The submit Why Does My Cat Play With Poop? 6 Possible Reasons For This Behavior by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Catster. Copying over whole articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You will not be conscious of it, however all of those articles have been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they are not thought of public area. However, we recognize that you simply just like the article and would adore it in the event you continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Catster.com.
Click to Skip Ahead
Possible Reasons That Cats Play With Poop
Cat Litter Requirements
Why Does My Cat Fling Poop Out of the Litter Box?
Why Does My Cat Go Crazy When They Poop?
Typically, cats are very clear animals. They groom themselves often they usually have fairly particular calls for relating to litter trays. Despite this, cats can develop some odd habits that appear soiled to us people. One such behavior is taking part in with their poop. Although commonest in kittens, some grownup cats may additionally develop this behavior, with widespread causes together with boredom or the supply of inappropriate litter gear.
Below, we take a look at six of the commonest causes that cats would possibly play with their poop, so you possibly can determine the trigger and take steps to rectify the state of affairs.
The 6 Possible Reasons That Cats Play With Poop
1. They’re Young
Kittens are nonetheless studying the ropes, and one of many issues they should be taught is how one can correctly bury their poop. Your younger kitten won’t be taking part in with poop deliberately. They is perhaps unsuccessfully trying to bury it.
Alternatively, they may see the poop as a toy and play with it in the identical means they’d a stuffed mouse. As properly as being extra more likely to play with poop, kittens are additionally extra more likely to unintentionally stand in it and smear it round outdoors the litter tray. They can also sit in it and get it caught of their fur, carry it outdoors the tray, after which play with it.
Don’t inform your kitten off for taking part in with the poop however proceed with litter coaching and praising them after they do issues correctly. It does take time for kittens to learn to appropriately bury their poop.
Image Credit: Kachalkina Veronika, Shutterstock
2. They’re Bored
Even some grownup cats will play with their poop prefer it’s a toy. This is commonest in cats which might be bored as a result of they don’t have sufficient toys or aren’t getting the type of interplay they require from their people or different feline members of the family.
Buy further toys and spend time partaking along with your cat by taking part in with interactive toys. The extra playtime your cat will get, the much less probably they are going to be bored.
3. The Litter Tray Is Dirty
Cats are clear animals they usually anticipate you to play your half in retaining their habitat clear. This means cleansing out the litter tray. Pick up solids everytime you see them and scoop clumped moist litter day-after-day. You must also give the tray a radical clear each week or so to do away with any crusted litter or litter contents.
As properly as making certain that your cat has someplace clear to do its enterprise, clearing up the poop implies that your cat could have much less to play with.
Image Credit: SURKED, Shutterstock
4. The Litter Tray Isn’t Right
Cats might be fairly finicky little animals. They want all the pieces good to make sure they’re content material and fewer more likely to make a multitude. Everything from the kind of litter tray you select to the litter inside will decide whether or not your cat is proud of its rest room association.
Ensure the litter tray is giant sufficient in your cat. It needs to be one and a half occasions the size of your cat. Choose a litter that your cat likes, and check out a unique litter in the event you’re struggling. There are many forms of cat litter and a few cats do have preferences relating to the sort they use.
5. It’s In the Wrong Position
You will want one litter tray per cat, plus one further, and the litter trays must be positioned in appropriate positions to make sure your cats use them and use them appropriately. Litter trays needs to be in quiet areas and ideally have no less than one facet towards a wall so your cat received’t really feel uncovered. If you have got canine, you might wish to contemplate a coated litter tray in a spot the place the canine can’t attain.
Try shifting your litter trays to totally different positions, however at all times enable your cat free and quick access to the trays to stop accidents outdoors the field.
Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock
6. They Like the Smell
To us, cat poop can odor disgusting, however to cats, it could possibly odor nice! Your cat could also be taking part in with its poop as a result of it likes the odor. Your cat would possibly be capable to odor some protein or different vitamins and is taking part in with the poop as a strategy to examine what’s in there.
If your cat likes the odor of poop, you possibly can anticipate some investigation. Sniffing the poop is okay, however you shouldn’t encourage your cat to play with feces.
Cat Litter Requirements
Cats want someplace secure and clear to pee and poop. Even those that get to spend time outdoor want indoor litter trays. Buy one per cat plus one further tray, and attempt to put them in several positions round the home. Avoid placing them in areas the place there may be loads of site visitors however place them someplace your cat has ongoing entry to.
Choose a litter that successfully covers urine and feces however that’s simple to scoop and clear. If your cat is reluctant to get within the tray within the first place, it may very well be an indication that it doesn’t like the texture of the litter you’re utilizing and also you would possibly have to strive one thing softer like a recycled paper cat litter.
Clean the tray often by scooping poop everytime you see it and eliminating urine and clumped litter every day. You must also give the trays a radical clear as soon as every week, so they’re recent and interesting in your cat.
Image Credit: LADO, Shutterstock
Why Does My Cat Fling Poop Out of the Litter Box?
Cats have some odd and generally messy habits. As properly as taking part in with their poop, your cat could fling it out of the tray and onto the ground within the surrounding space. Sometimes, this exercise might be unintentional. Your cat may need gotten carried away whereas trying to cowl up.
Alternatively, it may very well be an indication that the litter wants cleansing out extra often. If you have got a number of cats, one cat is perhaps flinging poop out of your different cat out to attempt to declare the tray. This is perhaps a sign you want extra litter trays or that considered one of them is soiled and desires clearing out.
Why Does My Cat Go Crazy When They Poop?
Some cats expertise “zoomies” after they poop, particularly if passing a big poop. This is as a result of the distension attributable to passing the poop triggers the vagus nerve. This causes a drop in coronary heart charge, blood stress, and blood to the mind. Lightheadedness attributable to these modifications can lead to your cat displaying gentle indicators of hyperactivity.
Image Credit: xamnesiacx84, Shutterstock
Conclusion
Cats are curious animals which have some habits that appear odd to us people. While most are clear and tidy animals that can fastidiously use litter trays. Kittens would possibly play with their poop whereas they learn to correctly cowl it up whereas grownup cats is perhaps taking part in with stools due to a unclean tray, inappropriate litter alternative, or as a result of it doesn’t approve of the litter tray itself.
Some cats play with their poop as a result of they just like the odor of it. Consider your litterbox setup and make modifications, first, earlier than shifting on to different doable causes.
Sources
- https://catschef.com/cat-plays-with-poop/
- https://petcosset.com/why-is-my-cat-playing-with-his-poop/
- https://askmycats.com/cat-playing-with-poop/
The submit Why Does My Cat Play With Poop? 6 Possible Reasons For This Behavior by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Catster. Copying over whole articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You will not be conscious of it, however all of those articles have been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they are not thought of public area. However, we recognize that you simply just like the article and would adore it in the event you continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Catster.com.
