Cats bury their poo largely because digging and covering waste is a natural toileting behaviour inherited from their wild ancestors. Covering faeces can help reduce obvious scent and visual clues about where a cat has been, while domestic cats also tend to prefer toileting somewhere private where they feel safe.
Not every cat covers every deposit perfectly, however. Some cats barely scratch the litter at all, while others spend several minutes enthusiastically rearranging half the tray.
The quick answer
Burying poo is a normal feline behaviour associated with concealment, privacy and digging. Most cats prefer a clean litter tray with enough suitable litter to dig in. If a cat suddenly stops burying their poo, starts toileting elsewhere or appears uncomfortable when passing faeces, check the litter setup and speak to your vet if the change persists or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Why Do Cats Bury Their Poo?
Burying faeces is a deeply rooted feline behaviour.
In the wild, leaving strong scent and visible waste behind can reveal that an animal has been in a particular location.
Covering waste can therefore help make a cat's presence less obvious.
Domestic cats still retain many of the same instincts, even when their biggest daily threat is the vacuum cleaner rather than a predator.
Cats also tend to prefer toileting somewhere they feel safe and private, and they generally avoid toileting immediately beside food and water.
Burying poo is not about embarrassment. Your cat is not trying to be polite or hide something socially unacceptable. It is simply a normal toileting behaviour with deep instinctive roots.
6 Reasons Cats Bury Their Poo
01
To Conceal Their Presence
Covering waste reduces obvious scent and visual clues that a cat has recently been in the area.
02
It Is Instinctive Behaviour
Domestic cats have retained digging and covering behaviours that existed long before litter trays did.
03
They Prefer Private Toileting
Cats generally look for somewhere quiet and secure when going to the toilet because they can feel vulnerable during the process.
04
The Litter Encourages Digging
A comfortable fine-textured litter gives a cat the opportunity to dig before and after toileting.
05
It Helps Keep the Toileting Area Organised
Cats often dig, toilet and cover as part of one familiar sequence rather than treating each action separately.
06
They Learned the Habit Early
Kittens can develop toileting preferences early, including the type of surface they prefer to dig in.
Do Cats in the Wild Bury Their Poo?
Some do.
Smaller wild and free-living cats may bury faeces, particularly when keeping a low profile is useful.
The behaviour is not identical across every feline species or every situation.
Domestic cats have retained the tendency to dig and bury, which is one reason ordinary loose litter works so naturally as a toileting substrate.
Cats Protection describes poo burying as a behaviour inherited from ancestral cats that helped conceal their presence from both predators and prey.
Why Doesn't My Cat Bury Their Poo?
A cat that does not bury their poo is not automatically doing anything wrong.
Some cats simply cover waste more enthusiastically than others.
However, there are several reasons your cat may leave faeces uncovered.
The Tray Is Too Small
A cramped litter tray can make it difficult for a cat to turn, dig and cover comfortably.
There Is Too Little Litter
If there is barely enough substrate to dig into, covering waste becomes difficult.
They Dislike the Litter
Very coarse, uncomfortable or strongly scented litter may discourage digging.
The Tray Is Dirty
A cat may want to leave the tray quickly if it contains too much previous waste.
They Feel Unsafe
If the tray is beside a noisy appliance, busy doorway or another cat, your cat may prioritise leaving over carefully covering waste.
They Simply Prefer Not To
Individual cats vary. If your cat has always toileted normally without covering every time, it may simply be their usual habit.
Can Leaving Poo Uncovered Be Territorial?
Sometimes.
Cats can use faeces as a scent signal, and behavioural specialists use the term middening for deliberate faecal marking.
This is different from a cat simply failing to cover poo properly in the litter tray.
Territorial marking is more likely to involve faeces deliberately left in a noticeable location rather than ordinary toileting behaviour inside a suitable litter tray.
If your cat suddenly starts leaving faeces around the home or garden in unusual locations, look at the wider context rather than assuming they have simply forgotten how to bury it.
Do Cats Bury Their Pee Too?
Many cats dig before urinating and then scratch litter over the area afterwards.
The behaviour is part of the same general toileting sequence seen with faeces.
With clumping litter, you may notice a covered urine clump when cleaning the tray.
However, scratching after urinating varies between individual cats, and some cats may cover one type of waste more thoroughly than another.
How to Set Up a Litter Tray That Encourages Natural Digging
If you want your cat to dig and cover comfortably, the tray needs to support the behaviour.
Use a generously sized tray. Your cat should be able to enter, turn around and dig without feeling cramped.
Provide enough litter. Cats Protection recommends approximately 3cm of litter as a useful starting point for many cats.
Choose a comfortable texture. Many cats prefer fine-grained, sand-like litter that is comfortable under their paws.
Avoid strong perfume. Unscented litter is generally preferable because cats can be sensitive to powerful smells.
Put the tray somewhere quiet. Avoid busy routes and noisy appliances.
