The cat lies, sleeps or plays in the tray

It's more common than you might think to see a cat lying or even sleeping in her litter box, but it's usually not a desirable behavior. This could be a sign of illness or indicate your cat is stressed or anxious. If your cat is playing in the litter, it could be a sign of boredom. Either way, if your cat spends time in the litter box, it could make her sick or uncomfortable, and this will almost certainly mean more litter in the house and you will have to clean it up.

We've highlighted eight reasons why your cat may be lying, sleeping or playing in the litter box, as well as several steps you can take to stop the 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 she may strain for a long time and try to pee. Also, if they can't tell whether they need to go to the toilet or not, it may be safer to stay in the litter box.

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

Difficulty urinating: external signs

If a cat cannot go to the toilet for a little while, then an attentive owner will not be able to miss it. In this case, the pet’s behavior changes dramatically.

When visiting the tray, the animal meows loudly and even moans.
The pet can simply come up to the tray, stand near it, rub its side or touch it with its paws. But at the same time he will not sit in the tray.
The cat does not allow the owner to touch its stomach, as this is accompanied by painful sensations. As a rule, the abdominal cavity becomes dense and swells (sometimes quite significantly).
The pet cannot lie on its stomach.
If the cat still manages to pee, then a minimal amount of urine is released. There may even be traces of blood and pus in the tray filler.

When an animal develops problems with urination, it becomes very restless and tries in every possible way to draw the person’s attention to its condition.

Other medical conditions

Another medical condition could be causing the problem. For example, your cat may have diarrhea, so they will want to be near the litter box.

However, their illness does not necessarily have to be related to the litter. A litter tray can feel like a safe place to hide, especially if it's covered, and this can help calm your cat and make her feel better.

If this behavior is new, check to see if your cat is showing any other symptoms or signs and take them to the vet as soon as possible.

Medical reasons

In the world of pet care, a behavioral cause for anything is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that all possible medical causes must be ruled out first. Cats can often get urinary tract infections, urine crystals, and bladder stones, so any urinary-related symptoms you observe at home are medical in origin until proven otherwise. Urinary tract infections and urinary crystals or stones can cause the lining of the bladder to become so inflamed that even the smallest amount of urine pooling in the bladder can make your cat feel like she needs to pee right away. A cat with a severe UTI or urinary crystals may be lounging in her litter box simply because she feels like she has to use the litter box so often.

Sometimes a urinary crystal or stone can become lodged in your cat's urethra, causing a blockage. These cats often go into the kennel, try to urinate but produce nothing, and cry or howl in discomfort. This is life-threatening and requires emergency medical attention. You should take your cat to a veterinarian or a 24-hour emergency hospital immediately if you suspect your cat has a urethral blockage.

To rule out medical reasons for your cat sleeping in the litter box, your veterinarian will want to check her urine, do an x-ray and/or ultrasound, and a blood test. A urine test will show whether there is any bacteria or crystals in your cat's urine that are causing a UTI. Imaging such as an x-ray or ultrasound will show bladder stones. Some stones can form without crystals forming in the urine, and sometimes crystals in the urine do not combine to form a stone, so it is important for your cat to have an x-ray or ultrasound regardless of what the urine tests show.

A blood test will give you an idea of how your cat's kidneys are functioning. If your cat has early kidney disease, which is common in older kittens, she may urinate more frequently. There are also other disease processes not related to the urinary tract that can cause your cat to drink more and urinate more. For example, diabetes may be common in older cats, and diabetic cats will have increased drinking and urination. A blood panel will check your cat's glucose levels, and a urinalysis will check for glucose and ketones in the urine. Elevated blood glucose levels, especially when combined with glucose and ketones in your cat's urine, indicate diabetes.

When it comes to indoor cats, that is, those cats that actually live in a home rather than in an animal shelter, animal hospital, or boarding facility, the most likely cause of litter box napping will be a medical reason. If your veterinarian has tested your cat's urine, blood, and imaging and everything comes back normal, then the reason the litter box is napping is indeed behavioral.

Territoriality

Introducing a new cat or dog into your home is not only stressful, but can also cause territorial issues. If your cat is worried that a new family member will try to steal the litter box, he can lie in it or even sleep in it to prevent the new family member from using it.

Ideally, you should have one litter box per cat, plus one extra litter box in your home. This will ensure that all your cats always have a tray they can use. If you don't have many litter boxes, consider adding one more to minimize territorial issues.

Causes of urinary problems

If a cat sits on the tray for a long time, but the litter remains dry, what can provoke this condition in the animal?

