Why does the cat lie in the litter box

You really have a "cat of excessive cleanliness," and he devotes considerably more time to the burying procedure than other cats, just because he feels like it.

Why does the cat lie in the litter box?

More often than you might think, you may see a cat lying down or even sleeping in his litter box, but this is usually an unwanted action. It can be a sign of illness or indicate stress or anxiety in your cat. If your cat is playing in the litter box, it may be a sign of boredom. Either way, if your cat spends time in the litter box, it may make him sick or cause him discomfort, and it will almost certainly mean more cat litter tracing in the house and you will have to clean it up.

We've highlighted eight reasons why your cat might lie, sleep or play in the litter box, and a few steps you can take to stop this behavior.

Problems with urination

Urinary tract infections are quite common in cats. They are painful and uncomfortable. Your cat may not sleep in the litter box, but they may strain for a long time and try to pee. Also, if they can't tell if they need to go to the bathroom or not, it may be safer to stay in the litter box.

It's worth noting that in addition to discomfort and causing pain, urinary tract infections caused by crystals in the urine can be fatal if not treated quickly enough.

Why a kitten sleeps in the litter box

It is not uncommon for pets, particularly cats, to surprise their owners with strange behaviors. One of these peculiarities is the choice of places to sleep, which, at first glance, are absolutely not adapted for this. In particular, some cats and kittens are very fond of sleeping in the litter box.

Contents

Why the litter box?

The answer to the question of why the kitten sleeps in the litter box, is the love of members of the feline family for enclosed spaces. As a shelter, the pet may choose not only the litter box, but also a bag, bag or box. Cats by nature are mistrustful and secretive creatures, and in such places they feel more protected.

Another explanation for the fact that the kitten sleeps in the litter box can be the filler itself. At the moment there is a huge variety of types, and some of them are so comfortable that the animal will perceive them as a soft bed, and not as a place for the needs of nature.

What to do?

What should you do if you find your kitten sleeping in the litter box? There is nothing wrong with it, so you don't need to wean him off the habit. Cats are very clean animals, they will never lie down in a dirty litter box, so you do not have to worry about the cleanliness of their fur.

In order to get rid of this habit, you can change the cat litter, perhaps the kitten will find it more suitable. You can try putting a second litter box in the house, but the kitty will continue to sleep in this one. Another option is to build a comfortable enclosed litter box. Most likely, the baby will prefer to sleep there rather than in the litter box.

If you have a very young kitten who sleeps in the litter box there is no need to worry at all, it usually wears off with age.

Alone time

Cats can spend most of their time in the litter box to be alone. The litter box is their paradise where no one disturbs them.

If they are tired of their daily routine, they may decide to spend the rest of their time alone in the litter box.

If the litter box is in a suitable corner of the house, cats can spend most of their time in the litter box. If this is the case, we can confirm that the cat certainly likes your toilet litter box cleaning skills.

Territory

Some cats may have a strong territorial nature, and they may not allow other cats to use the same litter box.

If you have more than one cat in your home and you use the same litter box for multiple cats, there will be a territorial conflict.

The stronger cat will sit in the litter tray most of the time to keep the other cats from using it. If other cats approach the litter tray, the stronger cat will reach out and look at them.

Weaker cats often have urinary tract problems due to the lack of a litter box. Consequently, you need to do your due diligence in this case and introduce new cat litter boxes into the house.

Health abnormalities

If your cat is on his litter box frequently, one of the unpleasant reasons may be an abnormality in the cat's health. For example, the cat may suffer from urolithiasis, which in turn leads to the fact that the cat cannot go to the litter box normally and is constantly trying to do it, but there are physiological problems.

Maybe there is not enough litter in the litter box.

For example, you pour a layer 4-5 cm thick, and it is not enough for the cat. Try putting 7-8cm, that will help.

It happens with cheap litter trays made of loose plastic: a couple of months they get saturated with unpleasant smells, and washing them doesn't help. As a result, the cat doesn't understand why the smell in the litter box doesn't go away, and keeps digging up the litter, wanting to finally get clean. 😾

Trays made of good, thick plastic can also start to smell bad after a few years of use, so you should change them periodically, too.

Why the cat lies in the litter tray

I don't think you need to. Maybe she likes it there. If the litter box is clean, of course, otherwise you'll have to wash the cat later.)
Mine periodically lies there. It's comfortable for him, you see))

I have a cat that lays there after the litter box is cleaned with powder, much less bleach.)
it seems to like the smell))

i saw a program about aggressive cats the link was in the community. the cat was often lying in the litter box. and the expert, who was a cat psychologist, told the owners that the cat sits in the litter box when it feels insecure or is afraid. somewhere in the community there is a link to this online program. you can learn a lot of interesting things about cats.

my cat doesn't sleep but saves the litter box. all her ways to clean it are interpreted as sabotage… that's why i lock Vasya in the loggia, otherwise she will fight to the death against everything she can get her hands on

Luen and a kilo of tangerines, the tray is always clean. I remove poop with a spatula as it appears, completely change the litter every three days and wash the litter box with soap.

