Our domestic cats are the protagonists of countless situations that make us laugh too much. The particular behavior of cats does not leave anyone indifferent. From the obsession with cardboard boxes, the sudden desire to want to play at 3 a.m., to seemingly uncomfortable positions where they can sleep for hours…
A strange and common behavior in some cats is sleeping in the sand. Does your cat sleep in the sandbox? He’s not the only one! In this Animal Expert article, we’ll explain the reason for this behavior and some solutions. Read!
- A lot of cats like to sleep in the sand.
- If your cat has always had this behavior.
- It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a symptom of a health problem.
- It can just be a behavioral problem.
- However.
- If this behavior is recent.
- You should worry.
- As it may be one of the first symptoms of illness in your cat.
Here are some of the possible explanations for your cat sleeping in the sandbox.
A cat that is not well and needs to go to the bathroom more often than usual can choose to always stay close to the box or even sleep indoors. This avoids the risk of having to run when you have a sudden impulse. Therefore, you should also keep in mind if your cat:
If you notice any of the changes we mentioned, that’s probably why your kitten sleeps in the sandbox. You should consult your trusted veterinarian for your feline to be properly examined and diagnosed.
In addition, many veterinarians describe this behavior change as an early sign of various diseases, such as diabetes or kidney disease. Therefore, it is imperative that you consult your veterinarian whenever you notice a change in the behavior of your cat. Careful observation and early consultation with your doctor may be the key to treatment success, as they can detect a disease in its early stages.
Another possibility is that your cat feels more comfortable in the sandbox than anywhere else in the house. Especially if you have more than one sandbox or if you still have a clean sandbox, your cat can feel comfortable inside and prefer to sleep there than anywhere else. However, this is not recommended! You can’t control that the box is always clean because you can urinate or defecate at any time. For hygiene and health reasons, you should make sure the cat has other places where it feels comfortable sleeping.
A simple cardboard box can be the place for your cat to sleep peacefully and stop sleeping in the sandbox.
Stressed cats can change their behavior. A new family member, a new pet, a move, are causes of stress for your feline and can lead you to find a safer place to rest. And, in his head, what better place than the box where no one is going to bother him and that also only smells like him?
Sand boxes are usually located in places with little movement and the cat feels very safe. If you feel threatened in the rest of the house, it’s normal to find the safest place to rest.
Cats are very territorial animals. The arrival of a new member in the house can make your cat feel its resources threatened and eventually feel the need to protect what is yours, including the sandbox.
The same can happen to a new cat in the house and the current resident will not allow you to use the box. If you’ve already kicked a few kicks on the way to the bathroom, you’ll usually sleep in the sandbox to make sure you can use it when you need it.
Although some cats may share their resources peacefully, such as sand, some prefer their privacy and refuse to use a box used by other cats. To avoid these problems, you should always match the number of sandboxes with the number of cats at home. Ideally, you don’t have 1 boxes, where n is the number of cats. In other words, if you have 2 kittens, you should have 3 sandboxes.
Also, remember that the introduction of a new cat at home should always be done gradually. Read our full article on this topic: How to get used to one cat to another.
Given all of the above, it is important that you analyze the specific situation of your cat and consult your trusted veterinarian. Also, follow these tips:
It’s also important to observe your cat’s behavior on a daily basis, as well as other small changes that might indicate something is wrong. Whether it’s because of the amount of water you drink, if you eat well, you lose more than usual and even the consistency, appearance and frequency of urine and faeces. A guardian attentive to small changes is certainly essential for the early detection of certain diseases, which greatly improves their prognosis. If in doubt, always consult your trusted veterinarian. Is there anyone better than him, a qualified professional, to trust his hairy life?
If you would like to read similar articles about Cat Sleeping in the Sandbox: Causes and Solutions, we recommend that you visit our Behavioral Problems section.