Content
- cat sleeping in the box
- Is sick
- Comfort
- Stress
- territory defense
- My cat sleeps in the litter box - solutions
Our domestic cats are protagonists in countless situations that make us laugh a lot. The peculiar behavior of cats leaves no one indifferent. From the obsession with cardboard boxes, to the sudden urge to play at 3 am, to seemingly uncomfortable positions but in which they manage to sleep for hours...
A strange and frequent behavior in some cats is sleeping in the litter. Your cat sleeps in the sandbox? He is not the only one! In this PeritoAnimal article, we will explain the reason for this behavior and some solutions. Keep reading!
cat sleeping in the box
Many cats like to sleep in the litter box. If your cat has always had this behavior, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a symptom of a health problem. It might just be a question behavioral. However, if this behavior is recent, you should be concerned as it may be one of the first symptoms of illness in your cat.
Next, we'll tell you some of the possible explanations for why your cat is sleeping in the litter box.
Is sick
A cat that is not well and needs to go to the bathroom more often than usual, can choose to stay close to the box or even sleep in it. Thus, he avoids the risk of having to run when he has a sudden urge. Therefore, you should also observe if your cat:
- Urine more often than normal
- have difficulty urinating
- defecates normally
- It has urine and feces with the usual color and consistency.
If you notice any of the changes we mentioned, this is most likely the reason your kitten is sleeping in the litter box. You must consult your veterinarian reliable for your feline to be properly examined and diagnosed.
Furthermore, several veterinarians describe this behavioral change as an early sign of different diseases, such as diabetes or kidney disease. For this reason, it is imperative that you consult your veterinarian whenever you notice a behavioral change in your cat. Your careful observation and advance consultation with the doctor can be the key to the success of the treatment as it allows a disease to be detected in its early stages.
Comfort
Another possibility is that your cat feels more comfortable in the litter box than elsewhere in the house. Especially if you have more than one litter box or always keep the litter box clean, your cat may feel comfortable in it and prefer to sleep there than somewhere else. However, this is not advisable! You can't control that the box is always clean, because he can urinate or defecate at any time in it. For hygiene reasons and for the cat's own health, you should make sure that it has other places where it feels comfortable to sleep.
a simple cardboard box it can be the ideal place for your cat to sleep well and stop sleeping in the litter box.
Stress
Stressed cats can change their behavior. A new member of the family, a new pet, a move, are all stressful for your feline and can lead you to look for a safer place to rest. And, in his mind, what better place than the little box where no one will bother him and which, what's more, just smells like him?
Usually the litter boxes are in places with little movement and the cat feels very safe there. If he feels threatened in the rest of the house, it is normal for him to find the safest place to rest.
territory defense
Cats are very territorial animals. The arrival of a new member in the house can make your cat feel his resources threatened and end up feeling the need to keep protecting what is his, including the litter box.
The same can happen to a new cat in the house and the current resident does not let him use the box. If he's already taken a few kicks going to the bathroom, it's normal for him to sleep in the litter box to ensure he can use it when he needs it.
While some cats can peacefully share their resources, such as the litter, some prefer their privacy and refuse to use a box used by other cats. To avoid these problems, you should always match the number of litter boxes to the number of cats in the house. The ideal is to have n+1 boxes, where n is the number of cats. That is, if you have 2 kittens, you should have 3 litter boxes.
In addition, remember that the introducing a new cat into the home should always be done gradually. Read our full article on this subject: How to get one cat used to another.
My cat sleeps in the litter box - solutions
Taking all the above into account, it is important that you analyze your cat's specific situation and consult your trusted veterinarian. Furthermore, follow these tips:
- You must ensure that you have the appropriate number of litter boxes for the number of cats in the house.
- Have different comfortable and safe places for your cat to sleep (he walks in an unfrequented corner of the house, a blanket on that high shelf he loves to climb and other places where your cat feels totally safe).
- All changes at home should be done progressively to avoid stressing your cat.
- If your cat is very nervous, the use of synthetic pheromones, such as feliway, can be very helpful in making him feel calmer at home.
It is also important that you daily observe your cat's behavior so much, as well as other small changes that may indicate that something is not right with it. Be it the amount of water he drinks, whether he is eating well, losing more hair than usual and even the consistency, appearance and frequency of urine and feces. A tutor attentive to small changes is undoubtedly essential for the early detection of certain diseases, which greatly improves their prognosis. And when in doubt, always consult your trusted veterinarian. Is there someone better than him, a skilled professional, to trust your furry's life?