Could Your Kitten Not Covering Her Poop Be a Behavioral Issue, or Medical Problem?

Most felines have a knack for depositing their pee and poop in one spot, which they then cover up from prying eyes. So why is it that some cats dislike the idea of concealing their feces? Two experts weigh in to give us the scoop on kitties who refuse to hide their poop.

Dr. Melissa Bain, assistant professor and service chief of the Companion Animal Behavior Service at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, says the exact reason why felines cover their feces isn't fully understood, but one theory speculates that the behavior developed to prevent parasites from becoming more prevalent.

Could Not Covering Poop Be a Medical Problem?

Although Dr. Bain says that there's no specific medical reason why a cat would not cover her waste, she stresses that “any medical condition that could cause pain or pain associated with the litterbox, such as a urinary tract condition, could cause a cat to not want to spend time in the litterbox.”

Dr. Katherine Houpt, a certified applied animal behaviorist at Animal Behavior Consultants of Northern Michigan, agrees with Dr. Bain, adding that cats who have recently been declawed or who have a painful paw infection could be averse to scratching and covering their waste.

Could Not Covering Poop Be a Behavioral Issue?

“Primarily, it is behavioral,” says Dr. Houpt, who has specialized in animal behavior for more than 30 years. But there could be several reasons behind it.

Lax cat parenting may be one culprit. Dr. Bain says that some cats never learn as kittens to cover their waste.

Another reason: Certain cats will not cover their waste because they prefer to eliminate in their own territory, Dr. Houpt explains, noting that even an indoor cat who's lived in the same place for a long period of time still may not feel as though the home is truly her territory. “Some experts feel that a dominant cat will not cover," Dr. Houpt says. "The smell lets other cats know ‘I’m here.’ ”

For some felines, the litterbox itself can be an issue. “It could be the 'wrong' kind of litter for that cat, or it may be too dirty,” says Dr. Bain. "It may even be that the litterbox is too small for the cat to adequately turn around inside.”

Dr. Houpt adds that a dislike for a certain type of litter can often lead to avoiding the box entirely. “A cat who doesn’t like the litter will often not dig before it eliminates, and she's more likely to be a house-soiling cat,” Dr. Houpt says. “She doesn’t like the feel of litter and prefers the feel of the rug.”

What You Can Do to Get Your Cat to Cover Her Poop

Dr. Houpt admits that this isn't the worst problem a cat owner can have, but there may be ways to combat it. Once you and your vet have ruled out any medical issues, such as tender paws or painful elimination, you can start by trying out different types of cat litter.

In the case of multiple-cat households, adding more litterboxes throughout your home might also help because it increases the number of territories. In fact, having more than one cat can actually be a benefit. “Sometimes one cat will cover for another cat,” says Dr. Houpt.

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New Research Suggests Petting Might Stress Out Some Felines

If your cats resist cuddling, it may be for good reason. New research suggests petting might stress out some felines.

What's more, cats living in a multi-cat home may be better equipped to deal with the strains of domestic life than their solitary peers, the study researchers found.

A group of researchers aimed to find out whether there is any truth to the assumption that cats kept as single pets are more likely to have a better life than cats that share their home with other felines. 

"Many people keep groups of cats in their home and although they might seem happy together, some people have argued that because this is an unnatural setup, it is not good for their welfare," Daniel Mills, professor of veterinary behavioral medicine at England's University of Lincoln, said in a statement. "Our research shows this is not necessarily the case."

For their study, conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, Mills and colleagues collected data on 23 single-cat households, 20 two-cat households and 17 households with three or four cats. The owners completed surveys about their pets' personalities and behavior, and they also handed over samples of their felines' feces, which contain telltale traces of a stress hormone.

The cats' stress levels didn't seem to vary significantly as a function of their personality type. (The researchers had the owners rate their cats as bossy, timid or easygoing.) But younger cats (those less than 2 years old) living on their own were generally more stressed than younger cats sharing their home, the study found.

The researchers speculate that even if cats living under the same roof don't seem too chummy, they might be able to organize themselves in such a way as to avoid each other, and thus avoid stress.

"Also, and I think very intriguingly, our data suggests that cats who tolerate, rather than enjoy or dislike being petted, seem to be the most stressed," Mills added in a statement. The researchers think this finding suggests the cats that don't like petting can avoid the affectionate hand of their owners if there are other cats in the house that enjoy or tolerate petting.

The researchers warned their results should be treated with caution since there were only four cats in the study that disliked petting, according to their owners, while 13 were put in the "tolerating category" and 85 in the "enjoying" lot.

If anything, the researchers say their results highlight the importance of giving individual pets control over their environment, and cat owners shouldn't impose themselves on their pets.

