Why does my cat sleep in the sandbox?

There are several reasons that they can take a cat to sleep in his sandpit, like a stressful situation, the arrival of a new member to the home or the discomfort of his bed. Therefore, it is our obligation to analyze the situation, find the exact cause that motivates this change in their behavior and, above all, go to the veterinarian to diagnose or rule out any health problem. Although it may seem that lying on the sandbox does not indicate anything, the truth is that sometimes it is a clear sign that something in the animal’s health is not right. Keep reading and discover in why your cat sleeps in the sandbox and what to do in each case.

Why does your cat lie down in its sandbox?

Many cats like to sleep in their sandbox, without this implying an underlying problem. Therefore, if your cat has always had this behavior, it does not necessarily mean that this attitude hides a health problem. It is possible for your cat to lie down in the sandbox for a question of behavior and preference, nothing else. Now, if it’s a sudden change and you’ve never slept in your sandbox before, then you should worry because your pussycat is trying to tell you something. Next, we will see the main causes that explain why your cat lies down in the sandbox if it did not before.

He is sick

A cat that is not well and feels the need to go to the bathroom more times than usual, you can choose to lie down near the box or, directly, lie down inside the sandbox. This way you avoid having to run or urinate out of the sandbox. So, in addition to seeing if your cat sleeps in the sandbox, it is necessary that you attention to if your cat:

• Urinates more times than usual.
• He has difficulty urinating.
• Defeca as usual or have difficulties.
• Urinates and defecates with the usual color and consistency.

If you notice any change in the depositions of your cat or his behavior in terms of fulfilling their needs, it is probably the reason that justifies lying on the sandbox. In this case, whether you notice that your cat goes to the sandbox a lot or if you have detected an unusual color in your stool, it is essential consult the veterinarian to examine the animal and determine what happens to it.

Keep in mind that this change in cat behavior may be indicative of the presence of diseases of serious nature such as diabetes or kidney failure, besides being a symptom of urine infection, kidney stones or cystitis, among other problems. The sooner you go to the specialist, the more likely the animal will be to be diagnosed in time and, therefore, to be treated properly and successfully.

Your cat likes to lie down in the sandbox

Many are the cats that lie down in the litter box simply because they like it, they feel comfortable and safe. This happens, above all, when there is more than one sandbox in the home or the box is always kept clean, remember that cats are very neat animals and this would only be done by preference when the place is not dirty. Likewise, if your bed seems uncomfortable and it does not have another surface to lie down, the sandbox can be the best option to rest.

Now, is it appropriate to let the cat sleep in the sandbox? Clearly not. Although it seems that you maintain a correct hygiene of the sand, it is not always possible to control it because for that you should watch your cat the 24 hours of the day. So, to guarantee the animal’s health, we recommend look for an alternative that you find it more attractive to sleep and avoid, in this way, that you continue to sleep in the sandbox. A good substitute can be a cardboard box, since both containers have a similar shape. Know your cat, its tastes and preferences, and try to cover them so that they sleep safely and without risks.

Suffer stress and look for a safe place

A stressed cat is used to alter their behavior, showing more nervous, susceptible, aggressive or carrying out actions that previously did not, such as lying down in the sandbox. The arrival at home of a new member (human or animal), a move or any modification of your daily routine, however small, are factors that can stress your cat and make him look for a safe place to rest. In your mind, what better place to isolate yourself than one that contains its smell and, moreover, nobody visits? In this sense, in general, the litter box is usually located in a space of the home little traveled and far away due to the smell that can emit, so that this will be the place chosen by the animal to calm down.

If the cat feels threatened, it is normal to look for a safer alternative for him to sleep. Therefore, if you suspect that this may be the reason why your cat sleeps in the sandbox, inquire into the cause of stress and avoid it to return the animal’s emotional stability. See our article on “Things that stress cats” and solve the problem.

You need to defend your territory

It is no secret to anybody that cats are very territorial animals. Therefore, the arrival of a new member in the home can make the animal feel your resources threatened and end up having the need to protect them, including the sandbox. This is called protection of resources, and although it is a natural behavior, it is not positive because it can induce an aggressive attitude and harm coexistence, in addition to altering the emotional stability of the animal.

On the other hand, if you just adopt a new cat and it is this that sleeps in the sandbox, it can happen as a consequence of the territoriality of the oldest cat. In other words, if the feline that was already living in the home does not let it use the litter box, it is normal for the new cat to sleep in the sandbox at the least carelessness to ensure that it can be used when needed.

Although some cats are able to share their resources peacefully, many others prefer their privacy and refuse to use a box used by others. To avoid these problems, it is always recommended to provide a litter box to each cat, and add an extra one. See our article “Two cats can use the same sandbox?” And discover what to do.

On the other hand, if you have noticed that the coexistence between them is not the correct one, visit our article “How to present a cat to another cat?” And put into practice our advice to remedy it.

What to do if your cat sleeps in the sandbox?

The most important thing is to identify the cause that explains why your cat lies down in the sandbox and treat it, as well as visit the veterinarian to rule out any health problems. In addition, you can follow these tips:

• If you live with more than one cat, make sure you have the number of sand boxes appropriate to the number of cats.
• Provide your cat various comfortable and safe surfacesfor sleeping and place them in strategic places of the home that they may like, such as little-traveled corners or high spaces. For this, placing several cardboard boxes or blankets in secure shelves can be excellent solutions that will make your cat stop lying in the sandbox.
• If you plan to make a change at home, whatever it may be, remember to carry it out progressively to prevent your cat from becoming stressed.
• If your cat is very nervous, the use of synthetic pheromones, like those administered by the Feliway brand, can be very useful to make you feel more calm.

It is also important Pay attention to the general behavior of the cat and check if there is any other change, although it may seem insignificant. So, observe the amount of water you drink, if you eat well, if you lose more hair than usual, the consistency and color of feces and urine, if you are down or apathetic, if you bite or reject us. Detecting in time these small alterations can mean an early diagnosis that will help ensure the success of the treatment if the animal suffers a health problem.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why does my cat sleep in the sandbox?, we recommend that you enter in our behavior problems section.