Why Is My Cat Sleeping In Their Litter Box A Vet’s Guide
ByRebecca MacMillan BVetMed BSAVA PGCertSAM MRCVSpublished 5 January 22
Is your cat sleeping in their litter box? We get a vets advice, looking at things you can do to help
Is your cat sleeping in their litter box? Whilst this seems like strange behavior to us, for some cats it can make sense to them, especially if they are unwell or stressed.
There are some specific circumstances when cats are more likely to hang out in their litter tray, and so well explore each of those turn. Well also share some tips to try and help you to prevent your cat from doing this unwanted behavior too. Sleeping in the litter box is not a normal cat behavior so it’s worth being aware of the possible triggers.
Try A Different Cat Litter
You could also try using a different type of litter. There are many different choices available, including clumping, pine pellet, and paper litters. If your cat thinks that the litter is a sandbox, trying pine pellets or paper litters may help. These products absorb litter odors and deposits but have a much different texture than commercial litters.
They Need To Feel Safe
Cats instinctively seek safety and security even in the comfort of their own homes. If youve ever been to a crowded animal shelter, or even if youve seen cats up for adoption in pet stores, you might have noticed that some cats sleep in their litter boxes even though clean blankets are available.
Just like cats love enclosed, small spaces that provide a sense of security as cats feel safe from perceived threats, litter boxes are familiar places where some cats feel like they can finally relax and let go.
Even though your home is not an animal shelter and your cat may have lived there for a long time, they might still seek solace by sleeping in the litter box. Here are a few considerations to help you solve this mystery:
- Have you brought in a new pet?
- Is there a new baby in the home?
- Do you have a new roommate?
- Are there houseguests staying with you?
- Are there loud noises coming from an area inside or outside your home?
- Are you remodeling?
Cats love familiarity and quiet, enclosed spaces and if they feel that their litter box is the only safe refuge, they might very well opt to sleep in it instead of resting out in the open.
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Provide Multiple Litter Boxes:
Have a litter box for each cat, plus one.
If you have a multi-cat household, this is a rule of thumb.
This ensures that each cat has access to a litter box without fighting for limited space.
Place the cat litter boxes in different rooms and different floors, to ensure that each cat remains comfortable when relieving herself.
This is an effective way to stop your cat from bullying your other cat.
Why Does My Cat Lie Sleep Or Play In The Litter Box 9 Reasons For This Behavior
It is more common than you might think to see a cat laying or even sleeping in their litter box, but it is usually an undesirable action. It can be a sign of illness or may indicate that your cat is stressed or anxious. If your cat is playing in the litter, that could be a sign of boredom. In any case, spending time in their litter box can make your cat ill or cause them discomfort, and it will almost certainly mean that more cat litter is tracked around the house and will need cleaning up.
We have highlighted nine reasons that your cat might be lying, sleeping, or playing in the litter box, as well as a few steps that you can take to stop this behavior.
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Why Cats Dont Use The Litter Box
Once youve ruled out possible medical conditions as the cause, turn your attention to the litter box itself, since this is most often the culprit. Here are some common reasons why a cat might avoid the litter box:
- There arent enough litter boxes
- He doesnt like the type of litter
- He doesnt like the type of litter box
- He doesnt like where the box is located
- The litter box isnt clean
Number of litter boxes: There should be one litter box for each cat in the house, plus one extra . Some cats prefer to urinate in one box and defecate in another, so sometimes adding more than one box per cat helps.
Litter preferences: If youve changed brands or types of litter recently, that may be the problem. Many cats have specific preferences about litter. Cats have sensitive noses and are not fond of chemical or perfume scents. Studies have shown that the most appealing type of litter to most cats is unscented clumping litter thats the consistency of fine sand. Its best to purchase different types, though, and offer them side by side to let your cat choose try clay litters, shredded paper, sawdust, wood pellets, even sand or dirt. If you need to change to another type of litter, do it gradually by adding a little more of the new product each time you change the litter, until your kitty is used to the new litter.
Your Cat Might Be Pregnant
If your female cat isnt spayed, she might be pregnant! Like most mothers, cats prefer a safe, private space to bring their babies into the world.
When they go into labor, queens do their best to find a safe, private space. If they dont have that space readily available, theyll start looking for the next best thing and end up in their litter box.
To solve the problem, give your cat a designated birthing space. Find a medium-sized box, fill it with comfort items, place food and water nearby, and tuck it away in a quiet area that has minimal foot traffic.
