Why Does My Cat Scratch the Sides of the Litter Box? 6 Vet-Reviewed Possible Reasons

Cats are odd little animals. They stare at us while we sleep, pounce at us as we walk past their hiding spot, and judge us from afar when we do something they don’t like. Still, we can’t live without them, even if they have all these strange behaviors. Another oddity of the feline variety is their antics when it comes to using the litter box. If you have a cat in your house, you’ve most likely become accustomed to the sounds of scratching throughout the day.

It isn’t just cat litter that gets scratched, however. This leaves cat owners asking, "Why does my cat scratch the sides of the litter box?" There are several reasons your cat may do this. Perhaps they feel they aren’t hiding their waste well enough. Then again, the litter box could be too dirty. Here, we’ll take a look at a few of the reasons your cat is scratching the side of the litter box so you can better understand what’s happening with your feline friend.

The 6 Possible Reasons Why Cats Scratch the Side of the Litter Box

Let’s take a short look at several reasons cats exhibit this kind of behavior. However, in several instances, there isn’t much that you can do about how your cat is acting. This is due to your feline following their instincts and doing what comes naturally to them.

1. Hiding the Evidence

Yes, we all know cats bury their waste. But why? In the wild, cats need to do everything possible to stay hidden from potential predators. This includes hiding the evidence of them being there. Hiding is one thing, but kitties don’t leave their waste lying around to alert enemies. Instead, they bury it. It’s this same mindset that makes your kitty cover their waste in the litterbox. Sure, they are living in a home, but they are always prepared.

Now, you may think a quick scratch is sufficient. That’s simply not the case. Cats want all evidence hidden. They will dig and scratch until they are satisfied. That typically means digging at the side of the litter box while they are here. Unfortunately, stopping your cat from doing this isn’t possible. Your cat is being themselves and hopes you, or anything else in the house, doesn’t know where they’ve been.

2. Litter Box Isn’t Clean Enough for Your Cat

Cats are very clean and peculiar animals. Besides not wanting potential predators to catch their scent, they also want their living space clean. Unfortunately, our kitties can’t hop up and scoop the litter box themselves. If that was the case, we’d simply send them to the toilet to go. Nope, it’s all up to you. Now, we get it, we all live busy lives and can’t rush to the litter box each time our kitty goes. That doesn’t mean your cat isn’t going to react to this. In their minds, they may think we humans should be waiting, with scooper in hand, to clean their box. When we don’t, scratching the sides of the box is how they attempt to find more litter, or anything else, to properly cover their waste.

If you want to avoid this behavior, the best thing you can do is keep your kitty’s box clean. Yes, needing to scoop after each elimination is extreme, but staying on top of cleanliness will make your cat happier. Scooping a few times a day, changing the litter often, or even purchasing a self-cleaning litter box are great ideas to help your cat with these issues.

3. Dirty Paws

We aren’t fans of having anything stuck to our hands. Your kitty feels the same way about their paws. They want them clean when they leave the litter box. If the litter you’re using is sticking to your cat’s paws, scratching the sides of the litter box is one way they can remove it. You may also find them scratching the floor near the box too if the box itself doesn’t help. This happens a lot when it comes to kitties with longer hair.

If you want to help your kitties keep their paws cleaner, there are a few things you can try. First, use a mat outside the litter box. This can give your kitty an area designed for unwanted litter removal. You can also try different litters. Clumping litter is notorious for sticking to paws. Other types of litters out there may make life easier for you and your cat.

4. Too Little Litter

With cats being so meticulous when it comes to their litter boxes, not having enough litter to cover up when they go is stressful. If this happens, your cat will scratch the sides of the box in hopes of getting more litter. They may even scratch the floor or walls a bit for this reason. To keep this from happening, keep your kitty’s litter box properly filled. Roughly 2 inches of litter should work well for this purpose.

5. Not Enough Room

You don’t enjoy using the bathroom in a small area where you aren’t comfortable. Kitties feel the same way. It’s natural for them to be upset if the litter box you’ve provided isn’t big enough or if it is being used for multiple cats. This can cause a kitty to scratch a lot or simply show that they aren’t fans of the box.

A litter box should be 1 ½ times the size of the cat in question. This provides them with plenty of space to move around, make a place for elimination, and even cover it up. If you have multiple cats in the house, you should have a separate litter box for each one. This doesn’t mean they won’t share a box, but they have other options if needed.

6. Medical Issues

Cats can’t tell us when something isn’t right. It’s up to us to figure it out. If your cat is dealing with diarrhea, constipation, or even lower urinary tract disease, you may find that they are scratching around in the litter box more than normal. This scratching can even happen on the walls of the litter box.

As a cat owner, you'll need to keep a close eye on your kitty’s waste. This will help you keep up with their health better. If you notice something upsetting in the litter box or a lack of things in the box, you should reach out to your veterinarian immediately. They will schedule a visit for your kitty and help determine what the issue is and what can be done about it.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’re aware of a few of the reasons your cat may scratch the side of their litter box, you can act accordingly. One of these issues or a combination of several can be upsetting your kitty when they are in the litter box, and they are scratching to let you know. Simply pay attention, and you’ll be able to discover what’s happening. Once that’s done, simply rectify the issue and make your kitty happy again.

Featured Image Credit: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock