I have a constant problem with the pup (12 wk old GSD) eating cat poop and there is plenty in my yard. I am sifting as fast as I can and have cleared one area, which of course will be used again and repolluted.

The vet assistant suggested moth balls in cleaned areas to keep both the pup and the cats out. Pup eats everything and would probably eat moth balls. Are they safe to have around the pup? The repellent actually works on the cats, but has to be replaced all the time.

Plan is to clean the old areas the cats use and try to contain the cat box effect to a specific area. Pup is doing well at just plain old "no" when he approaches the marked off area, but he IS a pup and this will be an ongoing training for a while.

Thanks,

Helen

Mothballs are made from a chemical and are probably not edible. I have never used them because of this reason. I use a covered cat pan and keep it behind a baby gate. Some people put the pan in the bathtub.

I'm new, and probably lack the knowledge to make a suggestions. For cats and other critters I've heard this is successful... Not for the pupy though. Luckily we never needed it, our neighbor cats stopped using our yard as a litterbox when we got Kona.
http://www.contech-inc.com/products/scarecrow/

Mothballs are highly toxic. They can and will cause your puppy to get very sick and maybe even die if he eats one. http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/naphthal.html

THe scarecrow is a good idea, or otherwise you can go to your local garden supply centre and get some critter-ridder, it is made of capsaicin (hot pepper) and it smells unpleasant to animals, and may burn and sting and cause some skin irritation if your pup touches/eats it but it won't kill him.

 Quote: Helen Davis

The vet assistant suggested moth balls in cleaned areas to keep both the pup and the cats out. Pup eats everything and would probably eat moth balls. Are they safe to have around the pup? The repellent actually works on the cats, but has to be replaced all the time.

Wow. The vet assistant said to use mothballs around animals?!

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1677+1684&aid=2412

Keep the pup on a long line so you can control where it goes. All pups like babies explor their world with their mouths. Get something to spray around the perimiter of the area to keep the cats out. If they are your cats, use a litter box in the house behind a gate. Another thought if you can't control the area...might be to buy a small kids play pool or sand box & put sand it it. I can tell you that once the cats discover it...that is where they will go to elininate themselves. Cats love kids sandboxes if they are not covered to make access off limits they will make it a big litter box. I have raised 3 pups with the litter box in the house. Until the pup learns that it is off limits he should never be out of your control loose in the house...ie ...on a leash or long line. After a short time the pups were more interested in playing with the cat than charging the litter box when they had access to the cat's room. Cat was in a room with a baby gate accross the door with enough room off the floor to allow the cat access in & out but low enough to keep the pup out. Although one of my pups used to like to body slam the gate to go play with the cat. Just some ideas that may help.

 Quote: anne jones

Keep the pup on a long line so you can control where it goes... to buy a small kids play pool or sand box & put sand it it... Cats love kids sandboxes if they are not covered to make access off limits they will make it a big litter box. Until the pup learns that it is off limits he should never be out of your control loose in the house...ie ...on a leash or long line... After a short time the pups were more interested in playing with the cat than charging the litter box when they had access to the cat's room. ..Although one of my pups used to like to body slam the gate to go play with the cat. Just some ideas that may help.

Thanks. Pup, Otis, is never out of my control inside or out, except maybe when he is in the kitchen with two steel gates. Inside, he is getting better about the cat food and litter box, but outside it is a struggle. I like the kids pool idea--I was going to just mark off a 4x4 or 6x6 area for the outdoor catbox, but the pool would be easier, My "earth" is mostly sand wiht a bit of dry clay in it, so everyone in the neighborhood digs in it to poop.

I'll try the hot pepper powder someone mentioned eariler, that would solve the repellent problem, but these are southwestern cats and they might not notice hot pepper. Pup came from just north of Mexico, so he might have the same problem. We'll give it a try, however.

Yes, Otis likes to eat the cats who didn't train him first day. He is afraid of the ones who did. We are working on "no kitty" because teh idiots let him munch them.

H

Edited by Helen Davis (07/09/2009 01:50 AM)
Edit reason: dyslexia

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Wow. The vet assistant said to use mothballs around animals?!

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1677+1684&aid=2412

Yes, it sounded odd to me, so I asked ya'll. Glad I did. I can see where the MB might be ok for cats, but pups just didn't sound right.

H

We used to use mothballs to flush snakes from under houses and in basements, fridges, and walls. It's super effective for reptiles but I've never heard of anyone using it for dogs.

http://www.dog-health-guide.org/dogpoisoning.html#Mothballs

Sounds like not very fun. Cat crap can be a pain in the butt to get the dog off of. Personally I used to use dawn dish soap mixed with black pepper for the stuff I didn't want the dogs (and raccoons) into.

 Quote: Melissa Thom

Cat crap can be a pain in the butt to get the dog off of. Personally I used to use dawn dish soap mixed with black pepper for the stuff I didn't want the dogs (and raccoons) into.

Thanks, I'll try that. Did you add any water and spray or apply from the soap bottle in a line or series of dots, etc?

I did sprinkle some hot chili powder around on spot and Otis turned away, but with the heat and nobody doing anything but sleeping I can't really tell if the cats will notice it.

H