Why does my dog lick my cats butt? Plus, how to get them to stop.
Okay, so, this whole thing started with a pretty simple question, but the answer, well, it took me down a bit of a rabbit hole. I noticed my dog, Buster, he's a golden retriever, was, um, really interested in my cat Mittens' backside. Like, really interested. It was more than just a sniff, you know? He was going for full-on licks. It was weird, and honestly, a little gross.
So, I started by just observing them. Like, a lot. I wanted to see if it was a one-time thing, or if Buster was making it a habit. Turns out, it was definitely a habit. Every time Mittens would saunter by, tail in the air, Buster would be right there, ready to, well, you know.
My "Research" Process (aka Googling Frantically)
My first step, naturally, was Google. I typed in all sorts of things like "dog licking cat butt" and "why is my dog obsessed with my cat's behind." I found some...interesting...articles. Some people said it was normal, some said it was a dominance thing, others said it could be a sign of a medical problem, either with the dog or the cat. Geez.
- Observation Phase 1: Just watching Buster and Mittens interact. Yup, still happening.
- Internet Deep Dive: Lots of forum posts, a few vet articles, some questionable blog entries.
- Observation Phase 2: I started paying attention to when it happened. Was it after Mittens used the litter box? After she ate? All the time?
I started noticing a pattern. It seemed to be worse after Mittens used the litter box. I figured maybe there was some lingering scent that Buster was picking up. I started cleaning the litter box more frequently, like, religiously. I also started wiping Mittens' bum with pet wipes after she went to the bathroom. I felt a bit silly, but hey, I was desperate.
Did it work? Kind of. It definitely reduced the frequency of the, uh, incidents. But it didn't stop it completely. Buster still went for it occasionally, just not as often.
Next, I tried distraction. When I saw Buster eyeing Mittens' rear, I'd call him over, give him a toy, play fetch – anything to get his attention elsewhere. That worked pretty well, actually. Positive reinforcement and all that.
Conclusion (For Now)
So, where am I at now? Well, the licking hasn't stopped entirely, but it's way less frequent. I'm still cleaning the litter box like a madman, and the distraction techniques are my new best friend. I might talk to my vet about it at Buster's next checkup, just to rule out anything medical. But for now, it's manageable. It's still a little weird, but hey, dogs are weird, right?
It's an ongoing process, I guess. This whole pet ownership thing is full of surprises! Hopefully sharing this little journey might help someone that came here and is currently going through the same thing.
