Why is my cat sleeping next to his litter box

Cats sleep in some pretty strange places but if your kitty is sleeping in the litter box, there might be cause for concern. At the very least, a cat sleeping in a litter box means that there are environmental issues that need to be addressed. The good news is that solving the problem and convincing your cat to find a better place to catch those Z’s can be fairly simple.

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Why is my cat sleeping in the litter box?

There are quite a few reasons why cats choose to sleep in their litter boxes. Let’s take a closer look.

It could be a health problem

Sometimes, sleeping in the litter box is a sign that your cat might be suffering from a painful issue that’s causing frequent urination. Needing to use the litter box far more often than normal could lead to a habit of sleeping inside – even though it’s not the cleanest place to nap.

Bladder infections, kidney stones, crystals, and urinary tract infections are painful and can even be fatal in some cases. Have a visit with your vet to rule out health problems as your kitty’s reason for choosing to sleep in the litter box.

They’re feeling territorial

If you have multiple cats and not enough litter boxes (there should be at least one per cat plus one or two extra), then your cat might guard the litter box by sleeping in it. This prevents the other cats from using the restroom while placing the cat in a position of dominance over their housemates. If you think this is the case, you’ll want to add more litter boxes. This should put a quick end to this territorial behavior and give the rest of your kitties some much-needed relief.

Protecting what’s theirs might be behind the habit of sleeping in the litter box even if your cat is the only pet in the house. When it’s kitten season and cats outside might be loudly mating and marking their territory, your cat might feel the need to express territorial behavior by sleeping in the litter box – after all, cats mark with their urine and the familiar scent of their box helps them feel more secure.

They may be having kittens

If you have a pregnant queen, she may indicate that she’s going into labor by choosing to sleep in the litter box. Cats need a private, secluded place to have kittens; give your kitty an alternative right away if you think this might be what’s happening.

They need to feel safe

Cats instinctively seek safety and security – even in the comfort of their own homes. If you’ve ever been to a crowded animal shelter, or even if you’ve seen cats up for adoption in pet stores, you might have noticed that some cats sleep in their litter boxes even though clean blankets are available.

Just like cats love enclosed, small spaces that provide a sense of security as cats feel safe from perceived threats, litter boxes are familiar places where some cats feel like they can finally relax and “let go.”

Even though your home is not an animal shelter and your cat may have lived there for a long time, they might still seek solace by sleeping in the litter box. Here are a few considerations to help you solve this mystery:

• Have you brought in a new pet?
• Is there a new baby in the home?
• Do you have a new roommate?
• Are there houseguests staying with you?
• Are there loud noises coming from an area inside or outside your home?
• Are you remodeling?

Cats love familiarity and quiet, enclosed spaces – and if they feel that their litter box is the only safe refuge, they might very well opt to sleep in it instead of resting out in the open.

How do I stop my cat from sleeping in the litter box?

Once you’ve ruled out illness, it’s time to present your cat with some better – and far cleaner options!

Start by digging deep into your cat’s psychology. If they don’t have a quiet, secure place to nap – and perhaps a perch high up on a shelf or in a window – providing some enrichment in these areas will work wonders and get your cat to stop sleeping in the litter box.

Give your cat a better alternative - A Cat Cave

Pet parents who invest in a cat cave find that cats need no convincing to give it a try – even when they’re stressed and hiding in the litterbox.

Placing a cat cave near the litter box where your cat will still be able to see and smell their old hideaway can be an easy way to convince your pet to swap hiding places and get back on the road toward normalcy.

Feltcave cat caves are gorgeously snuggly retreats where your cat can get away to sleep in privacy. Kitties love feeling warm and cozy, they also feel safer as there’s only one way in, and being fully surrounded helps them feel protected from outside threats.

After your cat has made the transition away from the litter box and into her cat cave, you can put the bed in a more appropriate place, perhaps even up on a shelf if cat towers and window perches aren’t quite your style.

Read more: Find out how our cat caves are made!

Final thoughts

It’s no fun for you or your cat if sleeping in the litter box has become an issue. But once you’ve ruled out a medical problem, it can be fairly simple to solve the issue and restore your pet’s mental health by providing enough litter boxes for all the cats in the house and making sure that your kitty has at least one comfy, safe place to call their own.

Frequently asked questions related to cat sleeping in litter box

Why is my cat laying in her litter box? Cat hiding in litter box?

If you have a cat hiding in the litter box or your cat lays in litter box this could indicate that they are dealing with a health issue, feeling stressed or feeling territorial. If you have other cats in the household or neighboring cats, your cat may be laying or sitting in a litter box to keep others from using it. Equally, your cat may just be after a bit of privacy, wanting to feel safe and comfortable because they are feeling threatened or overwhelmed. Laying in the litter box and not moving could also indicate something more serious such as urinary tract pain, diarrhea, or other issues that mean she doesn’t want to leave the toilet.

