Ask the Shelter: Why does my cat use the litter box as I'm cleaning it?
Q: Why does my cat use the litterbox as I’m cleaning it? It drives me crazy!
A: Oh my word, I totally know that feeling! I have had cats do that to me all the time. My one girl who is at the Rainbow Bridge waiting for me used to do it all the time. Cats are the oddest creatures, I swear.
As to why they do this, I’m guessing the answer is twofold. One, they like a clean litterbox and want to take advantage of it the second (quite literally) it’s available. Secondly, cats are very territorial and will mark their territory in a variety of ways, including urination and defecation. She could be just trying to maintain her scent in the box, even though we’re cleaning it.
Animals usually go to the bathroom to give us a message. If it’s outside the litterbox, they could be stressed or in need of a clean place to go. Sometimes I wonder if going to the bathroom as we’re cleaning is a cat’s way of saying “hurry up” or “it’s about time!” As long as you’re not seeing anything alarming (blood and such) in the waste, I would chalk it up to another fun aspect of life with a feline!
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Q: I swear my dog watches television. Could that even be possible?
A: Oh, I know people who leave the television on for their pets when they're gone. It probably helps the pet feel more comfortable because there's noise in the house and it may make him or her feel like mom and dad are somewhere in the house. N
Now, I sincerely doubt that our animals watch television the way we do – they can't really comprehend plot and an actor's nuanced performance (although I’ve been known to ask my cats if they find the boys on "Supernatural" as attractive as I do – no answer yet, but I’ll let you know if they ever do), but I would imagine it's possible for them to follow the pixels with their eyes and have it appear as though they're watching television. There would be movement there for them, after all. It must be pretty adorable when your boy does it!
Ask the Shelter is a weekly feature aimed at pet education. If you have a question, contact Jennifer Vanderau, publications and promotions consultant for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, at [email protected] or 263-5791.
This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Ask CVAS: Why does my cat use the litterbox while I am cleaning it?