The Wild Reasons Why Cats Instinctively Bury Their Poop

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Learn why cats usually cover up their poop, and why they sometimes don’t
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As housepets go, cats are the wildest of them all. Like tigers and bobcats, domestic cats will hunt, hiss, and even bury their poop. But why is poop burying such a common instinct anyway? As it turns out, this instinct serves some very important functions. Keep reading to learn why cats bury their poop, why they sometimes don’t, and what to do if your kitty starts leaving their poop out in the open.

Things You Should Know

  • Cats instinctively bury their poop to hide their location from predators and to avoid competing with another cat’s territory. These behaviors originate with wild cats.
  • Cats sometimes leave their poop unburied to mark their territory. Their poop’s unique smell identifies them to other cats.
  • If your cat won’t bury its poop, it may have a conflict with other cats or not like its litter box . Add more boxes, move them to different spots, or change the litter itself.
  • Have one more litter box than the number of cats in your house. Put litter boxes in quiet, low-traffic spots. Scoop them every day and wash them once a week.
Section 1 of 3:

Why Cats Bury Their Waste

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  1. In the wild, predators can smell a cat’s poop and track down the individual cat it came from. Cats thus bury their poop to make themselves harder to find.
    • Though domesticated cats don’t have to worry about being hunted, their poop-burying survival instincts remain strong.
  2. In the wild, cats use poop to mark their territory. Every cat’s poop has a unique smell, which other cats can detect and interpret as a message to “back off.” [1] But cats don’t always want to fight for territory, so they’ll bury their poop to avoid confrontation.
    • Like their wild cousins, domestic cats instinctively worry about fighting for territory, even if they don’t live with other cats.
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Section 2 of 3:

What does it mean if your cat won’t bury their poop?

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  1. In the wild, stronger and more dominant cats will spray urine or leave their poop out in the open as a signal to other cats. This is their way of saying “back off” or “this is my territory.”
    • If you own multiple cats, one or more of them may mark their territory by spraying urine and leaving their poop unburied.
    • Have your cat spayed or neutered to reduce this “marking behavior.” [2]
  2. Health issues like stress, urinary tract infections, kidney problems, diabetes, paw injuries, and arthritis due to aging can all impact your kitty’s bathroom habits. If they’re in pain or not feeling well, using the litter box might become too difficult. [3]
  3. The box might be too small or in a location that your cat can’t reach. The litter itself could also be unpleasant to the touch. Whatever the case may be, your cat might prefer pooping somewhere else if their litter box is not to their liking. [4]
    • Try picking a different litter mixture or moving the litter box to a new spot to see if your cat uses it more frequently.
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Encourage Your Cat’s Poop-Burying Instincts

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  1. Go with unscented, finely-textured kitty litter and spread a layer 2 inches (5 cm) deep. Make sure the box is open, easy to climb into, and doesn't have a lid. Additionally, pick a box with low sides if your cat has mobility issues, or if it’s a tiny kitten. This will make it easier for them to climb in and out. [5]
    • If possible, get an uncovered box to allow odors to dissipate. An uncovered box also gives your cat a full view of their surroundings, which makes them feel safer while using it.
  2. Experts recommend having one more litter box than the number of cats in your home. For instance, if you own one cat, you should have two litter boxes in different locations in your house. Two cats require three litter boxes, three cats need four, and so on. [6]
    • Remember: cats use poop to mark their territory, and domestic cats are still territorial like their wild ancestors.
    • Give your cats plenty of places to poop to ensure that they won’t compete with each other for litter boxes.
  3. The box should be far from the cat’s feeding bowl, ideally in another room altogether. Avoid putting litter boxes in hard-to-reach places, such as up several flights of stairs, especially if your cat is older and has difficulty climbing stairs. [7]
    • It's tempting to hide your litter box in a spot like the basement, but your kitty may not be willing to visit it. Make sure the box is easily accessible to your fur baby.
    • Put multiple boxes in different areas of your home. If the boxes are next to each other, your cat might consider them to be one big box. [8]
  4. Wet, smelly, poop-filled litter boxes are gross for people and kitties alike. Scoop out your litter boxes once a day to remove poop, and wash them once a week to keep them extra clean . [9]
    • Scrub the box itself with unscented detergent with each cleaning. Let it dry and refill it with clean litter. [10]
  5. Most cats don’t need litter box training since burying their poop is an instinctive behavior. But sometimes, a kitty will refuse to use a litter box until it’s just to their liking. Try multiple litter boxes of different sizes and litter mixtures. Keep moving them around until something works. [11]
    • Be patient and give your cat time to adjust to a litter box. Once you find a box, little mixture, and location that your cat likes, stick with it.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What kind of litter do cats like?
    Jessica Char
    Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant
    Jessica Char is a Cat and Dog Trainer, Behavior Consultant, and the Founder of Feline Engineering and Canine Engineering. She specializes in modifying challenging pet behavior problems, such as fear and aggression, using positive reinforcement training protocols. Jessica is a Certified Fear Free Trainer, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. She is also a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Jessica received her BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.
    Jessica Char
    Cat & Dog Behavior Consultant
    Expert Answer
    Cats like fine-grain, sandy litter that's easy to dig around in. They also prefer that their litter is unscented and clean.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/catrepellents.html
      2. ↑ https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VTH-Handout-Inappropriate-Elimination-in-Cats-Small-File.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling
      4. ↑ https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling
      5. ↑ https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/basicneeds/litter-boxes
      6. ↑ https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling
      7. ↑ https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling
      8. ↑ https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VTH-Handout-Inappropriate-Elimination-in-Cats-Small-File.pdf
      9. ↑ https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/basicneeds/litter-boxes
      1. ↑ https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling
      2. ↑ https://be.chewy.com/how-to-get-a-kitten-to-use-the-litter-box/

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