Cat digging in cat litter after finishing meal

After finishing their meal, cats often perform the action of digging in the cat litter, which may be due to food storage, a natural behavior especially common in multi-cat households. Secondly, it could be that the cat is trying to cover its scent for self-protection, a reflex behavior that owners don't need to be too worried about. Additionally, if the cat's food bowl and litter box are placed close together, or the litter box location is frequently changed, the cat will become anxious and keep digging in the litter when it wants to defecate after eating.

Food Storage

When cats finish their meal and start digging in the litter, it might be because the food is too delicious and they can't finish it all, so they want to store it by burying the remaining food to prevent hunger. Moreover, in multi-cat households, cats might fear that their leftover food will be taken by other cats and thus perform the digging action after finishing their meal.

These behaviors are all natural and normal, and owners just need to remove the unused food or give the cat appropriate amounts next time, avoiding excess. For multi-cat households, it is recommended to feed each cat separately.

Covering Scent

If the cat's food bowl and litter box are too close, the cat may start digging in the litter after smelling the litter box's scent. This is a reflex behavior of cats to cover their scent, and owners don't need to be overly concerned. Simply moving the litter box away can solve this issue.

Wanting to Defecate

Cats will also perform the digging action when they want to defecate after finishing their meal, especially when they are feeling urgent but can't find the litter box. Therefore, it is advised to place the litter box in a spot where the cat can see it, and not to change the location frequently.