Why do cats run for their lives after using the litterbox?

anjhest · Mar 4, 2009

I'm sure this is quite common, I've just never understood it! One of my cats runs like she's been shot after she urinates/defecates in the litter box. This results in Taxi Cat getting very excited when he sees Minka in the litterbox because he knows he gets to chase her around the house!

I had a cat growing up that did the same thing. Our dog figured it out and whenever she heard him in the litterbox, she responded the same way that Taxi Cat does now.

Why on earth do they do this?

threecatowner · Mar 4, 2009

You gave me my laugh for the day! Many of my cats have done this; I guess they just feel so good?

anjhest · Mar 4, 2009

Like a load has been lifted off their back(side), eh?

zane's pal · Mar 4, 2009

Possibly in the wild they are afraid that preditors will be attracted by the smell of the scat, and therefore it is in their interest to be as far from it as possible as quickly as possible.

dorabella's mom · Mar 4, 2009

Originally Posted by anjhest

I'm sure this is quite common, I've just never understood it! One of my cats runs like she's been shot after she urinates/defecates in the litter box. This results in Taxi Cat getting very excited when he sees Minka in the litterbox because he knows he gets to chase her around the house!

I had a cat growing up that did the same thing. Our dog figured it out and whenever she heard him in the litterbox, she responded the same way that Taxi Cat does now.

Why on earth do they do this?

Thank you for letting me know I am not alone. The flip side to that is when I walk in on them doing 'their business' in the box, they look at me, as if to say, "Hello, can't you see I'm busy here!". Thank goodness they don't run mid-movement and are not startled by me.

nanner · Mar 4, 2009

My cats have always done this. I think it's so funny!

Larry does it and he slides on the tile floor as he's breaking around the corner. It makes me giggle.

Originally Posted by Zane's Pal

Possibly in the wild they are afraid that preditors will be attracted by the smell of the scat, and therefore it is in their interest to be as far from it as possible as quickly as possible.

Now, this makes total sense to me!!

goldenkitty45 · Mar 4, 2009

IMO its either:

"wow, glad that is over with!"

or

"get out of here fast - the stink will catch you"

motoko9 · Mar 4, 2009

Thanks for asking this question! One or two of mine have done that over the years, and I've always wondered.

Mine always seems so exuberant (rather than scared) about it! I think "Glad that's over with!" makes a lot of sense, even though the predator explanation is a bit more, shall we say, scientific!

nanner · Mar 4, 2009

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

IMO its either:

"wow, glad that is over with!"

or

"get out of here fast - the stink will catch you"

Yeah, those would also be good explanations. I've always thought of it as, "Wow! I feel so light, I can run like the wind!!"

persi & alley · Mar 4, 2009

Originally Posted by anjhest

I'm sure this is quite common, I've just never understood it! One of my cats runs like she's been shot after she urinates/defecates in the litter box. This results in Taxi Cat getting very excited when he sees Minka in the litterbox because he knows he gets to chase her around the house!

I had a cat growing up that did the same thing. Our dog figured it out and whenever she heard him in the litterbox, she responded the same way that Taxi Cat does now.

Why on earth do they do this?

I have not noted this in my cats but my dogs would always run like crazy after doing #2.

proudmamiof4 · Mar 4, 2009

My cats do this too

I just took it as a kitty quirk

lord knows they have enough of them!!

laureen227 · Mar 4, 2009

they don't all do it - Cable is the only one of mine that does, & then only after a poop.

carolina · Mar 4, 2009

In the wild, the times that they are the most vulnerable to predators is either when "going to the bathroom", or when they are mating... That is why these things are done quickly, and out of there! That is also why it is good to have the box in a more secluded space, where they feel safer...

wellingtoncats · Mar 5, 2009

My cats don't do it??! I can't recall any of them ever doing it either but I read about it on here all the time. I'm glad MY cats are normal.

auchick · Mar 5, 2009

I wish mine would do this. They linger what seems like an eternity, digging the side of the box, the papers under the box, the wall near the box...then slowly walk away.

colonelkernel · Nov 29, 2010

I think I have an actual situation as my cat not only darts out of his liter box, but also sprays against something moments after.

He is ten years old and was neutered as a kitten but after he learned to spray in our multi-cat home.

I also realize I am finding this thread more than a year after the last comment.

auntsewissa · Dec 1, 2010

I have a kitten with cerebral hypoplasia and she startles easily. I startled her while she was pooping in the box. She jumped out of the box mid-poop and landed on her back, all 4 legs up. (her defense mechanism) LOL

It quickly left her alone and she finished pooping on the floor.

I think she might like a covered box, more privacy, but I don't know if she has the coordination to get through the hole.

As for the rest of my crew, I do notice that the bolt out like a bat-out-of-he** when leaving the box

misty8723 · Dec 1, 2010

Cindy does that, tears around like a nut. When she comes flying down the stairs, we just say, looks like Miss Cindy has used the facility

Swanie looks at her like she's lost her mind.

porkchop · Sep 29, 2014

Haha! my cat does he same, the only downfall is she won't cover it up and I have to!!

lamiatron · Sep 29, 2014

my cat Charlie bolts out of the litter box and always lands OUTSIDE the litter mat...and shakes any loose litter off of him.

my cat Gunther jumps out and looks so devious like he just killed something in here. he looks around to see if anyone is looking at him then he bolts under the bed or behind the couch.

my girl Jet takes her sweet time. Making sure to dig and scratch EVERYTHING. The walls of the litter box and the roof (its a covered box). And she steps out in slow mo and trots off like a princess.

Why do cats run for their lives after using the litterbox?

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