Cat sleeping next to litter box
Cats are known to display weird behavior every now and then. But when they do something out of character—like hanging out or sleeping in the litter box—it's time to figure out the problem and supply a solution.
If your cat is spending a lot of time in the litter box, take record of what they are doing in there. Is your tabby using the litter box, then lingering? Or not using the litter box, but hanging out and resting—or are they on high alert? The context of your cat's odd litter box behavior will help you locate a solution.
Illness
The first thing to accomplish is to rule out illness. If your cat is sleeping in the litter box, settle attention to other routine behaviors: Are they not getting up to eat, acting lethargic, or ignoring their favorite view out the window? Is your feline using the litter box, but straining or going frequently? Any of these symptoms could denote your cat isn't feeling adv and they’re using the litter box as a source of comfort (even if it's just to keep the toilet nearby). Make an appointment to watch the veterinarian and have your cat checked out. Report the abnormal behavior and mention any context clues to help pin down the diagnosis.
Here are a few examples o
Why is your cat lying in the litter box?
Cats are as unique as their human family members; each frisky feline has their own likes, dislikes, and funny mannerisms. One universal trait all cat parents recognize is their fastidious nature when it comes to grooming. Cats are widely known for being notoriously picky, so you may be shocked to find your cat taking a nap in the litter box.
If this behavior comes out of nowhere, it can be concerning, leading you to worry about the health of your cat. After all, if a human starting sleeping on the bathroom floor, you would probably assume something was wrong! Don’t panic, though. While your cat may be lying in the litter box due to illness, there are other explanations as well. So if you’re asking “why is my cat lying in the litter box?” then this is the guide for you.
Why is my cat lying in the litter box?
1. Your cat’s feeling stressed
Sometimes, cats sleep in their litter boxes when they’re highly stressed. This is particularly common after you’ve moved to a new home. When your cat’s environment has changed, they may seek out anything familiar that they can find, includ
Why Is My Cat Laying in the Litter Box?
The two most common reasons why your cat is lying in their litter box or even sleeping in it are stress and a medical problem. Cats are obsessively clean, so their lying in the smelly cat litter box is irregular.
But if you want to know the specific reason why your cat is lying down in the litter box, you will need to watch their behaviorclosely and find more information. For example, the cat might be feeling territorial, pregnant, bored, or playful.
So, if you're wondering, "why is my cat laying in the litter box,” you should be concerned and take action to correct the situation. Use the following guide to help discover the reason behind this behavior and what to do about it.
1. Your Cat Could be Stressed
The small, enclosed space of the litter box with its familiar smells is comforting to a stressed cat. If they are stressed, the litter box will feel like a safe haven for them. The same happens if they are feeling threatened by another animal or person.
Your cat could be stressed because;
- You recently adopted them
- You just moved houses
- You brought a new cat, dog, or other pet into the home
- You had a baby or there's a new per
Your Cat Sleeping in the Litter Box Could Be the Sign of a Serious Problem
Cats display all kinds of unusual behavior that to the new cat owner might seem confusing or even worrisome. One of these classic but weird behaviors is sleeping in the litter box.
Sleeping in your own toilet is pretty disgusting — and considering cats are so obsessed with keeping clean, it’s super-confusing they would choose the litter box as a place to take a nap.
Our own precious cats would never dream of such grossness, until, that is, we uprooted them from their home. Yup, we tried to make switching to a new apartment as stress-free as possible, but moving sent our cat Bill straight for the litter box. And he didn’t even have to pee.
More: 25 Cat Behaviors That Seem Random, but Really Aren’t
Related story Shoppers Say Their ‘Cats Can’t Get Enough’ of These ‘Addicting’ Toys — Only $5 Today!This litter box hiding lasted for days. At first, he wouldn’t even come out to eat — we had to leave food next to the box, and he’d take a few bites while he was still sitting inside it. However, after a few days and a lot of at
Cats sleep up to 16 hours a day—sometimes even more as they age. You’ve probably found your cat sleeping in a number of different positions, and some of them may be pretty strange.
So what does it mean when your cat sleeps curled up versus right next to your head?
Much of a cat’s sleeping behavior stems from social tendencies. Despite their reputation as aloof, cats can have social connections and form bonds with pet parents and other pets.
They also seek out warmth from body heat while sleeping, leading cats to sleep on you or next to you. Often, pet parents will incorporate a heated cat bed to help with this.
Other cat sleeping positions go back to their wild roots. Cats are both predators and prey animals, so in the wild or while outdoors, their lives depend on paying attention.
Because of this, cats are highly observant of their surroundings and protective of their bodies. So that explains why they might sleep curled up in a ball, for instance.
With a little insight, it’s possible to decode your cat’s sleeping positions and what they say about your cat’s state of mind. Here are 20 positions you might find you cat sleeping in and what they mean.
1. Curled Into a