Cat waste is not a subject that people exactly love talking about, but curiosity may get you thinking, “why do cats bury their poop?”.
All cat owners will of noticed this behavior whether that’s outside in the garden, or even in the litter box. There are actually a number of different explanations for this.
Not only are we going to look at the reasons why cats bury their poop. We are also going to look at reasons why cats don’t bury their poop, and what it means if you have a cat who has suddenly stopped burying their waste.
Why Do Cats Bury Their Poop
Let’s take a look at the reason’s why cats bury their poop.
Submission and Dominance
Cats are naturally very territorial creatures and one of the reasons why they spray up everything is to claim it as their own. Out in the wild, a dominant cat will not burry their poop purposely to show to other cats that this is their territory.
As domestic cat does bury their poop either in the garden or the litter tray, behaviorists believe that this is a cats way of seeing their owner as being the dominant one.
Covering Their Tracks
Although we stated above that dominant cats do not bury their waste, submissive or more weaker cats in wild cats do bury their waste to protect themselves from unwanted attention from other predators.
You may think all cat poop smells the same but it actually doesn’t to cats. All cat waste has a unique smell thanks to chemical scent markers called pheromones. These chemicals are present in both feces and urine.
You may also be wondering why domesticated cats still bury their poop, here’s why. Although very much domesticated, cats still inherit a lot of natural instincts and behavior.
So even though your home has no predators, your cat doesn’t know that and will still bury their waste just encase.
Why Do Cats Not Cover Their Poop
Pretty much all domesticated cats do cover their poop, but if your cat doesn’t, or if they used to cover their waste and have suddenly stopped, here are the reasons why.
Dominance And Territory
As previously stated dominant cats in the wild such as lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards do not bury their waste. This sends a signal to other cats that they have claimed this area as theirs.
If your cat is not covering their poop, it may be because they consider themselves as dominant over you or other cats if you have a multiple cat household.
Natural Inclinations
Although covering waste is a natural instinct that cats learn from their mother, all cats are very unique and some may not actually learn this behavior.
If you have have a cat like this who doesn’t cover their poop, there are some tips below that can help you.
Issues With Litter Box
We all know how very picky cats can be with everything including food, routines, and of course, litter boxes. Here are some potential reasons why your cat is either going outside of the litter box or, not covering their waste.
- Litter box may be too small.
- May not like the feel of the litter box.
- Too dirty/smelly.
Medical Issues
If your cat is experiencing some kind of pain, then this may cause them to spend less time in the litter box. This means they will simply go to the toilet, then get out of there as fast as possible.
Another reason that could cause your cat to skip the burying process is if they have recently been declawed.
Tips To Get A Cat To Cover Their Poop
You may be wondering if there is anything you an do if your cat is not covering their poop. Luckily their is.
Burying poop should be a natural behavior learnt from their mother, but not all cats learn how to do this. If this is the case, simply teach them yourself. Here is a list of tips you can use.
1. Add More Litter Boxes
It’s always good to have one more litter box than you have cats. So if you have one cat you should have two litter boxes. If you have two cast you should have three litter boxes and so on.
The litter boxes should also be kept away from their food, and in a quiet place away from washing machines or anything else that is going to frighten them.
If you are having issues with your cat and their litter box, try moving it to a different location. This one simple trick may work.
2. Different Kinds Of Litter Box
Cats are very picky creatures and the reason they may not be burying their poop is because of the actual litter box itself.
- Too Small: If the litter box is too small, your cat may not have enough space to maneuver around to cover their poop. Try getting a larger litter box.
- Type Of Litter Box: There are many different kinds of litter boxes available on the market such as open top, closed top, low sided, high sided, and automatic litter boxes. It’s just a case of trial and error to see which one your cat prefers.
We wrote a buyers called Best Litter Box For Cats. It may be worth checking that out. You can see the different kinds of litter boxes available, as well as some cool tips.
3. Test Different Kinds Of Litter
As well the type of litter box, the actual litter itself may be the issue of causing your cat not to bury their waste. Some litter is fine to stand on, but when it comes to scraping it to cover their waste, it may be hurting their paws.
It’s not only the texture of the litter, it may be the smell that’s deterring them. So as well as trying litter with different kinds of texture, you can also try fragrance-free litter.
The type you choose will also depend upon what kind of cat you have. For example, if you have a long-haired cat, some granules may get caught in the fur. In this case, “crystal” litter is usually a great option.
Another important aspect is the level of litter. If the litter is too deep or too shallow then a cat will not cover their poop. Two to three inches of litter is the the usual recommendation from most cat litter manufacturers.
4. Reduce Stress And Anxiety
Certain things or situations can trigger stress in your cat which can cause them to not cover their poop.
Some of the things that can trigger this stress are, other cats wondering around, visitors in your home, and moving house. To help reduce stress, you can try using a calming diffuser which mimics pheromones.
You can also reduce stress by creating a thriving cat environment in your home which includes cat trees, towers, cat furniture, plenty of toys, and vertical and horizontal scratching posts.
5. Talk To a Veterinarian
As mentioned earlier in this post, a cat may not cover their poop due to medical issues or pain. If you notice your cat is not covering their waste, it may be worth speaking with a veterinarian to get them checked out just encase.
Conclusion
Just to summarize, covering poop is a natural behavior learnt from as kittens from their mother, but not all cats will learn how to.
If you cat is not covering their poop, try different litter boxes, different litter, moving location of the litter box, and make sure you do everything possible to help reduce stress levels.
