My cat lays in his litter box when caged. Is it a health problem?

Question

My cat recently had two foreign body removals from eating things when we aren't at home. Our only solution is to cage him when we leave the house. In the cage there is a sheepskin bed for him to sleep on and a plastic box filled with litter. As soon as he gets in the cage, he hops in the litter box and stays there. We come home and he's still in it. Is there any risk of infection or problems from him doing this? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 3 years and 4 months old | 12 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Jesse! What a frustrating problem to have - it sounds like you're doing the best thing you can by putting him in a cage when you're not home, but it's unfortunate that he finds this stressful and lays in his litter box :( The good news is, laying in the litter box like this is not likely to cause any medical problems at all - cats often do this in the veterinary clinic when they are boarding and hospitalized, unfortunately, and it does not result in any health issues at all. It can definitely make them smell a bit, however! I would suggest doing some trial and error with different objects in his cage to see if you can find something that he prefers to lay in, rather than the litter box. He might like a cardboard box, upside down with a hole cut in the side so that he can go in and hide. A shoe box or some other type of box with high sides might also give him a good alternative to the litter box to lay in.

My cat lays in his litter box when caged. Is it a health problem?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Why is my mouse's eye swollen, cloudy, and has pus?

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

What's the best way to feed my hamster when I'm going on a trip?

Can chickens eat bell peppers daily and what about veggie salads?

My newly adopted pet won't eat hay. What can I do to encourage it?

My pet is breathing hard, not eating, and lethargic. What's wrong?

Share