"If you have several cats you should give them the choice of sharing or having their own special areas to eat, drink and go to the toilet," Mills said.

The results were detailed in the journal Physiology and Behavior.

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Owning a Cat Has Been Medically Proven to be a Stress-Reducer and Lowers Blood Pressure: How to Choose a Cat

Owning a cat has been medically proven to be a stress-reducer and lowers blood pressure. Bringing a new cat home can be an exciting time, but do your homework to make sure you get one that is a good match for you. No matter whether you're getting your pet from a breeder, pet store, or humane society, be aware of the following things to help avoid problems later on.

Make sure you can afford a cat. Feeding and caring for a cat is not free and the costs can add up significantly over time. In particular, veterinary care can be expensive. Even if you have medical insurance for your pet, there may be some treatments that are not covered by insurance.

Do not pick a cat just by looks. Much like humans, cats should not be judged by their outer beauty alone.You should also get a cat that has something that you love about it, if you like Garfield then you might get a ginger cat or if you like nyan cats then maybe get one that is a similar colour.The MOST important aspect of having a great cat is their inner beauty.

In both temperament and appearance, cat breeds are much more similar to each other than are dog breeds. Some may be a little friendlier and some tend toward a few special behaviors such as love of water, but most people would be well suited with a cat of any breed, or, of course, a mongrel.

Do carefully consider the hair length of your cat. A short-hair (smooth glossy coat) or medium-hair (modestly fluffy coat) is best for most people. Long-hair cats such as Persians have long, flowing coats, and a few have no hair (and are hypoallergenic). A short-hair cat is basically self-grooming and need only be brushed every several days to keep surplus shed hair from scattering and check for fleas, ticks, etc. A medium-hair cat should be brushed regularly to maintain a neat, knot-free appearance. A long-hair cat needs brushing every day or two to keep clean and healthy (they also shed a lot). A short-hair cat will be less comfortable on harsh winter days if it gets outside; a bald cat can die easily from cold.

Don't reject the animal if he or she attempts to scratch or bite you. If you have never had a cat before, you might not be aware of how to handle them correctly. Also, every cat has individual likes and dislikes when it comes to being touched. Additionally, be aware of the possibility that the cat was just being playful.

Ask to hold the animal you like. If he/she resists, don't force it. Some cats are very affectionate, but just do not like to be held. Make your hand into a fist and extend it towards the cat. This is a human method for mimicking a feline greeting. If the cat head-butts your hand, this is a friendly greeting. If he/she looks away or backs away, they may not like meeting new people. This is no reason for not adopting them. The cat may also be afraid of people. If you adopt them, you will need to help them get used to people.

Check the kitten or cat nose to tail for signs of illness. Things to look out for that are easily spotted:
Eyes - should be bright and free of discharge.
Nose - should not have any discharge or excessive sneezing.
Ears - should be free of dark wax, and should not smell bad.
Fur - should be clean and free of any bugs. Look in the armpits and on the belly for signs of fleas.
Bottom - should be clean and should not have any signs of diarrhea or worms.
Chest - breathing should sound clear and not have any wheezing.

Check for signs of diarrhea in the cage or litter box.

Find out whether the cat you're interested is one of a bonded pair. Cats sometimes come into shelters with another cat with whom they have already bonded, or form a bond while in the shelter. If separated they may suffer emotionally and have difficulty forming future bonds with other pets. If you are looking to adopt two cats, an already bonded pair is a good choice, as they will comfort each other through the stress of relocation.

Check the pet's veterinary records for which tests and vaccinations the cat has had. This can save you money, since vet bills can be expensive. If the cat is from a shelter, they should be checked for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) before bringing the new pet to a home that has another cat.

Ask whether there is a veterinarian visit included or available with the purchase/adoption, which will catch anything you may have missed. Even if the veterinarian visit is not included with the purchase price, still bring the cat to a vet as soon as possible after adopting, especially if you have other cats at home. Also, consider that when you pay for the vet visit, you can choose the vet and know that he/she isn't biased. FOLLOW US!

What's Mittens Thinking? Make 'Sense' Of Your Cat's Behavior

Cats have come a long way from being animals charged with catching mice to treasured, adorable creatures that snuggle with us Cats have come a long way from being animals charged with catching mice to treasured, adorable creatures that snuggle with us in our beds. But this relatively new arrangement is creating issues for cats and the people who live with them.

John Bradshaw has studied the history of domesticated cats and how the relationship between people and cats has changed. He's the author of the new book Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet, which is a follow-up to his book Dog Sense.

Bradshaw is the foundation director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol in England. As an anthrozoologist, he studies the interactions between people and animals. He's also the former science chairman of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations. He joins Fresh Air's Terry Gross to talk about how our relationship with cats has evolved over time and how toning down cats' hunting instincts will ensure them a future on an increasingly crowded planet.

