Cleanliness is next to catliness , but this instinct is actually rooted in survival — not sanitisation .
Given how right and dignified house cats are , it seems almost rude to talk over their bathroom use behind their furred back . In fact , they ’re so absolutely polished that you might interpret the way of life cats inhume their poop as further grounds of fastidious feline decorum .
But in world , the reason behind cats ' laxation disguise is most likely rooted in keeping themselves alive rather thankeeping up appearances — in natural selection , not sanitization . We engage the help of a certifiedcat behaviorconsultant to facilitate us dig into the details of why cats swallow up their poop .
The Reason Why Cats Bury Their Poop
Your African tea may sleep on your lap and eat out of your hand , but she has n’t wholly suffer all of her gaga ways . Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and lions and Bella the house cat have several deportment patterns in common , include burying their poop .
" Cats have the instinctual behavior of eliminating away from their marrow aliveness area and then burying their wasteland so they do n’t alert predators to their presence , " explains Pam Johnson - Bennett , CCBC , writer and proprietor ofCat Behavior Associatesand extremity of Daily Paws ' Advisory Board . " This behaviour keeps the whole hombre colony safe . "
Poop burial ready pure sense forcats living outdoors , but what about your indoor quat ? What vulture is posing an imminent threat ( other than maybe the robotlike emptiness ) ? Johnson - Bennett enjoin you could chalk it up to instinct . " Even indoor cats have it , " she explains , " and that ’s why theytake so well to the litter box . "
What Does It Mean If Your Indoor Cat Doesn’t Bury Their Poop?
Even though burying permissive waste is an instinctual behaviour , Johnson - Bennett state you should n’t expect to see the substance abuse in every hombre . The reasonableness why may be as simple as nature vs. fostering . " If your cat ’s mother did n’t teach her the behavioras a kitty , it may not be as stiff of a need — especially in indoor life , " Johnson - Bennett explains .
However , there are other explanation for why your cat may not be inhume her poop ( and may even be avoiding the litter box altogether ) .
1. The litter box is too dirty.
African tea like aclean litter box , says Johnson - Bennett , so be certain to clean your cat ’s tray at least once a day . " Some cats may deposit their poop right in front of the bedding box if it ’s not an sympathetic frame-up but they ’re essay to get as close to it as possible , " she explains .
2. The litter box is too small.
TheAmerican Association of Feline Practitioners(AAFP ) says that thelitter boxshould be at least 1.5 time the distance of your Caterpillar for her to fit comfortably .
3. Your cat prefers a different kind of litter substrate.
Johnson - Bennett notes that your cat may find a particular litter texture to be uncomfortable on her manus . The bedding ’s scent may also be off - putting to your kitty ’s raw nose . The AAFP says that most cats favor an unscented , clumpinglitter substrate .
4. There aren’t enough litter boxes.
The rule of ovolo is this : Provide one more bedding box than the issue of cats in your house . So if you have one bozo , you should have two litter boxes . If you have two cat , you need three litter box , and so on .
5. Your cat isn’t comfortable with the litter box’s location.
" cat who feel insecure in the litter box may not take the time to bury their waste after evacuation because they want to limit their vulnerability , " Johnson - Bennett explain . Litter boxes place near windows and field glass doors or in noisy , assailable outer space can be problematical . Even areas that are too confined can get discomfort because cats like to feel they can well escape if a threat stand up . Private , low - dealings billet where your hombre already care to hang up out are better bets . Litter box positioning can be especially tricky in multi - cat households , so do n’t waver to involve your veterinary surgeon for tips .
6. There is a multi-cat conflict.
TheASPCAexplains that in homes with multiple Arabian tea , one of the felines may forbid another from accessing the litter box .
7. Your cat is stressed.
Change is n’t just trying for you – it can upset your quat , too . So if you’verecently moved , lead off a young job , adopted another deary , orbrought home a newborn , your cat may be thrown off of her normal routine .
8. Your cat is sick or in pain.
In some sheath , abnormal toileting habit are a star sign of a aesculapian outcome . For lesson , a cat suffering fromarthritismay be in too much pain in the neck to climb into the litter box , and a qat with a manus accidental injury may stop burying her poop . In addition , many major aesculapian problems can cause inappropriate evacuation , includinghyperthyroidism , diabetes , kidney diseaseand more .
9. Your cat is trying to communicate with other cats.
Some cat may use feces as a societal sign to other African tea , possibly to build or reinforce dominion boundaries . This deportment is called marking .
How Can I Get My Cat To Bury Her Poop and Use the Litter Box Consistently?
If your bozo is n’t burying her poop , the first step is to visit your veterinary so you’re able to rule out any medical causes — especially if she ’s eliminating outdoors of the litter box . Once you check that her health is n’t the culprit , you may startle addressing the potential problems listed above with the end of give your cat the best possible litter corner experience .
As you go through the list and contemplate making bedding boxwood adjustments , Johnson - Bennett says it ’s key to offer your cat a choice and not just change . " computed tomography do n’t like abrupt changes , " she explains . " Abrupt changes can be nerve-wracking and lead to litter rejection . "
So for example , if you suspect your qat simply does n’t like the litter you ’re currently using , do n’t throw out the old substrate and entirely flip to a new one cold turkey . Instead , propose the old in one container and the new in another . Johnson - Bennett says you’re able to use disposable boxes to keep price down as you try out to retrieve what work . Consider put up a " cafeteria - fashion " of choice with several different types of loge and several different kinds of litter to help discover your cat’sindividual preferences . Studies indicatethat most cats favor clumping , unscented clay - type litter .
There are a batch of possible solution , but theASPCAsays that grouch your cat and rubbing her nose in her waste should not be on your tilt . bozo are highly intelligent , but they ’re unlikely to connect human frustration with their toileting habits . Instead , they ’re more likely to simply beak up on their owner ’s stress , which could worsen the issue . Gently praising your cat-o'-nine-tails when she does eliminate in her box will make her more probable to do so in the futurity !