As we mentioned earlier, take your cat to the vet to rule out any health issues, invest in a more sanitary sleeping spot, like a cat cave, and try to rule out any territorial behavior or bullying if you live in a multi-cat household.

How to stop my cat from bullying my other cat?

A recent study reported that 27% of cats who come into shelters for behavioral reasons were relinquished due to aggression. Feline aggression and “bullying” is clearly a big problem - and it’s one that needs to be recognized and understood in order to be sorted out.

If your cat is bullying your other cat, don’t worry, there are things you can do. Firstly, get your cat neutered or spayed; this will calm their sexual frustration and the aggression that goes hand in hand. Secondly, as we mentioned above, it’s so important that your cats have their own basic necessities. For example, each cat in your household needs their own litter box, ideally plus one extra, plus their own food bowl, and their own cat bed or cat cave. If they are forced to share a resource like a litter box or a food bowl, they will end up fighting over it.

If your cats have their own resources and are still attacking or picking on each other, it may be down to an environmental factor. Have you changed your cat’s routine recently? If so, try adding more territorial space between your cats things - their cat beds, feeding stations etc. If this doesn’t work, you may wish to contact a veterinary behaviorist.

Cats can sometimes be found napping in some of the strangest locations. What if your cat has taken a sudden liking to napping in her litter box, though? There are medical reasons as well as behavioral reasons for a cat to suddenly start lounging where they go to the bathroom. Your vet can help you figure out the underlying reason for your cat's questionable choice in sleeping arrangements.

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In the world of pet care, a behavioral reason for anything is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that all possible medical reasons must be ruled out first. Cats can get urinary tract infections, urinary crystal formation, and bladder stones frequently, so any urinary related symptoms you are seeing at home are medical in origin until proven otherwise. Urinary tract infections and urinary crystals or stones can make the lining of the bladder so inflamed that even the smallest amount of urine collecting in the bladder can make your cat feel like she has to urinate right then. A cat with a severe UTI or urinary crystals may lounge in her litter box simply because she feels like she has to use the box so frequently.

Sometimes a urinary crystal or stone can become lodged in your cat's urethra, causing an obstruction. These cats will go to the box frequently, trying to urinate but producing nothing and will cry or yowl with discomfort. This is life-threatening and a medical emergency. You should take your cat to your vet 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 her litter box your vet will want to check her urine, an x-ray and/or ultrasound, and a blood panel. A urine test will show if there are any bacteria or crystals in your cat's urine causing a UTI. Imaging, such as an x-ray or ultrasound, will show bladder stones. Some stones can form without forming crystals in the urine and sometimes crystals in the urine won't aggregate into a stone, so it is important for your cat to have an x-ray or an ultrasound regardless of what the urine tests showed.

A blood panel will give insight into how your cat's kidneys are functioning. If your cat has early renal disease, an affliction common in senior kitties, she may start to urinary more frequently. There are also other disease processes unrelated to the urinary tract that can cause your cat to drink more and urinate more. Diabetes, for example, can 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 urine test will check for the presence of glucose and ketones in the urine. An elevated blood glucose, especially in combination with glucose and ketones in your cat's urine are indicative of diabetes.

When it comes to house cats—that is, those cats that are actually living in a home and not an animal shelter, animal hospital, or boarding facility—a medical cause is going to be the most likely reason for litter box napping. If your vet has checked your cat's urine, blood, and images and everything comes back normal, though, then the reason for your cat's litter box naps truly is behavioral.

A cat that finds herself under excess stress may hunker down in her litter box because it is a convenient place to hide, it makes them feel more secure, and because it smells like them and is, thus, familiar to them. Things like giving them a cozy box with blankets and pheromones to nap in instead of the 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 cubby-style versus your average, run-of-the-mill pet bed. Other, older cats may appreciate a more joint-friendly bed. One that utilized memory foam may be just what they are looking for. Just with dogs (and people) cats can get arthritis as they age. The most common locations for your senior or mature adult cat to have arthritis are her hips, back legs, and tail – all things she would use for jumping! So even if you have perfectly suitable beds, they may no be accessible to her anymore. If your cat has suddenly snubbed her longtime favorite bed on the back of the couch for her litter box, it may be simply because she can't get to her favorite bed anymore. Try moving her bed to a lower location and add some feliway, catnip, or silver vine to pique her interest.

Cats can curl up for a nap in seemingly bizarre locations and in impossibly uncomfortable looking positions. If your cat has taken a sudden liking to her litter box, though, there are things you can do to help coax her out of her smelly sleeping location. Your veterinarian can help you figure out the best way to help you cat out of the box and back into her bed.

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

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