The reasons may be:

insufficient consumption of clean water . For this reason, a high percentage of salts is formed in the urine, which provokes the formation of stones. Urolithiasis develops;
heredity . If a cat has a history of diseases of the genitourinary system, then the likelihood of developing pathology increases significantly;
physiology . Sometimes difficulties with urination are found in small kittens. They may be born with pathologies of the urinary tract. Treatment of the disease is only possible through surgery;
incorrectly composed diet . In this case, the cat sits on the tray to no avail - he cannot pee in any way - because his diet is unbalanced. Problems in cats arise if the daily diet includes too much fresh meat and fish, as well as salty and mineral-containing foods;
excess weight . An overfed pet moves little, which can cause difficulties with the outflow of urine. The litter in the tray can also remain dry;
stressful situation . Severe stress experienced can also provoke urinary retention.

The cat sits on the tray for a long time, but never leaves - what diseases can provoke urinary retention? This:

urolithiasis. Develops as a result of improperly organized nutrition;
cystitis of various origins - viral or bacterial. The disease is an inflammation of the bladder. The cause may be either simple hypothermia or bacteria entering the animal’s body;
pathologies of the renal system. The reason why a cat often sits on a tray for a long time, but is unable to urinate, may be pyelonephritis, nephritis, nephrosclerosis, stones, etc.;
colds and viral diseases;
atony of the bladder. Can develop as a result of injury, rupture of the organ wall;
anuria. A state of severe dehydration;
spinal cord injuries;
neoplasms (malignant and benign).

It is important to remember the following: if the cat sits on the tray for a very long time, but the litter remains dry, the animal has become timid and tries to hide, or has a fever, then the pet must be urgently taken to the veterinary clinic.

These signs indicate complete blockage of the urethra. If you do not provide help, the animal will die.

Stress

Moving to a new home is stressful for everyone, and you shouldn't overlook the potentially dangerous anxiety it can cause in your feline friend. Once you move in, the litter box may be one of the few things your cat learns: a litter box of stability in ever-changing environments, rather than just a place to pee and poop.

In this case, most cats will eventually climb out of the litter box on their own. This may take several days and almost certainly until most of the heavy lifting and loud noises stop.

Lay out the bed and blanket you had in your old home, even if you're going to buy everything new. This will provide your cat with a confidently recognizable place to stay.

Behavioral reasons

A cat that is overly stressed may squat in their litter box because it is a comfortable place to hide, it makes them feel safer, and also because it smells like them and is therefore a to their acquaintances. Things like giving them a cozy box with blankets and pheromones to nap in instead of a litter box may be all these cats need.

Offer your cat a variety of beds and blankets to choose from. Some cats may like a bed that is a nook and cranny rather than a regular pet bed. Other, older cats will enjoy a more comfortable bed. One that used memory foam may be just what they are looking for. Just with dogs (and people), cats can get arthritis as they age. Arthritis most often affects your older or older adult cat's hips, hind legs, and tail—everything she might use for jumping! So even if you have the perfect beds, they may not be available for her. If your cat has suddenly abandoned her longtime favorite bed on the back of the sofa instead of the litter box, it may simply be because she can't get into her favorite bed. Try moving her bed to a lower place and adding some catnip, catnip or silvervine to pique her interest.

Cats may curl up to take a nap in seemingly strange places and in incredibly awkward positions. However, if your cat suddenly takes a liking to the litter box, there are some things you can do to get her out of the smelly sleeping area. Your veterinarian can help you find the best way to help your cat get out of the box and back into her bed.

Boredom

Much of your cat's behavior can be explained by boredom: if your cat walks across the counter, knocking everything over with its paw, it's likely boredom. If they attack your feet as you walk by, it can cause boredom.

If they are playing in the litter box, it may be a good sign that they are tired of the catnip-filled toy mouse you brought home an hour ago. Buy them a new toy to get them excited. Interact with them. They will most likely leave their urine-stained playpen when they have something better to do.

Uncertainty

A common reason why a cat lies or even sleeps in a litter box is insecurity. For example, if you recently changed brands of litter, your cat may not know what the litter box is for. If you've switched from clay-style litter to fresh-scented pine litter, your cat may not associate it with a substrate that is expected to be littered on.

The best way to transition a cat from an old litter to a new one is the same way you would transition a cat to a new food. Mix half and half the old and new litter for several weeks. Over time, you will be able to get rid of the old litter and give it only new litter, and your cat will know what to do.

How to stop your cat from lying in the litter box

It is possible to prevent your cat from lying, sitting, sleeping, or playing in the litter box, but the best way to do this will depend on the reason for the cat's new activity. Transition to a new litter slowly, make sure your kitten has no other symptoms of illness, and look for possible causes of stress, depression and anxiety and address them.

If you are not sure whether your cat is sick, consult your veterinarian. If the problem is that your cat is playing in the litter, try to find ways to socialize and entertain her.

Cats are naturally clean and tidy animals, so playing in the litter box is not an option and should be discouraged, especially if they do so while there is litter in the litter box.

