years, they simply break and you are out a small fortune. There is none on the market that actually work for more than a short time without having problems. Take it from someone who has many cats and has had for many years. I have looked into these several times and found them to be simply useless. Putting traditional covered boxes under a table facing the wall usually suffices. Just envision the dog, its size and look around the area to where you see a place that the litter box will fit but the dog cannot. Cats will use a litter box even if it is difficult to get to unless they have a health issue. Even old ones.

Maybe even try getting a long/wide box with the litter box at the end with a whole cut into the entrance so that the cat can squeze in by the dog cannot.

[Lara's mom]

I saw a covered litter box online that is not mechanical. You turn the box to one side and the turds and pee lumps are caught in a tray for easy disposal. I'm contemplating bidding on it. Also, the entrance is raised, making it harder for a sneaky Jack Russell to sneak into the box and make off with any "booty." I agree with Yogi that the mechanical ones probably break before too long.

I still wouldn't get another cat. With 2 JRT's around I'd be afraid they would view a kitten as "prey."

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I saw a covered litter box online that is not mechanical. You turn the box to one side and the turds and pee lumps are caught in a tray for easy disposal. I'm contemplating bidding on it. Also, the entrance is raised, making it harder for a sneaky Jack Russell to sneak into the box and make off with any "booty." I agree with Yogi that the mechanical ones probably break before too long.

I still wouldn't get another cat. With 2 JRT's around I'd be afraid they would view a kitten as "prey."

You might be surprised. A true Miniature Pinschers prey drive for small animals is no less than a JRT. I had the cattery for years and when the kittens reached approx 4 months old they were introduced to the house full time. By then, the dogs had gotten their scent and had seen the kittens 3 or 4 times a week. By doing this, the dogs and cats were already acclimated to each other. There was some rough housing to be expected but the Pins and kittens literally played with each other. In this house, trust me the dogs do not win. Even though the out number the cats 3 to 1. Tig my breeding male Manx literally kicked the crap out of nearly every dog I have that showed any sign of rough play including my 40lbs German Pinscher who ran running to his crate screaming one day after and altercation with the Tig. The new puppies ages 8 weeks and 10 weeks come out in the evenings when the adults are in bed and they will jump all over the cats. The cats know they are just pups so let them get away with it. Rolling around and pulling the puppies into their bellies and wrestling with them. It just comes down to the introduction and once they are use to each others scent, it is like they both know its family. Even when my birds get out, the cats or dogs don't care. But if a cat comes into the yard that is not one of the family or a bird flies in from outside, totally different story and the dogs and cats act like you would expect.

[Lara's mom]

The thing is Yogi, what if I take a chance on adopting a kitten and I'm wrong? How would I live with myself?

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

The thing is Yogi, what if I take a chance on adopting a kitten and I'm wrong? How would I live with myself?

In the end, the decision is yours. What I am saying is that I have successfully done this for some years by acclimating the kitten and dogs over a period of time so that the scent of the kitten is a familiar one to the dogs and ditto for the cat when it comes to the dogs.
Hint, when I introduce a rescue Miniature Pinscher to the clan the first thing I do is take it into the bathroom. Let all the other dogs out in the yard. I then bath the new one with the same shampoo I use on them. Dry the dog thoroughly then let him/her loose in the house. The new one is immediately first surrounded and checked out by several cats. Trust me, several of my Manx boys are as large if not larger than some of the dogs...Cats are 12 inches tall and weigh in the area of 15 to 20lbs. Next I let the dogs back in from the yard. Do you know how long it takes on average for any of them to realize there is a new dog in the house....you might be surprised.



On average, 8 to 10 hours. On one occasion it was not til the next day that one of the dogs realized there was a new one and by the end of the day all of them were aware.

[Todd]

Trust me, my dog has a HUGE prey drive when it comes to rabbits and squirrels but when we had out 17 year old brittle cat who could barley move around, my dog Lucky was by no means aggressive toward her. In fact, Lucky was very cautious around her. She respected that cat and the poor old cat couldn't fend Lucky off if she tried. When Lucky was a pup she was curious with the cat swatted her in the nose a few times Lucky eventually learned to keep her distance. generally the cat and the dog can figure thing out just fine on their own. Otherwise you could try using a baby-gate to introduce the cat and the dog without them being able to make physical contact with one another. Give both the cat and the dog plenty of praise and positive reinforcement with treats and verbal praise to let them know that positive things come when they are around one another.

[LabMan2]

I have a six year old corgi that does the same thing. I'm not sure why he does it either. I've been able to combat the problem by picking up after him, but I don't always have time to do so. Perhaps it is the food, or lack there of? Maybe they're just bored and have nothing better to do!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by LabMan2

I have a six year old corgi that does the same thing. I'm not sure why he does it either. I've been able to combat the problem by picking up after him, but I don't always have time to do so. Perhaps it is the food, or lack there of? Maybe they're just bored and have nothing better to do!

Does your corgi eat its own poop or other dog's poop?

[Lara's mom]

You know. I sometimes seriously wonder why I spend a considerable amount of time, money and effort to produce delicious homemade doggy cuisine for a hound who would rather snack on cat turds. Thank the Goddess that my girls have more refined tastes.

[CorkyMax]

I have never had this poop eating thing with either of my dogs--Thank god---I don't think I could stand to be that close to them if they did! I had mentioned in this thread earlier different reasons dogs might do this but one other thing--One of the reasons was because they were lacking something in their diet BUT it may be lacking--NOT because they are not getting the right nutrious food BUT because they are not digesting it right and goes right through them --therefore they eat the poo in an attempt to get back what they need! I could esp. see this as a reason with German Shepherds as they have a problem with digestion. For this reason, (with any dog) maybe the dog should be checked by a vet for a disease that could be causing this problem with digestion.

[Lara's mom]

I'd be willing to consider that a possibility if Lance wasn't so selective in his choice of snacking turds. He doesn't eat the other dogs poop or poop he encounters outside. Apparently, only "cat turds breaded in clumping kitty litter" are acceptable to his somewhat strange palate.

[Trab]

My father in law used SEP (Stop Eating Poop) in their boxers food when they had that problem and it seemed to work. I was told that it makes the poo taste and smell bad.