Those with both a cat and dog(s)?

I have two yorkies as well and whenever they do come downstairs (I live in the basement, they live upstairs) I make sure the cats food is up high where the pups can't reach. I've actually started to feed them all the time on a coffee table. Miki likes to scoop pieces out of the bowl and chase them around the table before eating them. At least shes burning calories doing it.

Simply feed the cat up high where dogs can't reach. But if you are not one for having the cat up on the counter, you can always close the cat off for mealtimes. Feed in a certain room.

As for the litter box, my fiance's mother keeps her litter box under a table with a long table cloth that reaches the floor. The litterbox is hidden from view and as long as it is changed regularly, you won't even know its there.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

One of my dog's is especially nosey, so I'm sure it'll be a problem at first, but I'm sure it'll work out.

Since the dogs are the size of cats, I would really try spraying the poop with Bitter Apple spray and train them NOT to even go in the room with the litter pan.

Well, I too am an equal opportunity pet owner...I have 3 cats, and we've always had 3 dogs (right now down to 2, but getting Rita the basset pup on June 1st). Where there's a will, there's a way, when it comes to cohabitating peacefully with both species!!!

First of all, kitties are all fed/watered on a counter inaccessible to the dogs. Dogs are fed on the opposite side of the kitchen, on the floor. Dogs are presented with their food FIRST, to prevent their interest from waning to the cat's meals. The cats have no interest in the dog food, so I'm lucky there.

Secondly, litter boxes are kept downstairs in the basement, under the stairs. The only time the dogs go downstairs, is if either my hubby or myself are down there...and yes, the occassional poop is eaten. It isn't a huge deal, and it happens rarely.

You'll find a way to make it work...it'll take time to sort out the logistics, but a well-trained dog will make it so much easier to manage.

We have the cat food up higher then the dog can get to, but very easily within the cats ability to get to, only about waist high. Even so, the cat (Lynx) will get someones attention and make sure they are watching before he jumps up there. With very annoyed sounds the whole time. I get the impression he is a tad put out by the fact that his food isn't on the floor like the dogs. He wants to make sure we all know what he has to 'go through' in order to eat.

Originally Posted by BubblPopElectrc

How do you prevent your dogs from eating the cat's food (and messing with the litter box) and vice-versa?

I have two yorkshire terriers who have been known to LOVE my mom's cat's food, so I'm sure that'll be a problem with the new kitten's food.

Also, with the litter box, I'm sure they will mess with that. Any ideas for like a box or something that it can be put in (something that'll look good- I'm in to good home decor/design)?

Any suggestions?

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I baby gate the litter box and food away from the dogs. That way cat can easily climb the fence but the dogs can't. You can also feed the cat up high at certain times during the day as opposed to free feeding.

Originally Posted by wookie130

The cats have no interest in the dog food, so I'm lucky there.

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My cat loves their food (and hers too). I don't free feed though so I can supervise and make sure she doesn't do any stealing. But if she finds a treat before they do she will eat it quickly. She eats anything...

For the food part I did pretty much what MuleNag suggested-create a negative association with the cat's food. We had a problem with Sophia scarfing the cat's food-not good because a) I don't know who is eating what and b) the cat food is too rich in protein for the dogs. Allowing cats on the counter is not an option, so I brought Sophia over to the cat food bowl, put her nose in it and said "NO" loudly. This created enough of a negative association that she leaves it alone.

Good luck!

we have a bigger dog so the Bodda dome seems to keep her from eating kitty litter Also putting the kitty food on a dresser or counter is the best the cats can get it but the dogs can't

There is a special counter top in the laundry room just for the cats food, and my boyfriend built me a cat door into a closet for all the litter boxes. There are 5 in the closet and 2 upstairs in the cat room, which I still have to yell at the dogs about 5 times a day to get their head out of the litter box...and one is a Booda Dome.Here's apicture of the cat closet.

Originally Posted by 2dogmom

For the food part I did pretty much what MuleNag suggested-create a negative association with the cat's food. We had a problem with Sophia scarfing the cat's food-not good because a) I don't know who is eating what and b) the cat food is too rich in protein for the dogs. Allowing cats on the counter is not an option, so I brought Sophia over to the cat food bowl, put her nose in it and said "NO" loudly. This created enough of a negative association that she leaves it alone.

Good luck!

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That pretty much goes along the same lines as rubbing a dogs nose in its poop if it goes on the floor. You aren't supposed to creat negative associations to prevent something, so you're supposed to use positive reinforcement. Please don't give improper advice on message boards where people might actually use it. My cats know the difference between the counter that their food is on, and the kitchen counter, and they do not get on the kitchen counter.

I keep the litter boxes in a room where the dogs aren't allowed, and, like many others, I keep the cat food up out of the dogs' reach. There are feeding stations on my dresser, on top of a chest freezer, and on a stack of large plastic storage boxes in the laundry room. I also keep cats out of the room when I feed the dogs.

Our house went CRAZY trying to figure this out. We tried the baby gates - Hershey ate them. We tried putting them up high - Hershey grew. We. Tried. Everything.

I then remembered something my 9th grade English teacher used to say: work harder, not smarter

First, I fed the cats. I waited about 30 minutes, knowing the cats would have to use the litter box. Then I pretended to feed the cats again, knowing Hershey would want his turn, but this time, adding Nature's Miracle Bitter Apple Spray. One bite of that stuff, and we never saw his nose in the cat food again. I then let the cats out to poop, and immediately sprayed it again. It didn't deter him right away - he ate it anyway - but about 2 minutes later, he was scratching his nose and trying to get the taste out of his mouth.

One try, problem fixed.