Why does the cat always lie in the litter box? What should I do if the cat poops on the edge of the litter box?

The cat litter box is where the cat urinates and defecates. The cat will only lie in the litter box when it needs to. If the cat stays in the litter box for a long time and does not come out no matter how much you call, then the owner should pay attention to whether the cat is constipated or has other problems.

Why does my cat always lie in the litter box?

If you find that your cat always looks constipated in the litter box and urinates in small pieces, it may be urethritis/cystitis. If the cat can't even cry out, you should see a doctor immediately.

Another possibility is that it regards the litter box as its own safe zone because it has its smell (urine smell). You can consider placing an open or semi-open cat bed in the corner of the room and preparing a cat tree for it. Once it finds a favorite place, it will not always stay in the litter box.

Be careful not to hit it when it is resting, or it will think it cannot be in the litter box, and it will be troublesome if it urinates and poops in the litter box. Respect the cat's sense of territory, and change the cat litter to less dusty if it is dusty.

What to do if your cat poops on the edge of the litter box

First of all, cats are very sensitive animals. Any disturbance will cause them psychological stress. Changes in the surrounding environment, such as the addition of a baby or other pets, such as a dog, or even a stranger visiting the house, may make them feel unsafe. And once they feel comfortable and safe defecating in a certain place at home, they will often defecate there. If the owner interferes, they will find other suitable places at home to defecate and keep changing places.

Secondly, some cats are not only sensitive, but also petty. They may deliberately defecate randomly to attract attention because the new dog is more popular with the owner. Cats may also protest against the owner's sudden neglect of care.

Some cats prefer to defecate in secluded places or use covered toilets. If you suddenly change the cat's habits and violate their privacy, they may feel disgusted and retaliate against you by defecating and urinating anywhere.

If these reasons are not the case, you should check whether the litter box is clean. If the litter box is not cleaned in time or there is too little litter, or the cat is not used to using the litter box after changing it, etc., it may cause the cat to defecate and urinate randomly. Help it correct this bad habit before it develops. Clean the place where the cat feces are stained thoroughly, spray lemon water or apply cooling oil, throw the cat feces back into the litter box and let the cat smell it. Play with the cat more often, feed it delicious food, and don't lock it up often.

How to clean the cat litter box

You can first rinse the dirty cat litter box with clean water, wait a few minutes for the dirt to be completely soaked, then use a special brush to clean it, and then spray it with pet-specific disinfectant, wait about ten minutes to completely rinse it and dry it. Whenever you completely change the cat litter, you should clean and disinfect it to avoid the breeding of bacteria and parasites, which will increase the probability of skin diseases.