Why Doesn't Your Cat Cover Its Litter After Using the Bathroom

If you’re looking to understand and improve your cat’s annoying habit of not covering its waste, you first need to know this: cats don’t just use the bathroom for elimination, it’s also a form of social communication! In the wild, cats leave strong smells by urinating and defecating to let other cats in the group sharing resources know, "I have a right to share this too!" They also use this as a way to declare their territory to other unfamiliar cats, saying, "There’s already a cat here, be cautious!" Moreover, wild cats have natural predators and need to be cautious when using the bathroom, prepared to flee at the first sign of danger. Even after domestication, these habits persist. Simply put, there’s a reason your cat doesn’t cover its litter after going to the bathroom!

Reason 1: Conflict Between Cats

In multi-cat households, if the cats don’t get along, the bullied cat might avoid scratching the litter to prevent making noise that could attract the bullying cat. They prefer to do their business quickly and leave without covering the litter. If even leaving the waste uncovered still results in bullying, these cats might seek out other hidden places like the bed, sofa, or wardrobe to avoid conflict. The bully cat might also not cover its litter! Remember how I mentioned "territory marking" earlier? When cats want to claim territory, they may intentionally leave their waste uncovered or spray urine to remind or warn the other cat to "stay away." Whether it's the bullied cat or the bully, it’s important to address the underlying issue of conflict between cats. The bullied cat needs more privacy, while the bully cat requires more territory to reduce friction between them.

Reason 2: Joint Pain

If your cat used to diligently cover its waste but has recently stopped, it could be due to joint pain or bone spurs. Cats with joint degeneration may experience pain, which causes them to change how they use the litter box. For example, they might reach the litter box but urinate just outside of it, or they may enter the litter box, finish their business, and leave without covering it. In this case, it’s best to arrange a health check for your cat. If joint pain is confirmed, working with the vet on a pain management plan can be very helpful.

Reason 3: Disliking the Litter

Some types of litter may be uncomfortable for cats to step on. If your cat dislikes the litter you’ve chosen, they may express their displeasure by cleaning their paws but not touching the litter. Common types of litter that cats dislike include tofu litter, corn litter, and wood chips. Cats who dislike these types often walk away right after using the bathroom without covering their waste. Some cats even perch on the edges of the litter box, avoiding stepping inside, which can cause the litter to spill everywhere. Although some cats will enter the box, they hate the feeling of litter stuck to their paws and will spend a lot of time trying to scrape the litter off using the box edges or walls. If your cat seems like they’re "pretending" to cover the litter but is just pawing at the walls, they’re actually just "washing their hands"! For these cats, I highly recommend switching to mineral litter. In most cases, after switching, cats will start covering their litter and may even become enthusiastic about it!

Reason 4: Avoiding Humans

Many online articles and behavior experts suggest keeping the litter box clean, but some cat owners take cleanliness to the extreme. As soon as they hear their cat using the bathroom, they rush to clean the box. Many cats feel disturbed by this and will hurriedly finish and leave without covering their litter. Imagine if a cleaning person followed you to the bathroom every time, waiting outside the door to clean immediately — wouldn’t that stress you out? Some cats become so anxious they develop frequent urination or even bladder infections, so it’s important to be careful. While I agree that litter boxes should be kept clean, cleaning once or twice a day is usually enough. Cleaning too often

If your cat is also part of the "not covering litter" group, start observing which category they fall into today. By identifying the root cause, you can address the problem and put an end