Why Your Cat Scratches Around the Litter Box
Scratching around the litter box can be annoying. It can be loud, it can fling litter onto the floor, and it can look like your cat is upset with the box. Most of the time, it is not anger. It is normal bathroom behavior, or your cat reacting to something about the setup.
A good litter setup makes the scratching shorter and less messy. The quickest win comes from spotting red flags first, then fixing the common trouble spots in a sensible order.
Is It Normal or a Problem?
What Normal Scratching Usually Looks Like
Many cats scratch right before or right after they pee or poop. That is how they dig, cover, and wipe their paws. If your cat goes, scratches briefly, then walks away like nothing happened, it is usually normal.
Normal scratching tends to be short, tied to a bathroom trip, and not paired with other changes. If the litter box use looks normal and your cat seems comfortable, it makes more sense to focus on containing the mess than trying to stop the behavior completely.
When to Call a Vet
Most litter box scratching is harmless. It becomes a concern when it comes with signs your cat is uncomfortable in the box, especially during urination. Watch for these red flags:
- Repeated trips to the box with little or no urine
- Straining, crying, or clear discomfort in the box
- Blood in the urine or a sudden strong urine smell
- Frequent licking around the genital area
- Sudden accidents outside the box, especially on beds or sofas
- Lethargy, vomiting, or your cat seems unwell
Trouble urinating can become urgent, especially for male cats. If your cat keeps trying to pee and nothing is coming out, treat that as an emergency.
Why Cats Scratch Around the Litter Box
Covering and Digging Instinct
Cats dig and cover. Some do it lightly. Some do it like they are trying to remodel the bathroom. If scratching happens right around a bathroom trip, it is often just instinct doing its thing.
If the scratching is normal but messy, the fix is usually containment. A larger mat catches scatter. A higher-sided box keeps more litter inside. That alone solves the litter everywhere problem for many homes.
Meowant Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box - MW-SC02
The Box Is Not Clean Enough for Your Cat
A box can look fine to you and still feel unacceptable to your cat. When there are too many clumps, the corners smell, or the litter feels damp, cats often scratch longer. Some scratch the walls because they want to avoid stepping in the litter. Some paw the floor outside the box like they are searching for a cleaner surface.
If scratching increased recently, check your routine first. Daily scooping matters. Regular full litter changes matter too, especially if odor builds up fast. When you wash the box, hot water is often enough. If you use a cleaner, keep it mild and unscented, rinse extremely well, and let the box dry fully before refilling. Fragrance and residue can turn a box into something a cat avoids.
The Box Is Too Small or Awkward to Use
Box size drives scratching more than most people expect. A box that is too short forces awkward movement. Your cat may not be able to turn comfortably or pick a clean spot. That often shows up as wall scratching, rim scratching, and litter kicked out with force.
A practical rule of thumb is that the box length should be about 1.5 times your cat’s body length, measured from nose to the base of the tail. Many standard boxes are simply short for adult cats, especially larger or longer-bodied cats.
If your cat is older, keep comfort in mind. Joint pain can make digging and squatting harder. Some cats compensate by scratching the rim or the floor outside the box instead of digging inside.
The Litter Does Not Feel Right
Sometimes the scratching is not about the box. It is about the litter. Too little litter can make covering difficult, so the cat keeps trying. Litter that feels sharp, dusty, or unpleasant underfoot can also trigger more scratching and hesitation.
Depth does not need to be complicated. A common starting point is around two inches, roughly five centimeters. From there, adjust based on what your cat does. If your cat keeps hitting the bottom of the box, add a little more. If your cat kicks litter like a snowplow, reduce slightly and see if the mess improves.
Scented litter is another common trigger. Some cats tolerate it, some do not. If scratching got worse after a litter change, switch back to an unscented option and transition gradually by mixing old and new for several days.
Covered Boxes Can Trap Odor
Covered boxes work for some cats and fail for others. The issue is usually airflow. Odor builds faster inside, especially if the box is small or the cleaning routine is not strict. Cats who dislike the interior may rush out, scratch outside the box, or scratch at the flap.
If you are unsure, test it. Remove the lid for a week and compare. If your cat looks more relaxed and scratching gets shorter, airflow was likely part of the problem. If nothing changes, focus on size, cleanliness, and litter feel.
How Many Litter Boxes Do Multiple Cats Need?
In multi-cat homes, scratching around the litter box is not always about covering waste. It can be about access and comfort. Some cats scratch longer because the box smells strongly like another cat, or because they feel pressured to finish fast and get out. You may also notice a cat scratching outside the box when they do not want to fully step in or turn around, especially if another cat tends to follow them, watch them, or block the exit.
A reliable baseline is one box per cat, plus one extra. The location matters as much as the number. Two boxes side by side often feel like one shared spot to cats, so spread them out across different areas. Choose locations with an easy entry and exit path, and avoid tight closets or dead ends where a cat can get cornered. If scratching drops after you add a box in a second location, that is a strong clue the issue was competition or pressure, not the litter itself.
What Usually Fixes It Fast
Changing everything in one day makes it hard to tell what actually helped. Pick the most likely issue, adjust that first, then move on only after you can see whether it made a difference.
A practical order for most homes:
- Scoop daily and keep the box smelling neutral
- Make sure the box is large enough for turning and covering
- Use unscented litter and keep a consistent depth
- Add a large mat to catch the scatter
- If you use a covered box, test uncovered for one week
- In multi-cat homes, add boxes and spread them out
What to Do If Your Cat Keeps Scratching the Litter Box Area
Scratching around the litter box is often normal, especially when it happens right before or right after your cat eliminates. When scratching becomes intense, messy, or paired with avoidance and accidents, the setup is usually the reason. Cleanliness, box size, litter feel, airflow, and multi-cat tension account for most cases. The moment you see straining, pain, repeated attempts to urinate with little output, or blood in the urine, contact a vet promptly.
5 FAQs about Your Cat's Litter Box Behavior
Q1: How Long Should You Test a Change Before Switching Again?
Give each adjustment at least three to five days, longer for litter changes. Cats often need a few box visits to show a preference. If behavior gets noticeably worse within 24 hours, roll back and test a different change.
Q2: Where Is the Best Place to Put a Litter Box in a Multi-Pet Home?
Choose a quiet spot with steady access, away from loud appliances and heavy foot traffic. Avoid tight dead ends where another pet can corner a cat. If you can, pick a location with more than one exit path.
Q3: Do Litter Box Liners Help, or Do They Make Scratching Worse?
Some cats tolerate liners, but others claw at them because the plastic shifts, crinkles, or catches on nails. If you see torn liners or more wall scratching, remove the liner for a week and compare your cat’s behavior.
Q4: Will Nail Trimming Reduce Litter Box Scratching and Noise?
It will not remove the instinct, but it can make the scratching quieter and reduce deep grooves in plastic that trap odor. Trim only the sharp tips every two to four weeks, or have a groomer or vet handle it.
Q5: Can Diet or Hydration Make Scratching Around the Box Worse?
Yes. Dehydration and constipation can make bathroom trips uncomfortable, which may show up as extra digging or repeated visits. Encourage water intake with a fountain, consider adding wet food if appropriate, and ask your vet about recurring hard stools.
