Okay, so, a few weeks ago, I noticed my cat, Mittens, was doing something weird with her litter box. She wouldn’t just use it and leave – she would start scratching at the sides and bottom of the box like she was trying to dig her way to China. It was kinda funny at first, but then it got me thinking, “Why is she doing that?”
I mean, she has plenty of litter in there, and I clean it out regularly. So, I decided to do some digging of my own, the internet kind. I typed in “why do cats scratch their litter box” into my search bar, and wow, was there a lot of stuff about it.
Turns out, it’s pretty common for cats to do this. There were a few main reasons that kept popping up.
They’re Burying Their, Uh, Stuff
First off, it’s apparently a natural thing for them. Cats are instinctively wired to bury their poop and pee. It’s like they don’t want to leave any evidence behind for predators to find. Even though Mittens doesn’t have to worry about predators in my apartment, that instinct is still there, strong as ever. It feels like they really want to make sure their business is well-hidden, so they scratch to cover it up.
Marking Their Territory
Another reason I found is that they’re marking their territory. I didn’t know this, but cats have these little scent glands on their paws. So, when they scratch, they are actually leaving their scent behind. It’s like their way of saying, “This is my spot.” And apparently, doing this gives them comfort and makes them feel secure. It is a way for them to say “this is my space.”
Just Plain Instinct
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Some articles said it could just be a natural feline instinct, even if they aren’t trying to hide anything or mark anything. They just have this urge to scratch. I guess it’s like how we humans might tap our feet or bite our nails without really thinking about it. It’s just something they do.
After reading all this, I felt a bit better about Mittens’ weird habit. It’s not so weird after all. It’s just her being a cat. I did also read about some ways to discourage it if it becomes a problem, like making sure she has enough toys and playtime. But for now, I’m just gonna let her do her thing. It’s all part of her quirky personality, and that’s why I love her.
Anyway, that’s my little deep dive into the world of cat litter box behavior. Hope you found it interesting. And hey, if your cat does this too, now you know why!