Sometimes, it's really hard to understand what a kitten is thinking...
The litter box, which is supposed to be where cats poop, is, for some cats with "unique tastes," a paradise they never want to leave...
Some people are sleeping inside:
There were even some rolling around in it:
What are kittens thinking? Why do they like to roll around in the litter box?
So, in order to resolve this doubt, after much searching, I finally summarized the four most likely reasons from the collected information...
Marked area
The litter box is an indispensable part of a cat's life, and in their minds, it's a territory they must claim. Therefore, they will clearly mark this area!
Rolling around is one of the fastest and most effective ways to mark an object, as it allows you to use all the scent glands in your body to pick up the scent.
So, when you change the cat litter, your cat rolling around in the litter box might be a way to quickly mark this unfamiliar, scented "new" territory.
Dust bath
Dust bathing is a way for many mammals and birds to clean themselves by rolling in sand or mud to remove loose feathers and parasites from their feathers/skin.
Turkeys, elephants, bison, and horses are taking a dust bath.
Cats may have inherited their ancestors' habits of living in the desert, using sand to "bathe".
In a home environment, the only litter cats can access is cat litter, so they might roll around in the litter box to "bathe".
Cat behaviorist Marilyn Krieger believes that cats' dust bathing may also be a survival strategy, masking their own scent by acquiring the scent of more powerful predators.
Excitement and play
Just like a child who can't resist a sand playground, a cat might get excited when it sees sand and start rolling around in it...
Even a small handful of bentonite cat litter can keep a kitten coming back for more...
Cats express their love for the feel of their litter box by rolling around and playing in it.
Itching
If your cat is not only rolling around in the litter box, but also scratching and licking excessively, it is recommended that you carefully check your cat's skin for redness, swelling, sores, etc.
At this time, the cat may be rubbing against the litter box to relieve discomfort due to excessive itching.
Now that you know why cats roll around in their litter boxes, do you understand them a little better? However, this behavior can also cause some problems...
