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Why Do Cats Sleep in Their Litter Boxes?So, why do cats sleep in their litter boxes? I believe the main reason a cat will sleep in it's litter box has to do with security. I think an insecure cat or one feeling very threatened in some way, will sleep in the litter box.
Food may or may not be forthcoming, but a litter box means it can urinate or defacate without worrying. Cats normally bury their waste, so they are not sleeping directly on the soil. In some situations, control over a litter box means control over other cats; place holding in the pecking order. A cat that is threatened by a dog, or harassed so that it cannot get to the litterbox, will also sleep in the box. I often tell folks to get a cat tree when they get a dog. However, I also warn them to watch the dog to be sure the cat has access to the litterbox. Your cat needs clear access - no impediments - nothing in the way and no interference. If this means that your dog is restricted to certain parts of the house, then so be it. To the Top of Why Do Cats Sleep In Their Litter Boxes? A child chasing a cat or manipulating access to the box, can cause this behavior. If your grandchild comes to visit and has no cat of their own, this can cause trauma to your cat. A cat not used to children will especially act this way. As the child wants to play with the cat, the cat may be uncomfortable, scratch and so on. However, if your grandchild just chases the cat, the cat may not feel safe stopping to use the litterbox. In this case, it's possible your cat will just begin sleeping the in the litter box. If you have your litterbox in the basement and then close the door so that your cat has no access, it is possible your cat will take up residence in the litterbox. That way, you cannot restrict access to the box by closing the door between the cat and the litterbox. If you have a door in this position that might get closed, it may be in your best interest to install a cat door between the rest of the house and the basement or room with the litterbox. While it may not be the most attractive solution, doors are less costly to replace than carpet. To the Top of Why Do Cats Sleep In Their Litter Boxes? Examples:My lady-kitties from rescue: Fluffy, Bugs and Queenie, were all raised and living in cages when I got them. They all slept in their litter boxes. Fluffy was in a cage by herself, and had no room to move or lay down except in the litter box. Bugs and Queenie were in a large, flat cage about 4 feet square and 2 feet tall. There was one litterbox in the cage, in the corner. The food and water bowls were lined up along another wall of the cage. There were about 10 cats in the cage, of various sizes and ages. These cats all felt very insecure.Fluffy, while in a cage by herself, had no room to move. To eat, she just stood up - or reached out her head. The carrier was about the size of a medium carrier - 2 feet by 1 foot by 1 foot. Putting the litter box in the cage made her more comfortable because she didn't have to share it with anyone, but it ate up all the space in the cage. She had no room to move. As a consequence, she became very overweight and her fur matted terribly. She slept in her litter box for quite a while. She was 3 years old when I took her from that cage. She sleeps on the bed, now, instead of in the litter box. Queenie and Bugs shared the cage with 8 other cats. There was no socialization with humans. In fact, they distrusted people terribly and are just now adoptable - over a year later. Once I allowed them run of the house (2 weeks in, if I remember correctly), they realized that there were enough litter boxes and stopped sleeping in the box. They love to sleep in hidey holes, but there are 4 large (storage bin-sized) boxes. They never have to wait for a box to use it. To the Top of Why Do Cats Sleep In Their Litter Boxes? What To Do?If your cat is sleeping in the litter box, perhaps you should look at how secure your cat feels in her home. Is there a child or other animal threatening or pestering her? Is she being prevented from access to the box? Address these problems and your cat will feel more secure.Related Pages: Basic Litterbox Care Cat Care Advice for Cats Who Don't Use the Litterbox Urine Odor Control Process
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