Why Do Cats Scratch The Floor Around Their Litter Box

Excessive scratching might mean your cat is trying to tell you something so find what it could be.

Why do cats scratch the floor around their litter box. Cats are particular about their cleanliness and grooming but they can exhibit confusing behaviors like scratching the floor after pooping. Before or after your kitten or cat eats or drinks it may paw scratch or knead the floor as if it is digging or burying something. Often the cat box is too small for the cat or there isn t enough litter or there s too much litter in the cat box. Cats will do.

As puzzling as it may be some cats simply enjoy digging and playing in their litter boxes. They see this as a playground. We have received quite a few questions about why your cats scratch the beejesus out of everything around them right after they do their business. They love to roll around throw litter around or even scratch inside it.

Solving this problem is a matter of removing the smell of your cat s poop primarily by changing its litter box. This assumption is inaccurate. Cats love space and litter. In fact your pet is demonstrating an instinct shared even by the big cats and it is a very positive sign that it is feeling at home in your house.

For older cats the litter box should be easy for your senior cat to get into. While this can be baffling this is usually because their litter boxes are not enough to mask the scent of their excrement. Here are some reasons why your cat might be scratching the walls the sides of the litter box or the floor just outside the box. Cats have scent glands on their paws.

If the litter box is not big enough the litter digging will translate into constant side scraping. A common mistake cat owners make is that when their cat swipes their paw on the floor around their food dish they think that they are covering up the food like they would their poop in a litter box. Cats who scratch the floor or wall after using the litter box are usually making a comment about the litter box itself and or the litter that is being used. Consider getting a shallow cat box or placing a ramp at the entrance of the box.

Sometimes cats will engage in this behavior if the litter box isn t. So we enlisted the help of our litter box mentor marilyn krieger to see if we could help you minimize the scratching issues. There s nothing wrong with your cat. This is not an unusual behavior.

Your cat may be marking her territory. Learn why cats scratch in or around the litter box. Most of the time this is normal. Instead this is still him trying to be sneaky and not let predators know where he is.

Find a good cat litter that your cat likes. In the wild cats don t come back to a meal they ve stored for several days. But sometimes scratching in the litter box becomes excessive. Scratching the area outside of the litter box may simply be her way of laying claim on the place where she does her business.

Excessive scratching is a theme with you guys. Many cat owners assume this is a clear sign that the cat isn t interested in the food.