What’s With Cats and Clean Litter Boxes?
What feline memory tells us about “revenge” behavior"
Is your cat fascinated by the litter box - right after you clean it?
Some kitties avoid it like you’ve ruined their masterpiece… others rush in like it’s been waiting all day just for them.
We’ve heard both sides:
🐾 “She refuses to go until it smells like her again.”
🐾 “He waits nearby, then jumps in the second I’m done scooping.”
And Maine Coons? Oh, they love to supervise. Many linger nearby, curious about your cleaning, watching intently - or even meowing as if to say, “Took you long enough!”
It likely comes down to scent and routine. Cats are comforted by their own smell—it marks safety and ownership. A freshly scooped box can briefly disrupt that familiarity.
This is why some kitties, especially those prone to anxiety, might wait a bit before using it again. They’re re-evaluating the scene.
But on the flip side, cats who bolt into the box post-cleaning might just love the blank slate. It’s a fresh surface in their territory - ready for business.
It’s not always about the box itself. Scent, territory, habit - it all plays a role. And while one Coonie might act offended by your efforts, another sees it as the perfect fresh canvas.
🐾 Members, we’ve got a full post in the Coonie Clan today on litter box cleaning behavior - from the science of scent comfort to the quirky rituals your Coonie might have.
👉 Click to read today’s post!
