You hear it in the middle of the night: a rhythmic, scraping sound. Scritch, scratch, scritch. It sounds like your cat is trying to dig a tunnel to the other side of the world—right through the plastic wall of their toilet. You ask yourself: Why do cats scratch the litter box? Is she confused? Does she hate the litter?
In most cases, this behavior is completely normal and instinctive. Sometimes, however, it's a subtle hint that something isn't quite right with the "restroom." We decode the 5 most common reasons why cats dig in the litter box, scratch the walls, and paw at the rim, and when you should make a change.
1. The Primal Instinct: Hiding the Trail
The most common reason why cats dig in the litter box is pure instinct. In the wild, cats must bury their waste to avoid leaving a scent trail for larger predators or rivals.
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The Behavior: Your cat scratches extensively to cover their feces or urine with litter.
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Wall Scratching: If she starts scratching the wall of the litter box, she is often instinctively trying to pull "more earth" (or litter) from the sides to cover the business. She doesn't understand that plastic doesn't yield. This is often a sign of a very thorough cat!
2. Lack of Space: The Box Is Too Small
This is a frequent reason why the cat scratches the litter box (especially the walls) instead of digging in the litter.
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The Problem: If the toilet is too cramped, the cat constantly bumps into the walls while trying to turn and scratch. She doesn't have enough room to move the litter correctly, so she scratches the smooth surface out of frustration or disorientation.
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The Solution: The rule of thumb is: The box should be 1.5 times the length of the cat. Switching to an XXL pan often stops the wall scratching immediately.
3. Too Little Litter (The "Floor Scratcher")
Do you hear a high-pitched, squeaking scratch directly on the plastic bottom? Then you are rightfully asking: Why do cats scratch inside the litter box on the floor instead of in the sand?
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The Problem: The fill level is too low. The cat tries to dig but hits the bottom immediately. She can't find enough material to cover her waste and scratches desperately, hoping to unearth more litter somewhere.
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The Solution: Fill the litter generously! A depth of 3 to 4 inches (7-10 cm) is ideal so the cat can dig without touching the bottom.
4. Cleaning Paws: The "Doormat" Effect
Sometimes the scratching happens after the business is done, when the cat is actually finished. She scratches the rim, the exit, or the mat in front of it.
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The Reason: She is trying to get rid of litter crumbs sticking between her toes or pads. It's basically like wiping your shoes on a doormat.
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The Solution: A litter mat in front of the box can help catch the litter more gently from her paws, so she doesn't have to scratch the hard plastic rim.
5. Territory Marking: "I Was Here!"
Cats have scent glands on their paw pads. When they scratch objects, they leave behind pheromones.
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The Message: Sometimes scratching the rim or the hood serves to mark the box as "theirs." This often happens in multi-cat households or when the box has been freshly cleaned and no longer smells "right" (like her).
Conclusion: When Do I Need to Intervene?
Usually, the answer to "why do cats scratch the litter box" is simple: They are clean animals following their instincts.
Action is only needed if:
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The cat scratches desperately for minutes (-> Check litter amount and box size).
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She doesn't cover the waste but only scratches the wall (-> Box is often too small or smells).
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She scratches her paws raw (-> Litter too sharp?).
Otherwise: Take it as a compliment. Your cat is simply very thorough and keeping things tidy!