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Interview Highlights

On cats' social behavior

"I think cats are much less demonstrative animals than dogs are. It's kind of not their fault; they evolved from a solitary animal that has never had the need for a sophisticated social repertoire in the way that the dog — having evolved from the wolf — had that ready-made. So their faces are just not terribly expressive, and some people read into that, that they're kind of cynical and aloof and those sorts of things. But I don't believe that for a moment. I think cats show, by their behavior, even if it's a bit more subtle than a dog's, that they really are fond of their owners."

To read more on this story, click here: What's Mittens Thinking? Make 'Sense' Of Your Cat's Behavior


You can order, 'Cat Sense' using the link below:

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25 Random Cat Behaviors Finally Explained

Ever wonder why your feline roommate does the weird things that she does? Here's an expanded list of why our kitty friends act as odd as they do.

There are a few reasons that your kitty may bite her nails. One is that she is in desperate need of a trim and is "telling" you to clip them for her. Two, she's an anxious kitty with a bad habit. Just like humans bite their nails when nervous or bored, so does your cat. As this habit may be hard to break, find the root of the problem to see if it is indeed a ball of nerves causing her to nibble at her nails.

To read more on this story, click here: 25 Random Cat Behaviors Finally Explained FOLLOW US!

If You Don’t Think Cats Are Incredibly Loving Then Watch This! You Will Forever Think Otherwise!

The first time my childhood cat brushed against me and meowed, I was permanently changed. For many years, I was all about dogs and to me, cats were just into chasing mice or doing their own thing.

When you really take the time to get to know a cat, you will see that they are very loving, they just show it differently than dogs do (at least most of the time). I love this video because non-cat people can understand it.

To read more on this story, click here: If You Don’t Think Cats Are Incredibly Loving Then Watch This! You Will Forever Think Otherwise! FOLLOW US!

Cat Refuse to Snuggle With You While You Relax on the Couch?

Cat refuse to snuggle with you while you relax on the couch? Join the cat owners’ club! Only the cuddliest kitties will tolerate being picked up and held — even for a short while. Why? Consider it yet another reason cats have a reputation as independent creatures who prefer to make up their own minds about how they interact with us.

But there are plenty of other reasons your cat scampers away when you try to hold her. Some cats were never socialized well with humans as kittens; others may never feel safe in a human’s arms because they are afraid of being dropped. And older, more frail cats may find it uncomfortable to be scooped up because the unexpected movement can cause joint pain.

In any case, most cats can be convinced to sit on or next to you when lured with treats –– just not necessarily in your arms.

Remember, cats tend to think the only good ideas are theirs. And being suddenly lifted four feet in the air was probably not on kitty’s agenda for the day.

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13 Reasons Cats Are Basically Magic (video)

Take a look at this cute video. If you are a cat owner, you can probably relate!

To view video, click here: 13 Reasons Cats Are Basically Magic (video) FOLLOW US!

What to Do If Your Cat Is Aggressive with People

It's distressing to have an animal you lavish with love show her appreciation with bites and scratches. Here are several scenarios to explain why cats can be aggressive toward people, along with solutions to keep you from visiting the first-aid kit.

To read more on this story, click here: What to Do If Your Cat Is Aggressive with People FOLLOW US!

Do Cats Need To Be Entertained?

Edgar Allan Poe once said “I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.”  These often misunderstood and lovable  little pets are victim to a common myth that cats are indifferent to attention. That may be true for some cats, but certainly not for a majority of them. In fact, a bored cat can create just as much havoc around your home as an unsupervised and busy toddler – perhaps even more.


To read more on this story, click here: Do Cats Need To Be Entertained? FOLLOW US!

Feral Cats Are Not Stray Cats

Dear Joan: In reference to your column about a woman who was injured by a cat, feral cats get enough of a bad rap without being blamed for behavior of nonferal cats.

A feral cat will not approach a human and will not let a human pet it. I fed a colony of feral cats in Mountain View for a few years. They would come running when the heard my car enter the parking lot, and would come close to me, but would never let me touch them.

To read more on this story, click here: Feral Cats Are Not Stray Cats

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Unlike Dogs, Are Not Small Furry Humans And Do Not Like To Be Petted

“Being held or stroked for too long can be very stressful for some cats,” Cats Protection behavior manager Nicky Trevorrow said. "Space and peace is often what they need. They are not small furry humans."

Those results echoed findings published last year by British researchers that found that cats in homes with multiple felines will often arrange their behavior so as to avoid each other.

However, that study also suggested that cats who live in multi-cat homes are probably more tolerant of petting.

Also, if you die alone in your house, your cat might eat you.

Just get a dog already.

Not convinced? Here a few more reasons why your cat is evil.

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