To bury or not to bury... in the litter box

aytees

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I've had my cat Mia for two years and she has never buried her poop. She'll scratch the sides of the litter box endlessly, but doesn't cover anything up. Admittedly it kind of annoyed me because of the smell, but now I realize that scooping poop as soon as it's there is preferable to what our new cat Chloe does. She buries everything, all right. And mashes everything into teeny tiny pieces, making it impossible to get everything out. So yeah, I won't complain about Mia not covering up her poop again!
 
 
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Primula

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My cats sort of cover their poop, but they don't bury it. As you say, it's easier to find when you can see it.
 

elliesvictim

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There is a school of thought that cats not burying wee/poo is a challenge to your dominance. Cats bury their wee and poo not to upset whoever the dominant cat is.
Not burying wee is supposed to be considered a challenge (via scent marking) to your authority and not bury poo is like a big "F U".
It they don't bury, make sure they don't see you cleaning it up. That makes them think you accept their dominance.
What I've read anyway.
 
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aytees

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I've read that too but don't believe it is the case with my cat at all. She is incredibly docile and gentle. For example, we can pet her for as long as we want (even her belly!), and she doesn't swat or bite us. Also, she comes when called and comes to comfort me when I'm upset. She does what she is told, like when we tell her to get off the table. So no, in her case I highly doubt that the reason she doesn't bury her poop because she is trying to be dominant.
 
 
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poppyheart

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My cat doesnt bury her poo scratches the box for ages and she is the same as Mia very sweet does what she is told etc and I have also read what elliesvictim mentions about dominance if cats dont bury so it is strange. Is it because their mum hasn't shown them what to do maybe?
 

growlithe66

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One of my cats does not bury his, and will stay in the box scratching the wall for ages if you let him. Once he was doing it for about ten minutes before I had enough!
 
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