[medic4life]

Hey Everyone
I'm getting a kittie soon and my current dog loves cat food. What can I do to keep him away from cat food. The only thing I can think of is to put the cat food high up and train kittie to jump where dog can't get it. My dog is 12 yrs old and his name is Buster. He's quite stubborn when it comes to training him anything. The kittie will be young and can't really jump up so I think it impossible and not fair to have to put her food higher. Buster is a Lhasa Apso and is quite mobile for being older and really really loves cat food. We had a cat yrs ago and he would eat her food too. Does anyone have any suggestions.
Also I could handle any advice on litter training.

Thanks
Robin

[techwife]

Do you have two floors or a place you can keep the kitten where the dog can't access is food? I'd try a temporary place of the bathroom or bedroom at the very least. Reason being is I have a cat and a dog. Not only does the dog LOVE the cat's food, but he also LOVES the 'tootsie rolls' (if you get my drift) in the litter box. Gross, but at the end of the day, it's all protien and a lot of dogs love it. Having the cat food on a higher level so the dog can't get to it is an excellent idea. Cats love being in high places, anyway.

As for litter training...if you put the litterbox and the food in, say, your bedroom or bathroom and keep the kitten in there (with you, of course, as much as possible) he'll have easy access and no stress from the dog interferring with him getting to the litterbox when he has to go. If he looks like he has to go, pick him up and put him in the litter. Get some spray (like Urine Trouble) that eliminates odors for accidents so the cat doesn't smell the last accident and think that's the place to go again. Just a few ideas. Good luck...litter training is about like potty training a kid. But it must be done. Post pictures of the cat...and the dog!!

[Trinity1004]

We've had our dog for over 5 years and a few months ago got a kitten. We caught the dog "snacking" and went and bought one of those litter boxes that have the lids. Almost looks like a carrier. That has kept the dog out of the box. As far as her food, we put her food up on a table in our pantry and put her up there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We did that until she could get up there herself, which didn't take as long as we thought it would. Good luck!

[medic4life]

My bf had a cat 7yrs old, when I moved in 2 yrs ago but has since moved away b/c at the time I had 2 dogs. Neither of them very big just that they're dogs so she moved in next door at bf's parents house. She comes for a visit but won't come inside just on the doorstep. She's not very friendly either, and we have a little 3 yr old boy that runs around and we don't want her scratching him which she would if she had the chance. So that problem was solved when she moved to the 'retirement home' next door. I want the new kittie to be nice, so would holding her and petting her make her more nice?? Sounds like a silly question but I really don't want another one like Babes, she so tempermental. Thanks everyone

[ValRock]

Cats are luck of the draw... they're stubborn and they will be how they will be! I had 2 cats growing up... one that came from a shelter and had been abused and he was the sweetest kitty EVER! The other's mother had been hit by a car and when I got him his eyes weren't even open yet. I bottle fed him and he slept in my shirt and he grew up to the meanest crankiest kitty (we still love him )

As for the food We had a german shepherd at the house so we got a large box, cut a hole in it just big enough for the cats to get in and put the food inside of it. The dog couldn't get to it so she gave up. We did the same kind of thing with the litter box. Dogs like to eat kitty poo... Good luck to you!