After the kittens are born, she should resume normal urinary habits. If she continues to sleep near or in the litter box, check-in with the vet to make sure nothing else is amiss.
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What To Do If Your Cat Sleeps In The Litter Box
The most important thing is to identify the cause that explains why your cat is sleeping in its litter box and treating it, as well as pay a visit to the veterinarian to rule out any health problems. In addition, you can follow these tips:
- If you live with more than one cat, make sure you have the number of litter boxes appropriate to the number of cats.
- Provide your cat with different comfortable and safe sleeping surfaces and place them in strategic places of the home that they may like, such as little-traveled corners or high spaces. For this, placing several cardboard boxes or blankets on secure shelves can be excellent solutions that will make your cat stop lying in the litter box.
- If you plan to make a change at home, whatever it is, remember to carry it out progressively to prevent your cat from getting stressed.
- If your cat is very nervous, the use of synthetic pheromones, such as those administered by the Feliway brand, can be very useful to make your cat feel calmer.
It is also important to pay attention to the general behavior of your cat and check if there is any other change, even if it it may seem insignificant. So, observe:
- The amount of water it drinks
- If it is eating well
Your Cat Is Marking Their Territory
Your cat may be sleeping in their litter box in an attempt to claim it as their property. If there are other pets in the household, your cat may be feeling defensive and be trying to keep other pets away from what theyve decided is their space.
Adding more litter boxes to the home can help your cat to feel more confident and may reduce the need your feline feels to mark their territory. If youve just introduced a new pet to the home, taking steps to keep that pet more separated from your cat for a more gradual introduction may also help.
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Provide A Birthing Box
If you have a pregnant cat, provide a suitable birthing box in a quiet location and ensure no loud noises or people are bothering the other.
Dont panic if the cat starts giving birth in the litter box. Move the mother and the kittens to a nesting box and clean them well. The mother mustnt ingest too much litter, or she will get sick
Toileting Problems And Illness
If your cat has problems going to the bathroom then he may decide to just camp out in his litter box. If they are struggling with constipation or diarrhea or feel the urge to urinate constantly because they have an underlying urinary issue, then they may end up spending a lot more time in there.
If they feel unwell, then it could also feel like too much effort to leave the box, and just stay there for a nap instead. Cats that are dying or recovering from surgery are more likely to struggle to get out of the box.
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Cat Sleeping In Litter Box After Surgery:
Cats can be very uneasy post-operation. They have trouble controlling themselves and become restless. As a result, they may begin to sleep in their used litter trays.
The good news is that this habit should stop during your cats healing phase. Move your cat to a cleaner house to sleep and put a cat bed underneath and food, so that your cat feels safe and cozy.
If you notice your cats twitching or yawning for a long time, you should call in their veterinarian.
Is It Normal For Cats To Sleep In Their Litter Box
Cats are usually very clean animals and are good at separating their toileting and rest areas. So it is considered odd if your cat starts to sleep in his litter box. Most normal cats will pick a clean and comfortable area for a snooze, so its important to identify if there is an underlying problem going on causing them to act strangely.
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You Adopted Your Cat From A Shelter
In this instance, the adopted cat is sleeping inside the litter box in an attempt to find comfort while sorting things out in his new home. A cat dealing with such issues is usually timid. But with patience and compassion, your new pet will feel more confident. Just give him time to adjust and recognize your good intentions.
Why Is My Cat Laying In The Litter Box
If your cat lies, crouches, or sits in the litter box, she may feel anxious or nervous. When cats are kenneled, they dont have a lot of room to roam and they may not have very comfy beds, which makes sleeping in the litter box more appealing. Sometimes when the litter box is small, it can feel comforting and safe.
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Cat Sleeping In Litter Box
Noticed cat sleeping in litter box? Would you sleep in your bathroom? Quite likely, the answer would be not under normal circumstances. Your cat is the same way.
If your cat is sleeping in the litter box, the circumstances are clearly not normal. Cats can be near obsessive about their cleanliness, so if Kitty is napping in the litter box, something is very wrong.
As the pet parent, it is your responsibility to figure out what is making your cat uncomfortable and find a feasible solution to your pet’s discomfort.
Here are the five most common abnormal circumstances that might make Kitty think her litter box is a good place to take a nap and how to troubleshoot the problem.
What To Do If A Cat Is Laying In Its Litter Box
Mychelle had her own dog and cat behavior consulting business for about ten years, where she taught group and individual obedience and worked in clients’ homes to help resolve behavior issues.
