What Should You Do If Your Cat Sleeps In The Litter Box?
Cats are known to do unusual things like sleeping in the litter box. This is not proper behavior, so today we’ll talk about some reasons for this practice.
We also present some methods that can be put into practice if your cat sleeps in the litter box. First, notice what he does there before and after he sleeps in it.
Does your cat use the litter box and then lie down in it? Or he’s not using the sandbox; just resting on it? Or does he only sleep in it after you clean it?
There are many reasons for a cat to sleep in an environment as unsanitary as a litter box. The context of this strange behavior will help you find a solution.
rule out any disease
The first thing to do is to rule out an illness. If your cat sleeps in the litter box, pay attention to other routine behaviors :
- Not getting up to eat, feeling lethargic or ignoring your favorite view from the window?
- Is your cat using the litter box but making an effort to urinate or going to it frequently?
Any of these symptoms could mean that your cat is not feeling well and that he is using the litter box as a source of protection (even if it is just to keep his toilet close).
Go to the vet and have your cat examined. Report the abnormal behavior and mention any information that helps clarify the diagnosis.
Pregnancy
If your cat is a female and has not been spayed , ask the veterinarian to check if she is pregnant, especially if she has access to the outdoors.
Or if you know your cat is pregnant and see her spend long periods in the litter box, you may be looking for a place to have your kittens.
Pregnant kittens look for sheltered places, far from the noise of home and traffic, to give birth to their kittens.
However, the litter box is not an ideal place to be born or have kittens, as it poses a high risk of contamination.
It’s best to prepare a nest with an alternative box for your cat, lining a cardboard box with clean, soft towels or blankets.
Place her near the litter box, and once she’s “moved” there, make sure you keep food, water, and the litter box nearby.
What if your cat sleeps in the litter box because of adaptation anxiety?
During periods of change, such as the arrival of a new pet in the family, the presence of a guest in the home, renovations, or a similar disturbance, your cat may find it difficult to relax.
In fact, any change in the environment can cause anxiety, anxiety that your cat will try to calm in a comfortable and protected place, such as the litter box.
In addition to being located away from the noise and movement of the house, the sandbox has a familiar smell.
While the smell may be unpleasant to you or me, for cats it triggers their wild and natural instincts.
When nowhere else is he at ease, the sandbox can serve as a refuge.
One of the actions to avoid this situation could be the following: avoid changes in your cat’s routine and offer him one or two quiet, cozy and clean places in areas with little traffic in the house.
If anxiety is the source of the problem, it won’t be long before your cat finds these new, serene hiding places.
If your cat sleeps in the litter box, it is because he sees you as a refuge
When the house is chaotic, guests make a lot of noise and children get out of control; where is the only place you can go with guaranteed privacy? That’s right, the bathroom. The same goes for your cat!
The litter box is usually somewhere or area out of the way and is something that belongs to them and them alone.
It’s a place where they can take good naps when there’s no other option. However, that doesn’t mean that if your cat sleeps in the litter box, you should sit idly by.
The litter box is not a hygienic place, of course. Therefore, you should provide a clean and comfortable alternative and place it next to the litter box.
Don’t insist too much on your cat getting out of the litter box; simply offer him the clean alternative and let him do what he wants.
Chances are, if it’s shelter what your cat was looking for in the litter box, he’ll probably find it in the clean, padded litter box you put in the same spot.
