[Clough]

Hi, All!

Some cats do know how to scrape at the litter to cover their feces. Others don't seem to know how.

Some might say that it's because the mother cat didn't train them properly. Others might say that there simply isn't enough litter in the box for the cat to scrape and cover.

Or, that maybe the litter box is too dirty with the cats "stuff".

Any other possible reasons? Also, have you had experience with a cat that didn't know how to cover their "stuff" properly.

What are your thoughts about this, please?

Thanks!

[morgaine300]

I can only tell you that of all the cats I had who did not cover properly, they did it most of the time, or at least the majority of the time. I never saw where the amount of litter or cleaniness of the box ever matter. I usually keep a decent amount of litter in the boxes, not a sand dune or anything but certainly enough to scratch around. And I have two boxes (two cats) and clean them every day more often than not, and sometimes skip one day. Never makes any difference.

The only thing that makes a difference is when I have a cat that just really, really hates anything being in the box, wherein I have to be extra careful about keeping them clean -- and then the result is generally just going outside it.

One of my current doesn't cover anything. She tends to go at the very edge, and I think actually she just shoves the litter the wrong direction and never really gets it covered. The other one hangs out in there forever, covering, smelling, turning around 300 times, etc.

[catcrazy567]

It really depends on the age of the cat. I have had three different set of kittens(at different times)and each kitten learned at a different time. If the kitten looks like it is about to use the bathroom quickly bring it to his/her's litter box. I cat will eventually learn.

[hheath541]

I think it's just an individual preference. Just like how much toilet paper a human chooses to use.

Some cats just do not see the use of covering their messes. Others are overly concerned with making sure everything is covered by as much litter as possible.

I have 5 cats right now. They range from spending a couple minutes or more piling litter on their messes to going and getting out of the box immediately. One spends a couple minutes scratching the sides of the box, the walls, the floor, and everywhere other than actually IN the box. I figure, as long as they go in the box, I don't really care if they bury their messes, or not.