How to get a cat to cover their poop?

Old thread but my 6 month old kitten has started to do this. He will pee or poop and then scratch the inside of the box like he's putting litter on it, but he's nowhere near the litter, then he goes to sniff, then scratches the inside again like he's covering it, but he's not. The box isn't too small either.

My cat is like that but covers the poop with the litter. She also scratches everywhere one the litter box I'm thinking when you chnge th litter completly start scratching at it or just moving it around and let the cat see so they can see that its ok. My cat does it cause it ain't her litterbox it still smmells like my old cat but she is getting her sent one it so it will smell like her. The kitten may be doing that.

tabbymommy said:

My cat is like that but covers the poop with the litter. She also scratches everywhere one the litter box I'm thinking when you chnge th litter completly start scratching at it or just moving it around and let the cat see so they can see that its ok. My cat does it cause it ain't her litterbox it still smmells like my old cat but she is getting her sent one it so it will smell like her. The kitten may be doing that.

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Yeah he used to cover it, and still scratch, but now he's not even covering it. He scratches on like all 4 corners of just the box trying to cover it up, but then he gives up and jumps out. Don't know why he's doing this all the sudden.

Do you think it might be the litter that he doesn't like whhen it comesto how it feels under his paws

Or there might not be enough litter in the box

tabbymommy said:

Or there might not be enough litter in the box

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There's about 3 inches in there, but he's scratching at the TOP of the box, where there would never be any litter. So weird.

I was yng that cause I added alil more to my cats box and I think she stopped doing it cause I stopped hearing and seeing her do it unless she is doing in when I'm alseep cause I have been going to slleep early for some strang reason.

I read somewhere that cats don't cover their poop to show that they are alfa cat. When we (humans) flush the toilet after we poop we are I guess you can saying, showing them that we are respecting them by covering our poop. I have 3 cats and am having the same problem, after I read about the alfa thing I totally agreed, my "alfa" cat is half bengal.

evakatharina said:

Marcel never covers his poop, and not only is it stinky, but with his furry paws it really causes problems.  He poops, doesn't cover, steps in it, and then the poop gets stuck to the furry paws and gets tracked everywhere!  Gross!!

Is there any way to teach him to cover his poop?  Any insight on why he might be doing this?  Do I have an options or am I just stuck with this!?

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One of my cats does not either-- after she is done, she will stand up and scratch the wall!  Unclear on the concept.  The box is plenty big. 

They told me at the shelter that she was very neat, meaning she doesn't scatter litter.  Now I know why.  I don't think she even covers her pee!
 

My cat since i had him at 6 months now going on 11 yr never covers anything . All he does is scratch the sides of the litter box for up to a good minute though :/ .

Hi, don't know what kind of litter box you use, but i have had that problem in the past with a  cat that past away, so not to go thru that again, for both mine and my granddaughters cat we use breeze, with pellets, they can cover  it up if the want or it sits on the top but neither one has ever stepped  into the poop, cause it's so visible and you can scoop it off am and pm like i do it really works well you place a pad for the urine under it, and the litter gets changes once a month so for the month is like 13 dollars a month for pellets and pads oh there's 4 pads in a bag one pad a week and i will bet you your cat won't step in it. good luck

For anyone looking for bigger boxes... Get a Rubbermaid tote and a saw and carve a square or circle in it. They have much more space I once had a cat who always missed abs that was the solution + they are cheap and come in grey, black, blue and highlighter colours. Depending in your cat you could stack them putting a door in the bottoms side and the top one getting a hole in the lid. We installed those push lights on the top inside lid for light.

I got my cat from its previous owner 3 days ago. It wouldnt cover its poop in its new litter box. The smell was horrific.

I talked to the previous owner and decided to go with the previous litter.

That luckily fixed the problem and he covers it up perfectly. No smell.

Hope it helps

My cat's wood chip litter is very effective smell wise, even though he's not a 'deep digger' when he comes to it. Also, scooping twice daily keeps it tidy. Hope this helps as I know this kind of trouble puts a damper on the relationship.

(Mind you, I say this after only a week of living with my new boy, it's been a fragrant week - bitty, but fragrant!)

Oh thank you! Thank you! I can imagine the scene. You made me smile. 

Our two cats were doing that. Very stinky. One of my patients said to switch to clay litter. Did that today. They are burying their poop BUT I now read that there is some contraversy about clay litter AND we have teeny kittens.

My teenage cat (15 months) works wonders with the wood chip litter we use - and odours are not an issue.

A quick scoop morning and evening, empty once a week and all's rosy.

I have changed the litter and istill the same he doesn't cover his poop " anymore" as he used too.
He just keep scratching the side of the Box.
Help me guys

Zenhom said:

I have changed the litter and istill the same he doesn't cover his poop " anymore" as he used too.
He just keep scratching the side of the Box.
Help me guys

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How much litter are you putting in there? I may take some of these other people suggestions and add more. I feel like my roommate doesn't put enough in her litter box. She also just hovers and then will scratch the wall when done. My roommate says it's because she was taken from her mom too early and never learned the proper methods. I'm going to pay attention to her more and when she poops I will show her that covering it is proper. I may also look for other devices like donut shaped canisters so she has more circumference area to hover and poop as opposed to a square. I notice she poops on the carpet more often when her litter box has a turd obstructing her path from cleaner areas. I would love to find a cure all for this, but I think all animals are different in their own mind and rightfully so.

OMG my female never covers poop or pee. She scratches the sides of the box. My male will cover for 10min. Thought my 2 wer the only unique ones