Posted by Christian Adams An American expat living in Metro Manila, Philippines for over a decade, Christian is a lifelong cat lover and the proud father of two rescue cats, Trixie and Chloe. Both girls used to be among the crowds of homeless people who roam the cities and countryside. Three-year-old Trixie was rescued from a litter found under a neighbor's porch, and two-year-old Chloe was brought home by Christian's young son, Henry, who discovered the crying kitten in the parking lot.

Why do cats sleep in the litter box?

Today we will continue our discussion of the strange habits that cats have and discuss why some cats tend to sleep in their litter box. There are probably many cat owners who have noticed that the cat, having gone to the toilet (or other place where the tray is located), instead of taking care of its natural needs, simply sits in it.

Usually the owner watches and waits for the cat to “get down to business”, but instead of meeting his expectations, she just sits down more comfortably and, turning her tail, continues to sit, only occasionally turning to her owner with such an expression, the word asks him “well , why are you staring, can’t I sit?” The situation is quite common, and, as a rule, does not bother the owner too much. In most cases, this behavior is characteristic of cats only at that stage of their stay in the house, when they were just brought there and in the next few days. Over time, this passes, and the owner forgets about this strange whim of his pet.

Why do cats sleep in the litter box?

However, there are other cases when a cat not only sits in the tray, but goes to sleep there, and some do this with amazing persistence. What explains this?

To understand this ridiculous whim, we should remember that cats differ from many other domestic animals, and primarily from dogs, in that they simply adore enclosed spaces. As soon as they see a package, bag, box or any other container that could fit in, they immediately climb into it. This strange love is explained by the fact that in a closed space the cat feels much more protected than usual. This amazing pattern is so pronounced in cats that even if they see a newspaper laid on the floor or somewhere else, they will definitely sit on it. Moreover, they will not even resist the temptation to sit in a square drawn on the floor.

Mysteries of cat behavior.

But what makes cats choose the litter box? After all, you can find quite a lot of all kinds of “squares” in the house and they are often much more comfortable than a tray. The answer to this phenomenon lies in the fact that the majority of owners accustom their pet to the litter box with the help of affection and various rewards. They put the cat in the tray and begin to speak affectionately to it, stroke it, and so on, hoping that the cat will understand that this place is good and suitable for fulfilling its natural needs. The tactics, in general, are correct, but the cat can understand all these actions in its own way. Namely, she begins to consider the tray a good place in general, regardless of the actions required of her.

The cat chose the tray as a bed.

This happens especially often when the owner is otherwise not too generous with affection. And it is quite natural that the cat begins to strive there, hoping to earn approval. For the same reason, the cat, seeing that this is exactly the place where it can receive the owner's reward, decides to make it its most important place. And such a place for a cat, of course, is its personal space, where it will sleep, wash itself, and so on.

Another reason for such a strange choice may be the litter for the tray.

There are a great variety of such fillers, but some cats tend to consider certain types of filler as good bedding for sleeping.

The chances that she will draw this conclusion increase if the house is generally cold, there is no cat house, and the cat is not allowed on the bed, sofas and armchairs.

What should an owner do to wean his cat from this habit? Firstly, you should understand that there is nothing wrong with this, so it is not at all necessary to wean your cat from this habit. Secondly, a cat is a very clean animal and will never sleep in a dirty tray that already contains excrement or urine. She can only go to bed in a very clean tray, so there is no need to worry about her getting dirty with waste. Another thing is that many people don’t like the idea of a cat sleeping where it shouldn’t sleep. Also, if the cat is attracted to the soft and warm litter in the litter box, there may be problems with it sticking to the animal's fur. In addition, in this case, the litter will very quickly be everywhere where the cat walks - on carpets, sofas, and so on. In this case, of course, the cat should be trained to sleep in a different place. And the easiest way to prevent such a problem is simply from the very beginning, accustoming the cat to the tray, at the same time accustoming it to sleep in a more suitable place, accompanying this with encouragement, kind words and strokes. Then, in most cases, this problem does not arise at all.

If there are kittens sleeping in the tray, you don’t have to worry too much.

But if the cat has already started sleeping in the tray, then first of all you should give up even the thought of scolding or punishing it. It would be much wiser to provide her with a good place to sleep, one that would be in a secluded place from where she could survey her property while being protected at the same time. To do this, at a minimum, you need to place (preferably on an elevated surface) a towel or blanket folded several times. The size should be slightly larger than the size of the cat itself. This is approximately a 40x40cm square. You can set aside a chair or stool for this purpose. It’s even better to arrange such a place for the cat in a box, basket or open carrier: cats usually cannot resist the temptation to sit in them, especially since they provide much better protection than the sides of the tray. Well, the best temptation for a pet would be a special cat house, which can be purchased at any pet store. You can do it yourself. Ultimately, if your cat really likes litter trays, you can buy her another one for the toilet, and leave this one for sleeping. If she liked the filler, it should be replaced with another one. At least for a while.

If kittens sleep in the tray, you don’t have to worry too much, since this almost always goes away with age.

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