elderly cat sleeping in litter box

Anytime a cat is spending more than the usual amount of time in the litter box illness is likely. Make your cat an appointment with the veterinarian.

Why Is My Cat Sleeping In The Litter Box 10 Shocking Reasons

Your elderly cat may have litterbox problems because there are major changes in its schedule routine or environment.

. Sleeping in the litter box can indicate that your cat is uncomfortable. Choose a smaller litter box with the lower sides that your cat is comfortable to walk around in. Your cat may be experiencing a UTI or obstruction but you cant know for sure without a checkup.

Some senior felines never have any litter box problems. One of the first symptoms of feline diabetes is drinking excessive water. Always check with your veterinarian before changing the lifestyle and activity of your cat.

While sleeping your cat will have even less control over its muscles. In senior cats incontinence while sleeping may be due to weakness muscles around the urinary tract. The cat is stopping other cats from entering the box and marking territory.

If you dont have any other choices take a few precautions to reduce the influence of the litter box on your olfactory sensibilities and ability to sleep. She may miss her litter box so place absorbent waterproof pads underneath her and the box to help minimize accident cleanup. If you have several cats and only one litter box then you may notice a cat.

Cats with kidney disease urinary tract infections constipation or other digestive problems may sleep in their litter box when theyre not feeling well. In a deep sleep the cats body will be completely relaxed. The main reason why adult cats sleep in the litter box is kidney disease.

Make a note of whats typical for your cat and if anything seems out of the ordinary you may want to speak to your. To rule out medical reasons for your cat sleeping in her litter box your vet will want to check her urine an x-ray andor ultrasound and a blood panel. Place the litter box on a sturdy surface that.

The odor is unpleasant and the package is filthy. Thats why some cats prefer to stay in the litter box in case they have to pee. Set it in a place easy for her to access and possibly next to her favorite places to nap.

Keeping an eye on your cats habits in the litter box is a good way to assess how healthy they are. A cat can smell many scents including the scent of other animals and other cats that are in a household. Elderly cats may have difficulty slipping from the litter box to the other side since they experience pain.

Sleeping in the litter box can also be the sign of something more serious so you want to be sure and monitor your cat closely if it suddenly starts doing it. Some stones can form without forming crystals in the. If your cat is struggling to go to the bathroom or.

If your cat is playing in the litter that could be a sign of boredom. This includes sleeping in the litter box. A urine test will show if there are any bacteria or crystals in your cats urine causing a UTI.

Keep the litter box as far away as possible from your bed. This can be the result of a urinary infection or crystal formation in the urine that prevents the cat from urinating properly or because of a type of intestinal discomfort which makes the cat feel insecure when he is far from his litter box. Illnesses that might cause this behavior include urinary tract and bladder infections and stones or crystals in the kidneys or urinary tract.

Or its become finicky with age or it has a medical issue. Of course when a cat drinks too much water theyll have to pee more often. Why Does My Cat Lie Sleep Or Play In The Litter Box 9 Reasons For This Behavior.

Cats are territorial creatures that routinely mark their territories through urinating. A urinalysis is quick painless and the most common diagnostic procedure your vet will start with. He solved the problem by cleaning out the box and replacing the litter with soft bedding when his cat was away eating.

Elderly cats may have difficulty getting in and out of top-entry or high-sided litter boxes so consider switching to a litter box with low sides such as the Puppy. Monitor your cats litter box Image Credit. Why Do Older Cats Sleep In Their Litter Box.

If your elderly cat has started sleeping in the litter box this may be due to a decline in their cognitive dysfunction. As Sandra Mitchel a vet explains Most cats with urinary tract infections will make frequent trips to the litter box 1. Imaging such as an x-ray or ultrasound will show bladder stones.

Male cats are also prone to urinary blockage 2 making it painful or impossible to pass urine. This means theyll either fill up their litter box quickly and will need to find a clean place to pee or. This may just be a dribble or.

They also started carrying Crawl to the litter box twice a day. One of the most common reasons why cats sleep in their litter box is because of medical issues. Try lower sided litter boxes for elderly cats so they can get in out and more easily and make sure their bed is in an easy-to-reach spot.

Sleeping in the litter box is not considered normal cat behavior and could be a sign that something is going on. It can be a sign of illness or may indicate that your cat is stressed or anxious. This can lead to inadvertent leaking of urine.

Its not a good idea to have your cats litter box in your bedroom. But its good to be proactive and learn the warning signs in case any issues arise that lead to potential toilet challenges with your cat. If there is no easily identifiable trigger you may want to take your cat to your veterinarian to get them.

She may have trouble with mobility and vision so relocate her litter box and feeding bowls if necessary to make it easier on her. It is more common than you might think to see a cat laying or even sleeping in their litter box but it is usually an undesirable action. By sleeping in a litter box.

This is especially likely in females that have birthed multiple litters of kittens. Senior cats can easily become constipated especially if theyre not drinking enough water. Sleeping in or around the litter box is usually a sign of a urinary health issue.

Celeste Clements DVM DACVIM. Youll likely see a decline in how much she eats and drinks but always make food and water available. Its estimated that around 80 of cats that are 16 years.

Easier access to the litter box can be helpful for senior cats who are starting to have trouble getting up and down the couch or stairs Galaxy says. She took to it just fine and had a healthy litter a few days later in there. While some tomcats strain to urinate around the house others may choose to.

Diabetes is one common cause of inappropriate urination in senior cats.

How Do I Stop My Elderly Cat Sleeping In The Litter Box