Does your cat ever lay in its litter box?

[BuelahWitch]

I've had cats ever since I was a kid, but I've never had one who laid down in the litter box till Baby came along. She did it when she first moved in three months ago. I looked online and found some info that cats will sometimes do it because it makes them feel like they're hiding if they weren't sure of their surroundings. So I got her this cube type thing so that she could "hide" in when she was nervous. It worked for awhile, and she began using the box for a bathroom again. Up until this week, that is. The past few days I've been busy with final projects for school and haven't paid too much attention to her. I'll hear her scratching, then it will stop and I'll look and she'll be lying down in the box! I don't want to make her think that being in the box is a bad thing, but I don't want her to think it's a bed either (and then come sit on my lap or lay in my bed). I have a feeling she might be doing this to get attention and hope it stops now that I'm done with my projects...

[Flaxbee]

1. yes. One did it when she was cornered by a dog --

she slipped out when I wasn't looking, and I called and called and called for HOURS until she came back (neighbor later apologized and said her dog had cornered my cat). She was almost shell-shocked, and curled up in the upstairs litter box for a few hours. Then was all-better, and hasn't done it again, though she'll sometimes sleep in an empty litter box (they've all outgrown this one, it was for them when they were kittens and it's just on the back porch where I toss deadheaded flowers or whatever). She seems to treat it just like she would a cardboard box, and we all know how fun those are for cats ;-)

One other cat is just weird, and funky, and a crack-up. She'll sit in the litter box every once in a while, and I have no idea why, either.

Not to worry, unless you think there might be an accompanying health issue. :hi:

[BuelahWitch]

2. No, no health issue that I can tell

I've had cats with urinary tract problems before, and she isn't trying to pee, she's lying down. We've had some cuddles today, when she came to me, and she hasn't done it. I hope it's over, but I was dismayed to see her doing this again after I thought it was fixed the first time.

Thanks for the input! :hi:

[Flaxbee]

3. I've had cats forever, too - my whole life, and these

are the first two who've ever done it. And I watched closely afterward to make sure everyone was peeing OK, no urinary tract problems, etc. Just like you said. Everyone seemed fine. Our one weirdo lies down, too, doesn't act like she's trying to 'go', and will perch her head on the side of the box. Then 5 minutes later she's zipping around somewhere else. :shrug:

:hi: and :toast: to weird cats!

[BuelahWitch]

6. LOL, yeah, all my cats have been weirdos

in one way or another, but that's why we like cats, isn't it? :toast:

[MagickMuffin]

4. Yes, the one we adopted from our neighbor

Sateeva belonged to my neighbor's brother who passed away in 2000. She was already about 2 years old when we took her in. Neighbor was going to have her put to sleep if we didn't want her.

At the time we had a dog (who has since passed on in '03) and another cat Tasha (who has also passed on in '04). Our dog Katonga Girlie and Tasha belonged to our dear friend who passed away in '93.

Sateeva seems to be a very unaffectionate cat. It took her several years to even let us pet her very much. Neighbor lady informed me that the previous owners got a dog soon after Sateeva, so poor little Sateeva was left out of the love boat. I think that explains why she is unaffectionate.

Sateeva used to be scared of my hubby whenever he would walk into a room. She has become alittle less scared of him now.

Just recently she was sitting where I usually place my laptop when I'm using it. I didn't want her to get in the habit of sitting there, so I barely swatted her on the butt and off she went to the litter box and started sleeping in there.
We changed to a different litter box with a lid on it. She started sleeping on top of it for about 3 weeks. She only got down when she was hungry. But I guess she got over being pissed at me and now comes out and will even sit on my lap occasionally.

But I still have a problem with her not letting my other cat Kilala (which we rescued from my in-laws house, back in '01) use the litter box.

Like you we didn't know what to do about it. Sateeva just seem to work it out on her own. But yeah, who wants to have a cat sleeping with you after they have spent a good portion of time sleeping in their waste.

[Contrary1]

5. I have had several cats that did that...

never caused a problem, as far as I could tell.

Off topic, but I just took my kitty's after-surgery collar off, five days ahead of schedule. She started throwing up yesterday, and I believe the collar was the culprit. She jumped up earlier for some hugs, and there was litter stuck on it. Yuk.

I suspect she was "grooming" herself (collar), and ingesting some of it. Yuk again. I fashioned a kitty sweater out of the sleeve from an old sweater of my daughter's. She's not crazy about it, but I think it will keep her out of the incision area for a few days. She has spent the last hour cleaning her face. After almost four weeks, she must be in heaven.

BTW, her name is Baby too.:hi:

[rug]

7. One of my cats climbs into his bag of dry food and naps.

[BuelahWitch]

8. She's on squirrell patrol today

:patriot: One with a big furry tail made its way onto our third floor balcony, and Baby's having fun watching it run back and forth.

[ThomCat]

9. It's probably just a security thing.

The litter box is someplace she considers her territory, so she feels secure and comfortable there. Cats can get weird about territory.