Published Mar 5, 2025
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
As cat parents, it’s not uncommon to witness strange behaviors surrounding your cat and its litter box. While some of these habits may seem harmless, they could be signaling underlying health or behavioral issues. In this article, we’ll dive deep into several strange litter box behaviors, what they might mean, and when it’s time to take action to ensure your cat’s physical and mental well-being.
Sleeping in the litter box may indicate stress, illness, or a preference for enclosed spaces. Refusing to use the litter box is often caused by medical issues, stress, litter aversion, or poor husbandry. Eating cat litter can be a potential sign of dietary deficiencies, illness, or compulsive disorders.Key Takeaways
1. Sleeping in the Litter Box
Elderly cats may sleep in the litter tray if they find it difficult to get in and out of. Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
One of the strangest litter box behaviors is finding your cat curled up asleep in their litter box. There are a few reasons why your cat may be napping in this unusual location:
- Stress or anxiety: Cats may retreat to the litter box when feeling stressed because it feels like a safe, enclosed space. This is particularly likely during times of change, such as moving, new pets, or visitors.
- Territorial behavior: In multi-cat households, a cat might sleep in the box to prevent others from using it.
- Illness or discomfort: If your cat is sleeping in the box and showing other signs of illness—such as lethargy, increased thirst or decreased appetite—it could indicate urinary tract issues, constipation, or general discomfort.
How To Help
Firstly, try to address any potential stressors for your cat. Make sure your cat has alternative hiding spots or cozy beds in quieter areas of the home. Use pheromone diffusers to reduce anxiety. Inviting your cat to play in their enrichment program can also help.
If you have more than one cat, ensure you have plenty of litter boxes in a variety of locations, so that each cat has easy access without the need to become territorial and ‘guard’ them.
If your cat continues sleeping in the litter box, consult your veterinarian to rule out medical issues.
2. Refusing To Use the Litter Box
A cat refusing to use its litter box is a common but frustrating problem for cat parents. This behavior can have multiple causes, including medical, environmental, and behavioral factors.
- Medical problems: Urinary tract infections (UTIs), idiopathic cystitis (FIC) bladder stones, kidney disease, and arthritis can make using the litter box painful or difficult.
- Litter box aversion: Cats are particular about cleanliness, location, and litter type. A dirty box, an undesirable substrate that is non-clumping, scented, or granular, tray liners, or a tray located in a high-traffic area can deter them from using it.
- Stress or anxiety: Changes in the household or conflicts with other pets in the home may lead to inappropriate elimination.
How To Help
It’s important to pay particular attention to your litter box hygiene and husbandry as this is a common cause of box refusal. Scoop the litter box daily (or after each use) and clean it thoroughly once a week. Use unscented litter to avoid overwhelming your cat’s sensitive nose. Provide a litter buffet of different substrates and tray styles to see if your cat has a preference.
Also consider adding in more litter boxes to your household. In multi-cat households, the ratio of trays to provide is one tray per cat plus one extra to reduce resource guarding and tensions around the toileting facilities. These should be placed in different areas of the house.
If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, it’s recommended to schedule a vet visit to rule out health problems. Taking a faecal / urine sample will assist this line of inquiry.
3. Eating Cat Litter
Eating litter is an unusual habit, and can be difficult to break. Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Seeing your cat nibbling on litter can be alarming and leave you thinking your cat is hungry. While this behavior can be harmless curiosity in kittens, it’s often a call to action if seen in adult cats. There are a few underlying reasons for this strange behavior:
- Curiosity: Young kittens may chew on litter as they explore their environment.
- Pica: A medical condition where a cat will eat non-food items, such as fabric, plastic or litter. This is often linked to stress, boredom, compulsive disorder, or nutritional deficiencies. It can also be an indicative or more serious neurological condition. In some cases, certain breeds, such as Siamese, are more prone to exhibit pica.
- Anemia: Cats with anemia or nutrient deficiencies might eat litter, especially clay or plant-based types.
How To Help
If your cat is prone to a nibble on the litter, try changing the litter type to break the cycle. Use non-toxic, unscented, clumping substrates. Providing enrichment can also help if the behavior is encouraged by a lack of more suitable stimulation. Engage your cat with toys, scratching posts, forage mats, and interactive daily play to help prevent boredom and stress.
