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

Cats playing in litter boxes are a cute scene for the first instance, but having to clean the litter now and then isn’t something good. Apart from that, it often indicates problems in cats.

Especially the litter that got yeeted all over the floor in all available directions. So, is it just your cat trying to piss you off?

You should know a lot about it, and we have covered it for you all on “How to Stop My Cat From Playing in Litter Box!”

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

Yes and no. I bet you’ll never receive a firm yes or no as an answer to any question related to cats. They’re the mammal incarnation of unnecessary pickiness. 

Cats playing in the litter box have reasons ranging from as simple as boredom to as horrible as skin infections. So, let’s find out what your little friend is rocking.

Why Does My Cat Play in Their Litter Box?

As you go deeper into the rabbit hole of the catverse, you will understand that no matter what a cat does, there’s always a reason behind it. Let it be behavioral or medical, but there always is a reason.

Boredom

Now, I won’t blame the cat for this one. Pet cats don’t usually have a lot of stuff to do. Roaming at home shows that they own you, which isn’t the reverse. Even getting belly rubs and giving some looks of disapproval completes their schedule. 

Moreover, if you don’t give your cat enough toys or playtime, then it’s easy for them to get bored. Hence, they will end up doing crazy stuff like playing in the litter box.

Therefore, buy your cat ample 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 your cat. 

One of the common reasons for this is the immediate change in the litter. This is pretty triggering for your cat as the litter box is their safe space. So, if they suddenly feel it’s not like before, they’re going to 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 bet spacetime after changing its 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 of the 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 anything indicating your cat isn’t happy with its skin.

Some of them include rolling in the litter box, scratching their skin too much, and getting 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 its litter box than usual. It’s mainly because cats feel safe there and are not energetic and adventurous. So they decide to be friendly and comfy most of the time. 

Another reason is that she might need to pee often, so she stays near the litter box. If your cat will be in labor soon, it is another reason it spends most of the time in its litter box.

Territorial Issues

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

If I go missing anytime soon, you all know what happened. So, when you have multiple pets, your cat will likely spend way 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 worked for the cats I’ve been around or adopted! 

Below-mentioned are some proven approaches that would help you with it!

1. Setting Up More Litter Boxes

If you have multiple cats at home, I’d highly advise you to get various litter boxes at your house. As I said, cats are not good when it comes to sharing. As a rule of thumb, get one litter box for each cat you have and keep an extra one. 

Place the litter boxes in your house’s well-ventilated, easy-to-reach, and not-so-busy areas. If it doesn’t work, try some other location.

To make it easier, note down the places your cat didn’t like its litter box to be at. This’ll be a pretty hit-and-trial game, so you must be patient.

2. Switch To A New Litter Box Type

You might’ve chosen an open litter box to provide your cat more comfort, but you didn’t realize that you gave your cat so much comfort that now it’s not even coming to meet you. Open litter boxes are almost like being not-in-a-box, so they don’t mind playing it. 

So, change your litter box to a closed one. This will make them feel the need to have fresh air and sunlight and have them coming out more often.

The method sounds a bit passive-aggressive, but you’ll have to try it out to avoid cleaning litter off the floor daily. 

3. Keep The Litter Box Well Maintained And Clean

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

Sometimes, they’re aggressively scratching the litter cause they’re sensing something wrong with it. If they’re not happy with it, being aggressive is their way of telling you that you need to change it. 

Always clean the litter box periodically and neatly to ensure your cat isn’t irritated with the litter. Also, make sure you change the litter and add enough quantity while changing it. 

4. Try Using Plug-In Diffusers

This might seem like too much drama, but look for yourself after you plug in some diffuser. Some cats go through anxiety or restlessness in general.

Plug-in diffusers are a great way to calm them down. This will reduce their anxiety and thus 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 should they not?

You don’t want your cat to do anything like a monk all day, do you? Not having enough toys to play with can make a cat feel bored; thus, 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 style. Further, spend some more time with your cat, so yeeting some sand out of the litter box isn’t the only thing it enjoys.

6. Fill the Litter Box with Less Litter

Another passive-aggressive way of stopping your cat from playing with the litter is to get rid of it. I’m not asking to eliminate it but to reduce it so much that playing with the litter is no longer fun.

But you must remember that you must clean the litter box way more often than the one with more litter.

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

Now we are getting emotional, aren’t we? Cats have emotional needs just like we do. Neglecting their emotions will make it feel like they need to find something to play with, and they mostly choose their litter box. 

To prevent this from happening, always spend a significant amount of time with the cat and make it realize that you care about it.

Conclusion

Cats playing in the litter box isn’t something very alarming, but it isn’t something you’re neglecting. Skin infections, UTIs, and other diseases show similar but less precise symptoms.

If you’re skeptical about something medically wrong, please rush to your vet as soon as possible and get your cat checked.

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