If your feline exhibits this behavior, he is trying to send you an important message… And this is not necessarily what most owners understand.
It often happens that some cats run out of their litter box, as if they have seen a ghost. This behavior intrigues many owners, who sometimes interpret it as a sign of relief after defecating or a consequence of “zoomies”. Those famous moments of intense energy during which they suddenly start running everywhere, jumping, jumping on furniture or even climbing the curtains. These “crazy fits”, which are completely normal, generally occur after a moment of stress, lack of stimulation or simply after going to the toilet. But the truth is, that’s not why your four-legged friend behaves this way.
According to Katia Guillet, feline behaviorist, who wrote the book “55 preconceived ideas about cats” (Opportun editions), if he runs from his litter box, it is for an important reason. To better understand, the specialist takes a fairly simple example. “You have a pressing desire and the only toilets available in the area are the free and public ones. They are small and they don’t necessarily smell like roses. You don’t like that to the masses, but you have to go. (… .) You hurry up to do your little errand and… leave as quickly as possible”, wrote the author. You can probably guess what will follow…
Like us, cats can be uncomfortable doing their business in a litter box that doesn’t suit them, and they usually make this known by running away. In this case, what can pose a problem is the size of the litter box, its location and especially the substrate used (mineral, vegetable, clumping, crystal litter, etc.). If there isn’t enough, it can also bother the feline. According to the expert, “the cat needs a fairly large size of box (from the snout to the outstretched tail) to move around and find the right position to do its business”.
Furthermore, if you have chosen to put your litter box in a cupboard, for a more aesthetic appearance and to also protect yourself from odors, this is not necessarily a good thing for your cat. He needs an open space, as if he were finally in nature. In case of danger, he must not be vulnerable, he must be able to escape quickly and safely. Remember that it is essential for a cat’s well-being that it likes its litter box.