However, further action may be needed. Persistent litter eating warrants a veterinary visit to check for anemia, nutritional deficiencies, or other health concerns.
4. Scratching Outside the Box (Caching)
Some cats scratch around the box rather than in it. While this is often harmless and innate caching behavior, excessive scratching could indicate dissatisfaction with the box
How To Help
Some small adjustments to your cat’s litter box can help to reduce this behavior. Ensure the box is large enough for your cat to move comfortably. Facilitate digging by making sure there is enough litter – the depth of substrate should be at least 7-10 cm deep. You could also try different litter types to see if your cat prefers a specific texture.
5. Using the Box Too Frequently
If your cat repeatedly goes to and from the litter box or spends excessive time there, it could indicate a medical issue such as urinary disease, or constipation.
How To Help
If you notice your cat in the litter box more often, pay close attention – you can even keep a diary. Monitor your cat’s elimination habits closely, as well as their water input. Seek veterinary attention if you notice straining, blood in the urine, or frequent trips with little output.
6. Pawing at the Water Bowl After Using the Box
Pawing at the water bowl can be a sign your cat’s paws are dirty or uncomfortable. Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Coming out of the litter box and pawing at their water bowl can also be a form of caching. Cats may also exhibit this strange behavior as a form of instinctual cleaning or to address dry paw pads caused by litter provided.
How To Help
As this can be a signal of discomfort at the feel of the litter on sensitive paws, consider changing litter choice to a more gentle substrate. Practically speaking, it can also help to break the cycle by keeping their water dish away from the box. Always make sure your cat’s water source is separate from their food to maintain hygiene.
Weird Litter Box Habits: When To Worry
While some litter box issues are harmless or temporary, others can indicate underlying serious health or behavioral issues. Here’s when to consult your veterinarian:
1. Medical Symptoms
Straining to urinate, blood in the urine or seen in the litter, or a complete lack of urination or defecation are all red flags for a veterinary visit. Some older cats can struggle to get into the box due to musculoskeletal pain.
2. Persistent Behaviors
We all know that cats can be adorably quirky, but unusual behaviors such as sleeping, eating, or refusing the litter box over several days may be a sign that something is amiss.
3. Signs of Stress
You know your own cat best, so if you think that their behaviors may be rooted in stress, you’re probably right. Changes to toileting behaviors are a common sign of stress in cats, but other signs of anxiety include hiding, vocalizing excessively, or sudden aggression in addition to litter box problems.
Tips for Promoting Healthy Litter Box Habits
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Weird litter box habits can be puzzling for cat parents, but they can be your cat’s way of communicating their discomfort, stress, or medical issues. By paying close attention to their behavior and making necessary adjustments, you can maintain a healthy and harmonious environment for your feline companion.
- Choose the Right Litter Box: Select a box that’s appropriately sized for your cat, with low entry points for seniors or high sides for diggers. Some cats prefer a hooded variety whilst others prefer an open tray but remove flaps from hooded trays.
- Experiment with Litter Types: Cats can be particular about texture. Unscented, fine-grained clumping litters are often preferred.
- Place Boxes Strategically: Ensure easy access in quiet, low-traffic areas of the home; this includes not placing near a noisy laundry machine.
- Clean Regularly: Scoop daily and disinfect weekly to prevent odor buildup.
- Reduce Stress: Create a calming environment with predictable routines, plenty of hiding spots, and interactive toys. Synthetic pheromone diffusers can also be helpful.
- Get help: If unusual behaviors persist, reach out to your veterinarian for guidance.
I have followed all the steps regarding getting my Diva to stop peeing outside the litterbox. Now I have started putting down pee pads around the house in the areas she would just sit down and pees. AS soon as she is done I change the pee pad for a fresh one.. would like to know if u see if I should keep doing that or are there any other suggestions u might have for me. Diva is 12 and otherwise very healthy. She has 2 sisters, Ginger and Suzy. I have 4 litterboxes which I clean 2x a day. Litterboxes are plenty large. Use Dr. Else’s litter, clumping. Thank you for any advice you have.