The headline may seem problematic, and many of you may be curious about the issue with your cat being happy. But only people who’ve gone through it would understand how irritating it can be.

Cats playing in litter boxes might seem cute initially, but doing so constantly isn’t ideal. Additionally, it often indicates underlying problems in cats.

Especially when the litter is scattered all over the floor in every direction. So, is your cat just trying to annoy you?

You’ll want to know more about it, and we’ve covered everything for you in “How to Stop My Cat From Playing in the Litter Box!”

Is it Normal For Cats to Play in Their Litter Box?

Yes and no. I bet you’ll never get a firm yes or no answer to any cat-related question. They’re the mammalian embodiment of unnecessary pickiness.

Cats playing in the litter box can have reasons ranging from simple boredom to something more serious, like skin infections. Let’s figure out what’s going on with your little friend.

Why Does My Cat Play in Their Litter Box?

As you dive deeper into the rabbit hole of the catverse, you’ll realize that no matter what a cat does, there’s always a reason behind it. Whether it’s behavioral or medical, there’s always an explanation.

Boredom

Now, I won’t blame the cat for this one. Pet cats don’t usually have a lot to do. Roaming around the house shows that they own you, not the other way around. Even getting belly rubs and giving disapproving looks completes their schedule.

Moreover, if you don’t provide enough toys or playtime for your cat, it’s easy for them to get bored. As a result, they’ll end up doing crazy things, like playing in the litter box.

Therefore, make sure to buy your cat plenty of toys or give them sufficient playtime.

Sudden Routine Change

Cats aren’t used to accepting changes. They’re pretty bad at adapting to them. If anything has made your cat’s usual routine change, it will trigger them.

One of the common reasons for this is an immediate change in the litter. This can be very triggering for your cat, as the litter box is their safe space. So, if they suddenly feel it’s not the same as before, they will dig the whole thing out.

Next time, if you plan to change your cat’s litter type, ensure you do it in small amounts. Do so gradually so the cat doesn’t feel like you’ve altered their space after changing the litter.

Medical Changes

Medical changes are another common reason why your cats do this. UTIs are not healthy. They put your little friend through a lot of pain.

Most illnesses found in cats cause them extreme pain while urinating or defecating. This makes your cat stay near the litter box longer.

It’s because they feel safe there and, secondly, to be prepared in case of an emergency. While this is true for internal illnesses and infections, please look for any signs indicating your cat isn’t happy with its skin.

Some of them include rolling in the litter box, scratching their skin too much, and becoming irritated. So, if your pet shows all these signs of skin infections, you should visit a vet immediately.

Pregnancy

If your cat is pregnant, she will spend much more time in her litter box than usual. This is mainly because cats feel safe there and are less energetic and adventurous. So, they decide to be more comfortable and cozy most of the time.

Another reason is that she might need to pee more often, so she stays near the litter box. If your cat is about to go into labor soon, that’s another reason she may spend more time in her litter box.

Territorial Issues

Cats are territorial animals, and they can be quite a pain when trying to protect or claim something they own. Pretty entitled, right?

If I go missing anytime soon, you’ll all know what happened! So, when you have multiple pets, your cat will likely spend much more time in its litter box to protect its territory.

Cats do not like sharing, so you shouldn’t be surprised if yours is acting weird due to having another pet around.

A solution is to get one litter box for each cat and ensure they get enough space and free time for themselves.

5 Methods to Prevent Cats from Playing in the Litter Box

People suggest various ways to prevent cats from playing in their litter boxes. However, only a few have worked for the cats I’ve been around or adopted!

Below are some proven approaches that can help with this issue!

1. Setting Up More Litter Boxes

If you have multiple cats at home, I highly recommend getting several litter boxes. As I mentioned, cats aren’t great at sharing. As a rule of thumb, provide one litter box for each cat you have, plus an extra one.

Place the litter boxes in well-ventilated, easily accessible, and not-so-busy areas of your house. If it doesn’t work, try other locations.

To make it easier, note down the places where your cat doesn’t like its litter box to be. This will be a trial-and-error process, so be patient.

2. Switch To A New Litter Box Type

You might have chosen an open litter box to provide your cat with more comfort, but you didn’t realize that you gave them so much comfort that they’re now avoiding you. Open litter boxes are almost like not being in a box at all, so cats may not mind playing in them.

So, change your litter box to a closed one. This will encourage them to seek fresh air and sunlight, and they’ll be more likely to come out more often.

This method may seem a bit aggressive, but you’ll need to try it out to avoid cleaning litter off the floor daily.

3. Keep The Litter Box Well Maintained And Clean

You might wonder why a cat would play in a dirty litter box. Though it may not sound practical, cats aren’t always just playing.

Sometimes, they aggressively scratch the litter because they sense something is wrong with it. If they’re not happy with it, being aggressive is their way of telling you that it needs to be changed.

Always clean the litter box regularly and thoroughly to ensure your cat isn’t irritated by the litter. Also, make sure to change the litter and add enough fresh litter when you do so.

4. Try Using Plug-In Diffusers

This might seem like overkill, but you’ll notice the difference after you plug in a diffuser. Some cats experience anxiety or general restlessness.

Plug-in diffusers are a great way to calm them down. This can reduce their anxiety and, in turn, stop their restlessness and playing in the litter box.

5. Provide Them With Other Play Areas and Toys

Boredom is one of the most common reasons cats play in litter boxes. After all, why shouldn’t they?

You don’t want your cat to spend the whole day doing nothing, right? Not having enough toys to play with can make a cat feel bored, and as a result, playing with the litter they see you clean every day quickly becomes their entertainment.

Get your cat some toys and decorate your house in a cat-friendly way. Also, spend more time with your cat so that “yeeting” sand out of the litter box isn’t the only fun it gets to enjoy.

6. Fill the Litter Box with Less Litter

Another way of stopping your cat from playing with litter is to reduce the amount of litter. I’m not asking you to eliminate it, but to lower the quantity enough that playing with the litter is no longer fun.

However, remember that you’ll need to clean the litter box much more often than the one with more litter.

7. Make an Effort to Meet your Cat’s Emotional Needs

Now we’re getting emotional, aren’t we? Cats have emotional needs just like we do. Neglecting their emotions may make them feel the need to find something to play with, and they often choose their litter box.

To prevent this from happening, always spend a significant amount of time with your cat and show it that you care.

Conclusion

Cats playing in the litter box isn’t necessarily alarming, but it’s not something you should neglect, either. Skin infections, UTIs, and other diseases show similar but less precise symptoms.

If you’re concerned that something might be medically wrong, please visit your vet as soon as possible and have your cat checked.

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