I adopted a 9-month-old cat about three weeks ago. At first, things were fine, and my roommate was cool with it as long as I kept the litter box in my room. But now, every single night, she starts scratching and playing in the litter box. It’s only at night, and I can’t sleep because all I hear is litter shifting and scratching. I’d let her out of the room, but she meows and scratches at the door to get back in, plus I’m nervous she’ll pee somewhere if she can’t get to the box. This has been happening every night, and I’m exhausted. Anyone got advice to help me get some sleep?
Cats are pretty active at night, especially when they’re young. Trust me, you’ll get used to it. I had a tiny chihuahua who snored like a full-grown human, and at first, I kept waking up thinking there was someone in my room. It felt weird, but soon my brain adjusted, and now I sleep through it. You might be surprised how fast you adapt to your cat’s noise too.
Honestly, there’s not much you can do to fully stop it. She’s still young and full of energy. When I got my kittens, we’d play hard for about 30-45 minutes before bed, and it helped a bit. But the litter box scratching never really went away. You can try tiring her out, but it’s probably a habit she’ll grow out of eventually.
My cat does this too, and it’s kind of hilarious but also frustrating. Sometimes I try to ‘talk’ to him and say things like, ‘You really want another shower, huh?’ He looks so guilty when I mention it, even though I’m joking. It hasn’t stopped him completely, but I feel like he knows when I’m upset. My sister just laughs and takes pictures of him doing it. Maybe he feels the vibe when I’m serious, so he calms down for a bit.
Have you tried switching to a different type of litter? It might make a difference.
You could try using a litter liner to muffle the noise a bit. Also, trimming her claws can help—either do it at home or take her to a vet. Dull claws make less noise, and that might give you some relief.
Try giving her more toys that aren’t related to the litter box. Just make sure you don’t make her feel too weird about it, or she might start peeing in random places. A toy basket works well so she can take things out and play. Cats are most active at dawn and dusk, so you’ll hear noise no matter what, but the little ball tracks can keep them entertained for a while. Those are a hit at my place.