Why does my cat always go to bathroom after I clean her litter box?

Question

She always does it! And its stinky and she doesnt cover it up. I wonder if most cats do this, or is my cat mad at me? My other cat always cover up her mess.

Answer 1

Aren't our babies cute?  I can be cleaning the boxes and at least 1 of them will want to use it as soon as I get it cleaned...they wait patiently until I get done, of course, but still!  Mine do cover their deposits I'm proud to say.

Answer 2

Reestablishing her territory.

Answer 3

LOL mine does that too - all of my cats over the years did that.  I joke that they simply cannot resist the exquisite opportunity to use a pristinely clean box, though I imagine it might have something more to do with them wanting to "mark" what is theirs.

As for the not covering up, my parents had a cat that did that.  We never did figure out why he never bothered - he was kind of a laid-back cat, so perhaps he was just lazy.

Answer 4

ummmmm know the feeling well clean litter trays everyday, cats allowed in the garden, they all wait untill ive cleaned it then they go i have 6 cats 4 of them use trays all the time, wont go to the loo outside they come in to use the tray, if she is not covering it that is because she is in charge, good job the other one is a bit tidyer really, its very common dont worry.

Answer 5

i had a cat that would come running whenever i cleaned the box, she would start climbing in as i was adding the litter. use it as soon as i was through. i dont know why. just to be annoying , i guess.

Answer 6

You know I have a cat that does the same thing and I just laugh knowing that as soon as I clean it he will be in it. It is nice to know that other people have cats that do the same thing. Just must be part of being a cat. Thanx for asking that question as I had often wondered it myself. That is why I like this Q&A site as I am learning many things.

Answer 7

she was probably waiting to go to the bathroom and then when you were done cleaning it she went!  Nobody likes a dirty litter box! Always clean it out often and avoid the scented kind because cats are sensitive to smell!

Answer 8

My cat does the SAME THING - it's soooo annoying!!!  It has nothing to do with waiting for a clean litterbox - hers is scooped daily.  I think they just like "marking their territory" & dont smell their own scent when you add clean litter.  

Answer 9

Mine does this.  She loves having the litter cleaned.  If she hears it she runs in the room and gets all up in my business to watch. Then when I am done she hops in.  I just wait for her then scoop it out right away.

When she hears to trash bag I use she starts running to her box.  I think its so cute.  She has done it since we first got her.

Answer 10

It's a territorial marker!  Contrary to popular belief, cats don't necessarily cover their p**p.  They also use it to tell other cats "this is my territory, stay away!" (a behaviour known as middening).  If she is the boss cat she feels safe to advertise her presence.  The other cat covers up its p**p so it doesn't advertise its presence and isn't viewed as a competitor (this works better outdoors than in the litter tray, but it's not so easy for cats to override instinctive behaviours).

Answer 11

would you rather use the restroom when its clean or dirty?

Answer 12

She was probably waiting for a clean litterbox!

Nobody likes to use a dirty bathroom, which is why it’s important to scoop out your cat’s litter box at least twice a day, preferably every time your cat uses the box, but especially after meal times. If you have more than one cat, a good rule of thumb is to have one box per cat. Avoid scented litters, since cats are sensitive to smells. Place the litter pan well away from the cat’s feeding area and in a place that is quiet and feels “safe” to your cat.

Answer 13

Often if a cat won't cover her own p**p, it means she was taken away from mama a bit too early.  It's a natural instinct for cats to scratch, but Mama cat teaches them how to cover their spoor.  

Some cats will attack a clean litter box because they want to mark it, to let the other cats know that they were their first.  I have a cat that does that.  It isn't that he's waiting for a clean box, I clean and scrub out my boxes every other day and scoop them out several times a day.  He just can't stand having a box that doesn't smell of him.  

Answer 14

probably wanted to mark his/her teratory.