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It might seem odd to find your cat laying in the litter box, but this is common behavior. The reasons behind it can vary from medical conditions to anxiety and stress. It’s important to determine why your cat is sleeping in the litter box so you can alleviate the reasons she feels the need to do this.
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Create A Comfortable Environment
Cats are independent and need a space thats exclusively theirs. They seek out quiet spaces and love to stake their claim on sunny windowsills and elevated perches, but a litter box will do in a pinch.
If your house is loud or busy, this becomes especially important to keep your cat comfortable and stress-free.
An enclosed kennel or an elevated perch is a great place to start, but youll want a more enriching space than that. Look for soft blankets, scratch mats or posts, and interesting movement-based toys for their special spot.
Remove stressors like noise and foot traffic from the equation, and take a quick trip to your local pet store. Youll have a happy cat in no time!
Why Is My Cat Sleeping Next To His Litter Box
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If your cat is sleeping next to his litter box, he may be having an uncomfortable UTI. Although it may look like hes just napping, your cat is probably very distressed and probably wouldnt want you to disturb his sleep. Fortunately, you can easily solve the problem by visiting your vet.
Your veterinarian can give you advice on how to keep your cat from spending his nights in his litter box.
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If your cat is sleeping next to his litter box, he may be having an uncomfortable UTI. Although it may look like hes just napping, your cat is probably very distressed and probably wouldnt want you to disturb his sleep.
Fortunately, you can easily solve the problem by visiting your vet. Your veterinarian can give you advice on how to keep your cat from spending his nights in his litter box.
First of all, cats are clean creatures and know where to do their business.
They prefer a clean area to sleep in. If you see your cat sleeping in his litter box, this could be a sign of an underlying problem. If your cat has recently become less active or has lost its appetite, it may simply be a territorial issue.
A stressed or agitated cat may sleep next to the litter box to make its territory more familiar.
Another cause of your cat sleeping in his litter box may be a health issue. In some cases, a cat may sleep in the litter box because it is comfortable and safe there.
The reasons your cat sleeps in the litter box vary from case to case.
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Too Small Too Big Just Right
As a cat owner you know that each feline companion has their own personality and quirks about them, and for some cats one of those quirks is that they very particular about the size of the litter box they use. As an experiment, provide your cat with two different sized litter boxes. When your kitten goes to the potty, he will most likely choose the one he prefers the most to do his business in.
Too Much Or Too Little Litter In The Box
If theres not the right amount of litter in the box, it makes it more difficult for your cat to properly cover his urine and stool. The level of litter gets lower each time you scoop, so this can become a problem if its not replenished often enough.
Too much litter is another problem youll want to avoid. Its wasteful, it makes the box harder to empty and the litter is likely to spill over the sides of the box as he digs. Some cats will even go to the bathroom next to the box because they find some litter scattered on the floor.
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Is It Normal For A Kitten To Sleep In A Litter Box
A kitten crying.
If a kitten is sleeping in a litter box then it could just be doing this for fun. Kittens are quite playful and do odd things that an adult cat would not consider. This could be due to their nievaty or just care-free demenor. However, an adult cat sleeping in the litter box would suggest a potential issue.
If your kitten keeps doing this and you are keen to stop it you may need to question if you have supplied it with comfortable alternatives. For example, does it have a cat bed ? Have you made its bed comfortable enough?
If your answer is no to any of those questions then you will need to address them and then see if your kitten goes back to sleeping in the litter box.
Cat Sleeping In The Litter Box: Territorial
It is no secret that cats are very territorial animals. Therefore, the arrival of a new member in the home can make the animal feel that its resources threatened and that it needs to protect them, specifically its litter box. This is called ââprotection of resourcesââ, and although it is natural behavior, it is not positive behavior. This possessiveness can induce an aggressive attitude and harm coexistence, in addition, it can alter the emotional stability of the animal.
On the other hand, if you have just adopted a new cat and it is this cat who sleeps in the sandbox, it can happen as a result of the territoriality of the older cat. In other words, if the feline that already lived in the home does not let the new cat use the litter box, it is normal for the new cat to sleep in this very same box to ensure that he can use it when he needs it as a form of competition.
Although some cats are able to share their resources peacefully, many others prefer their own privacy and refuse to share a box used by others. To avoid these problems, it is always recommended to provide a litter box to each cat, even if this means buying a new one. For more, we recommend reading our article where we discuss, can two cats share one litter box?
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