Cats' Litter Box and Eating Habits: Facts

Many cat experts suggest that if your cat is defecating outside of the box, you should place his or her food in the area where they are going. That's because they won't poop near their food. Just like sensible humans, and unlike dogs in most cases, cats instinctively know the difference between poop and food, and they want to keep the two completely separate.

How do cats know to go in the litter box?

Most cats are taught by their mother's to use the litter box. When they are outside cats, they are taught to go hide their "business." It is a basic instinct within a cat to bury their poo in dirt, which is very much like the clay or sand litter used in litter boxes. If you have a large potted plant, don't be surprised if one of your cats mistakes it for a place to go to the bathroom.

Why do cats bury their feces?

Not only does your cat know how to go to the bathroom in the litter box, he or she also has the common courtesy to cover it up so that you don't have to smell it. You might think he or she is doing it for your benefit, but really it is a part of their instincts. In the wild, cats instinctively bury their feces and urine to hide their scent from enemies.

Can a feral cat be domesticated?

Yes, a feral cat, defined as a cat that lives outside in the wild, can most certainly be domesticated. In fact, they are usually already litter box ready since they bury their waste in the sand and dirt outside. It's best to take in a feral cat at a very young age, but older feral cats can also be trained to live around people. If you have other cats, your main goal is to get the feral cat its shots and a physical before allowing it to live in the house. Keep them separate from the other cats for a while until you are sure they are clean.

You have to give a feral cat time --- they may run from humans for the most part, maybe even the rest of their lives, but once they see that the humans are feeding them regularly and loving them they start to warm up to the idea of living in a domesticated home.

Sources:

About Cat Behavior http://cats.about.com/od/behaviortraining/qt/catbehavior101.htm

Pawprints and Purrs, Inc. "Why Do Cats?" http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/whydo.html