But why do cats run after pooing? We finally have the answer

Among the strangest behaviors of our friends the cats, there is this mania that they have to do their best sprint after a passage in the litter … We finally know why!

But what goes through the heads of our tomcats? This is one of the big questions we are asking ourselves. We already told you about it: certain animal behaviors leave us speechless. Many of them have been elucidated, explained and have reassured (or not) most of us. Still, cats have their share of mystery when it comes to their attitude. Who has never seen, for example, their cat do their best sprint after relieving themselves in the litter box? Some behaviorists have tried to answer the question and the answers are astonishing to say the least.

Read also : 5 really weird things cats do and here’s the explanation

In May 2021, The Dodo asked Amy Shojai, an animal behavior consultant in Texas, USA. According to her, our tomcats are in full euphoria after having defecated: “The nerve has multiple functions, such as reducing inflammation and a feeling of stress, anxiety and fear. Some experts speculate that defecation stimulates the nerve in a certain way, which gives a strange sense of ‘fullness’ to the cat who expresses it after having to defecate. ” Going to the litter box is therefore literally a relief for the tomcats! We learn about it every day.

To summarize : “He is just happy that he was able to relieve himself. Another reason may be that the cat feels so good after this that he feels the need to run.”, Amy Shoja tells The Dodo before adding: “A lot of cats go on a frenzied run at night, probably because they nap all day and want to burn off all that pent-up energy. And if that coincides with a visit to the litter box, it can become a problem. habit. “

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On the contrary, if it is not a habit for kitty to run after passing through the litter box, he may have a transit problem. Doing business can be painful. That’s why he feels the need to run at full speed: “Cats who experience discomfort during elimination (constipation, for example) may ‘blame’ the litter box. After they are done, they therefore move away from the location.” In this case, and if, by the way, you notice that kitty has not gone to the litter for several days, it is better to contact the vet.

Another reason that would explain this improvised jogging: it is the kitty instinct that takes over. In reality, cats have a very strong sense of smell. If you don’t consider his stool to be particularly odorous, for him it is an infection of the nostrils. Moreover, if he runs it is because he doubts that the smell comes from him and therefore watches out for predators: “We know cats have a very strong sense, so what might be a mild aroma to us could be very offensive to the cat.“, explains Amy Shoja.

Now your cat, and even her stool, has no secrets for you and the mystery is cleared up.

Melanie Bonvard

Mélanie deciphers pop culture from a societal angle and questions the female gaze in films or even series, because everything is a question of gaze, she …