Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

3 reasons why your cat is sleeping in the litter box

Paige Cerulli
By

In most cases, cats like to curl up in warm, cozy places. There’s nothing more tempting than a good, soft blanket, but even a sunbeam on the floor can make a choice sleeping spot. But sometimes, cats’ sleeping habits change, and you might even find your cat catching some z’s in his litter box. While this behavior might seem surprising, it actually happens somewhat frequently. If your cat has suddenly started snoozing in the litter box, it’s important to understand what might be causing this change. While certain situations can make your cat use his box as a bed, there are some medical causes that can contribute to this behavior, too.

Black kitten sleeping in a litter box
Moncayofoto / Shutterstock

Illnesses

Many different illnesses can cause your cat to start sleeping in the litter box. In addition to your cat’s sleep location change, looking for other changes in his behavior can give you some insight into what these issues might be. If your cat is lethargic and isn’t eating or drinking normally, this can indicate pain, a potential infection, and other possible health issues.

Recommended Videos

Urinary issues might also prompt your cat to sleep in the litter box. Urinary tract infections or urinary crystals can make urination painful or even impossible for your cat, so look for signs that he’s trying to urinate, is uncomfortable when urinating, or goes into and out of the box again and again. If your male cat has developed urinary crystals, he will probably try to use the box frequently and might even cry out in discomfort. This is an emergency and can be life threatening, so if you notice these symptoms, take your cat to the emergency vet right away.

If your cat appears to be uncomfortable, sluggish, or otherwise not like himself, your vet can help identify what’s wrong. Your vet will perform a physical exam, will ask you questions about your cat’s behavior, may test your cat’s urine, and will probably run a blood panel. Once your cat’s health issue is identified and treated, chances are he’ll return to his regular sleeping spots.

Labor

Your pregnant cat might seek out the litter box during or before she goes into labor, especially if she doesn’t have another secure, safe space in the house to give birth. This isn’t ideal for many reasons, so if you have a pregnant cat, start preparing her a safe birthing box well in advance. An ideal birthing box will give your cat privacy and will be lined with soft blankets. Be sure to place this in a room where your cat can easily access it, and keep other pets and kids away from the area so your cat can feel safe and undisturbed.

Grey cat sleeping in a litter box
Dikova Maria / Shutterstock

Stress and insecurity

While health issues can be the root cause of a cat’s sleeping in litter box areas, physical ailments aren’t always to blame. Your cat might seek out the litter box because he feels it’s a safe place and because it smells familiar. If your cat is highly stressed and insecure, he might not be comfortable sleeping elsewhere in the home.

Many factors can contribute to your cat’s stress. Bringing home a new pet or a baby can affect your pet’s security. Major changes, like moving to a new home, can stress your cat. And if your cat is a new member of your family, the stress of the transition into your home might be causing this behavior, too.

If you think that stress and insecurity might be behind your cat’s sleeping in the litter box, you’ll need to take steps to help him feel more secure. Separating your cat from other pets might help, and giving your cat a secure sleeping spot up on a cat tree, where he’s safely out of reach, can also boost his confidence. Using pheromones can also help relax a stressed cat, but in many cases, your cat just needs a space of his own where he can chill out and adjust.

The answer to “Why is my cat sleeping in the litter box?” can be a complicated one. Many factors can affect your cat, and this change in sleeping habits might be due to behavioral or medical causes. If you notice your cat suddenly start sleeping in a litter box, it’s best to pay attention to what other habits might have also changed, like he’s eating less and sleeping more. You might also think about any recent changes that have occurred within your home, since these could prompt behavior changes in your cat. When in doubt, take your cat in for a vet appointment so you can rule out health issues that might have caused this change in sleeping habits.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Why do cats have 9 lives? The origins of the saying
Here's what we found out about cats and their many lives
A tabby cat looks up eith blue eyes

Whether you've lived with cats in your home all your life or have never even gotten close enough to pet one, there are a few feline facts, myths, and stereotypes that you're bound to have heard. Cat characters in TV shows and movies are great at perpetuating this knowledge, though no one can confirm or deny these feline fun facts and generalizations quite like the pets we know and love.

It doesn't take long to learn that cats can have a huge attitude, for example, or that they don't always get along well with other animals like dogs do. It's easy to understand why cat owners and feline fans alike can get caught up in these stereotypes. But at the same time, other feline fun facts -- like why cats are said to have 9 lives -- remain shrouded in mystery.
Until now! We've done some digging into the origin and accuracy of the old saying: "Why do cats have 9 lives," and here's what we uncovered.

Read more
Why you should feel honored if your cat sleeps at your feet
If you've ever wondered about this cat behavior, this article is for you
Calico cat lying on a white comforter

Have you noticed that when you go to sleep, your cat automatically heads to the foot of the bed and curls up by your feet? It's no mistake, and it's not your cat giving you the cold shoulder, either. This is a deliberate decision on your kitty's part, and there are many reasons why they might choose to sleep there instead of curling up on your stomach or by your shoulder. In fact, if your cat sleeps by your feet, you should take it as a compliment and feel flattered.

So, why do cats sleep at your feet? It's a mix of your cat's affection for you, a feeling of safety, and even the body heat you generate that play into your cat's decision to sleep at the foot of the bed.

Read more
4 reasons why cats wag their tails while lying down
This behavior is almost always never something to worry about
Cat yawns while sitting in a window

We know all about dog tail wagging, and most pet owners can spot the difference between a happy twitch and a cautious one. But did you realize that cats use their tails to express themselves, too? Like with dogs, the cat tail swish could mean a few different things, and it's important to have some sense of feline behavior — and your specific kitty — to decipher their movements. So why do cats wag their tails while lying down? We'll walk you through the most common causes and when you might need to step in.

Why do cats wag their tails while lying down?
If you stumble upon your kitty lying down and only moving their tail, it's probably because of one of these four reasons.
They feel happy or playful
You might see your cat lying lazily in the sun, but suddenly they give a little tail twitch as you approach. It's not your imagination. They're excited to see you and ready to play. Assuming you don't note any signs of aggression (we'll get to those later), you should head on over to pet your cat or grab their favorite toy and start a game.
It's hunting time
We can all picture the lion stalking their prey while slowly moving their tail back and forth — your cat does this, too. Oftentimes, this one will happen when they're lying on a perch or near a window and can spy on birds or small mammals in the yard. It could even be that they've spotted a fly and will pounce at any minute. All you need to do here is reach for your camera and enjoy your silly kitty at their best.
They're stressed
A cat that feels stressed will often floof their tail and start to wag it. Kitties generally puff up their fur to appear larger and more menacing. This action may also combine with an arched back or a hiss. Alternatively, sometimes tail thumping comes from overstimulation. You'll recognize pretty quickly which movements indicate fear and which mean fun.
They're dreaming
Sometimes, you'll observe your mouser twitch their tail while sleeping. It could come from a simple muscle spasm just like you get when you sleep (it also might mean they're hunting down prey in their dreams). Additionally, your sleepy kitty may be, well, faking it. They might look asleep but are actually just resting and waiting for you to come over.

Read more