Keep food and water elsewhere. Cats generally prefer toileting resources separated from eating and drinking areas.
Cleanliness can affect whether your cat feels comfortable using and digging in the tray.
Remove solid waste and urine clumps regularly — ideally at least once or twice each day depending on the litter and number of cats using the tray.
The tray itself should also be emptied and washed regularly.
Avoid leaving waste buried for long periods simply because your cat has carefully covered it.
Burying does not make waste disappear. Your cat may have hidden it extremely well, but it still needs removing.
How Many Litter Trays Do You Need?
In multi-cat homes, one litter tray can create unnecessary competition.
A commonly recommended starting point is:
One litter tray per cat + one extra
1 cat = 2 trays 2 cats = 3 trays 3 cats = 4 trays
Put the trays in separate suitable locations rather than lining all of them up beside one another.
Cats should be able to reach a toilet area without being blocked or watched by another cat.
When Should a Change in Poo-Burying Behaviour Concern You?
The key word is change.
If your cat has never buried their poo particularly well but otherwise toilets normally, it may simply be normal for them.
Pay more attention if a cat that previously used the tray normally suddenly:
stops digging or covering
starts toileting outside the tray
strains when passing faeces
cries or appears uncomfortable
passes unusually hard or dry poo
develops diarrhoea
goes much less often than usual
avoids the litter tray
These changes can sometimes be associated with illness, discomfort, constipation, diarrhoea, stress or a problem with the litter setup.
Don't treat straining as a behavioural quirk.
If your cat appears uncomfortable when trying to poo, is repeatedly straining or their normal toileting habits have changed significantly, contact your vet.
Should You Bury Your Cat's Poo for Them?
No.
If your cat leaves faeces uncovered in the litter tray, you do not need to imitate the burying behaviour.
Scoop the waste out instead.
If your cat regularly refuses to bury it, look at whether the tray is large enough, whether there is enough litter and whether they appear comfortable using the setup.
Why Does My Cat Scratch the Sides of the Litter Box Instead of the Litter?
Some cats perform the covering motion without actually moving much litter.
They may scratch the tray walls, floor or nearby surface as though they are attempting to bury the waste somewhere completely different.
This can simply be part of that individual cat's toileting routine.
However, it can also be worth checking:
whether the tray is large enough
whether there is sufficient litter
whether the litter texture suits your cat
whether the tray is clean
Cat Litter Tray Checklist
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Tray large enough for your cat to turn around
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Approximately 3cm of litter as a useful starting point
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Fine, comfortable litter where your cat prefers it
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Unscented litter rather than overpowering fragrance
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Quiet, private but accessible location
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Away from food and water
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Waste scooped regularly
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One tray per cat plus one extra in multi-cat homes
BETTER LITTER SETUPS
Give Your Cat a Comfortable Place to Toilet
If your existing tray is too small, difficult to clean or simply not working for your cat, compare our range of litter boxes, houses and self-cleaning options.
Burying is a natural feline toileting behaviour. It is thought to help conceal a cat's presence and is part of the digging and covering routine retained from their wild ancestors.
Why has my cat stopped burying their poo?
It may be a harmless individual preference, but a change can also be linked to the litter tray being too small, dirty or uncomfortable, unsuitable litter, stress or physical discomfort. If the change is sudden or accompanied by other symptoms, speak to your vet.
Do cats bury their pee?
Many cats scratch litter over areas where they have urinated, although the amount of covering varies between individuals.
Do wild cats bury their poo?
Some wild and free-living cats bury faeces, particularly where concealment is useful. The behaviour varies between species and circumstances.
Does an uncovered poo mean my cat is being dominant?
Not necessarily. Many cats simply fail to cover waste consistently. Deliberately placed faeces can sometimes be used as a territorial signal, but ordinary uncovered litter-tray poo should not automatically be interpreted as dominance.
How deep should cat litter be?
Cats Protection recommends around 3cm of litter as a useful starting point for many cats, giving them enough material to dig and bury without unnecessarily overfilling the tray.
Why does my cat scratch the litter box walls?
Some cats perform the covering movement against the sides of the tray rather than successfully moving litter. If they otherwise toilet normally, it can simply be an individual habit. Check that the tray is large enough and contains suitable litter.
Should I be worried if my cat strains to poo?
Yes. Straining, pain, vocalising or a major change in bowel habits should be discussed with your vet because constipation and other digestive problems can cause discomfort.
The Bottom Line
Cats bury their poo because digging and covering waste is a natural behaviour with roots in their wild ancestry.
Your cat does not need to cover every deposit perfectly, and some cats are considerably more enthusiastic diggers than others.
What matters most is that your cat can toilet comfortably in a clean, suitable tray with enough litter and without feeling threatened or disturbed.
If their normal toileting behaviour suddenly changes, especially if they appear uncomfortable or begin going outside the tray, investigate the cause rather than assuming they have simply developed bad manners.
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