Cat using litter tray, also sleeping in litter tray

[Sera1989]

I am coning my outdoor cat for a few days as she won’t leave a large wound alone and is taking the scab off. Vet has prescribed medication for it. I have put out a litter tray which she has peed and pooped in (I scooped afterwards) but now she’s sleeping in the litter tray. I removed her to the sofa but she’s settled back in the tray (no sign of trying to use the toilet, just sleeping)

I’m not sure how to deal with this as I don’t want to restrict her access to the litter box. But I’m concerned she will either end up laying in her own pee, or she’ll refuse to pee in her new “bed” and choose somewhere else in the house. Is there anything I can do or shall I just leave her to it and assume she’ll work it out?

That’s quite cute but I understand your concern! Could you get a second litter tray?

I would think that’s a sign she’s really not well. When is she going back to the vet?

I find my cats sit in the litter tray for a few minutes to decide whether they need to poop. We humans do that (at least I do) sometimes when we're not sure. But sleeping in the litter tray isn't normal. Bless her. Sleeping in the litter tray could mean a few things;

• She feels safer there (cats love boxes and the litter box is no different)
• She's got urinary problems and has to take her time to the point she might nod off
• Some cat litter is very soft and comfy to sit in, so she might just like it there
• She may have joint pain, and combined with soft and comfy litter, just decides to sleep there

As PP said, I'd have a vet check her out just to be safe and I hope it's nothing serious.

My older cat who has always had a litter tray started doing this. I took him out every time he did it and he has changed to just liking sitting right next to it once or twice a day.

Thanks all for the replies. She stopped doing it for a couple of days but I found her chilling in there earlier so came back to the thread to check. She's six and very outdoorsy so I think she's just been stressed and sad - can't go out, got a cone, having medication, very itchy wound. She loves to roll in soil and dust outside and often smells weird (vet checked her and found no medical cause) so I think maybe the texture and smell of the litter brings her some sort of comfort