I received my kitten when she was six weeks old. She was litter box trained but she never covers it up. She goes through this wonderful busy little ritual of digging and scratching the sides of the litter box but doesn't actually ever get the job done. Is this normal?
Most cats begin covering their stool at the age of seven weeks. They learn this behavior from their mothers and this is also when they develop a preference for certain substrates (types of cat litter).
However, it is also perfectly normal for a cat not to cover its stool. This can be a marking behavior, to announce territory or enforce a hierarchy. It may also represent an instinctual biological behavior the purpose of which is to prevent accidental contact and re-infection with feces-borne parasites.
In some cases, making sure that the litter box is clean and that the cat is happy with the type/brand of litter (substrate) may be helpful. Some kitties may not like to dig and get their feet dirty. This may be especially true for dusty kitty litters. You may wish to offer a second litter box with a different type of litter to see if your kitty will then cover the feces.
If you are patient and persistent, you can wait for your kitty to defecate and if she covers her stool reward her with a treat. However, this is a very difficult problem to resolve and many attempts at doing so are unsuccessful.
You may be interested to read the article, "Understanding Your Cat's Litter Box Etiquette," in the VetCentric Magazine for additional information.
04/16/01