HamsteR!, Maybe you shouldn't soap the litter box then? I just read it in a cat care book.

Maryula, Unsure? Is there any chance she's in there hiding from a small child who really wants to play with her?

Der_, That reminds me. I was cleaning the litter box two days ago, and the kitty came in to check on what was going on. Carefully sniffed a bag of old litter, clean tray, fresh litter, and then meow for a long time on the doorstep – my husband went to take out a bag of old litter. Since then, lies in the litter box, under the front door. From time to time meows longingly and loudly.
Do you think she misses the pooch?
You're probably right – you shouldn't change the litter box in front of the kitty.

Hmmm…our cat has liked to sleep there since he was a baby. I wouldn't say he's afraid of anything, as he feels like he's the master of the house. So he sleeps and sleeps, so what now. In a dirty litter box does not sleep)

Active play

Of course, the cat litter box is more than just a place to fulfill its needs. For cats, the litter box is more than that, for example a place for active play with the litter. When their hunting instincts get high they want to come to the litter box and root around in the litter because this play reminds them of the wilderness.. And there's nothing surprising, because tailed animals are guided by their instincts, and some cats are very fond of playing with the litter, it's happiness for them.

Accumulated energy

Probably many people have encountered such a strange behavior of cats, that they start running around the house like an angel. What is it? One theory says that cats do this to release the tension that has accumulated during the day from idleness. Predatory cat energy accumulates, and it needs to be disposed of, and so they start running around the house like a mad dog. In terms of the litter box: actively digging and throwing litter around is another way cats relieve their stress (emotional release).

Does it happen that a cat used to go to the litter box, but suddenly stopped?

Urinating and defecating in the wrong places is perfectly normal for wild animals picked up on the street. But if your pet is famous for its cleanliness, this behavior requires increased attention. All possible reasons explaining why the cat stopped going to the litter box, can be divided into 2 large groups: physiological and psychological.

Physiological reasons

This group includes hormonal changes, pathologies and instincts. Only diseases of the urinary system pose a real danger, so it is very important to make sure that they are not present.

Sexual hunting or hormonal imbalance

During the sexual hunt, males actively mark territory, scaring off competitors and attracting females. This period can be easily traced by frequent serenades, unaccustomed aggression and a pungent smell of urine.

Kittens can also mark their territory during heat or pregnancy. In the second case, this instinct is aimed at scaring away potential enemies who might harm unborn kittens.

The important thing here is to rule out a false pregnancy. Despite similar signs, such a hormonal disruption can turn into mastitis and other dangerous complications.

Diseases of the urinary system

The cat may urinate in the wrong place due to frequent urges or severe pain. In the first case, she simply does not have time to run to the toilet, and in the second – she tries to find more secluded corners in the hope to get rid of unpleasant feelings.

Common diseases of the genitourinary system include:

1. Cystitis . The most common cause of bladder inflammation is infection with bacteria. Accompanied by frequent urination, acute pain, and a gradual reduction in the amount of urine passing down to a couple of drops.
2. Urolithiasis (IUCD) . It develops when large stones block the ureter. An ill cat urinates blood, as the sharp edges of the stones traumatize the mucous membranes.
3. Urethritis . Occurs as a complication of cystitis or IBC and affects the urethra. The main signs of this disease are the presence of purulent impurities in the urine and an ammonia or acetone odor on the skin.
4. Bladder atony. . Characteristic of older animals undergoing dystrophic changes in organs and tissues. Their muscles lose their strength and elasticity, so the bladder ceases to cope with its main function – holding back urine. It begins to leak, and the pet simply doesn't make it to the toilet in time.

The cat in the litter box

Turning the toilet into a bedroom is definitely not the best interior solution, and in terms of comfort is not so good. Not to mention the specific atmosphere. Nevertheless, many cat owners will tell you that they have found their pets sleeping in the litter box. What is the reason for this predilection?

Well to begin with we are not talking about simple litter boxes, but whole "houses" filled with litter. (It would be nice to insert an appropriate photo here) Modern manufacturers rarely produce "open" models of cat litter boxes, and cats are famous for their love of boxes and box-shaped spaces. But as strong as this passion is, their love of cleanliness is much stronger – remember how diligently they wash. So sleeping in the litter box must have a very specific reason.

They're ambushing themselves. No fluffy tassels, toys and gourmet food will get them out of their instincts. Cats are predators, and periodically they hunt. The role of prey are most often the bare feet of the careless owner, but it does not matter. The main thing is the process! The box in this situation becomes the hunter's shelter, in which the cat feels safe and can fully concentrate on the attack. From this comes the second reason.

They are looking for a secluded place. Cats need a cozy, confined space, hidden from prying eyes, not only for ambushing, but also for resting. In other words, they are building a home inside your home. Plus, boxes are comfortable to sleep in, and sleeping takes up most of your pet's life. That's why even squares of colored tape on the floor look attractive to them – they feel like it's a comfort zone.