9 Gross Things Your Cat Does (And Why)

Cats have strong hunting instincts and will sometimes use these skills to give “gifts”—often in the form of prey.  

“It’s pretty cute if said prey is a catnip toy,” says Liz Stelow, DVM, DACVB, chief of behavior science at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in Davis, California. “It’s not cute when it’s an insect, rodent, or bird (living or expired).”  

If you find your cat’s gift-giving behavior to be gross, limit your kitty’s access to the outdoors. This restricts the opportunity to bring prey inside.  

Keeping your cat inside also protects them from outdoor dangers like cars, extreme temperatures, and predators.  

If your cat does manage to bring home prey, the best approach is to clean up the “gift” and move on.  

Some cats have a strange reaction to being happy and content: They drool.  

“We’re not fully sure why [some] cats do this,” says Joey Lusvardi, an IAABC-certified cat behavior consultant and owner of Class Act Cats in Minneapolis. “It’s probably an involuntary reaction similar to how they’d respond to seeing a tasty snack.”  

A little drool on your clothes or couch might be gross, but it’s usually harmless. However, “if your cat is drooling excessively, you shouldn’t write it off as being a cute quirk until a veterinarian has ruled out potential medical concerns,” Lusvardi says. “This is especially true if it’s a sudden onset of drooling or your cat seems in distress.”  

Cats are furry creatures with impeccable self-grooming habits—and that means they swallow a lot of hair. Most of it passes through the digestive tract, but sometimes it gets vomited up as a hairball.  

The gagging, retching, and coughing that often accompany a hairball can be unpleasant to witness. Plus, you’ll have to clean up the slimy wad of hair that your cat just deposited on the floor.  

“The occasional hairball is pretty normal and not much can be done about it,” says Dr. Stelow. “Frequent hairballs, however, are often a sign of a medical problem and a cause should be explored by the cat’s vet.”  

If your cat drinks from the toilet, you might find it gross—but what might actually be gross is your cat’s water dish.  

“Cats might drink from the toilet if they don’t have a source of very fresh water,” Dr. Stelow says.  

She advises cat parents to make sure their cat always has access to a clean bowl filled with fresh water. If you use a water fountain, be sure to clean it regularly.  

Even with clean water available, some cats may still be tempted by the toilet. The simplest solution is to keep the lid closed or the bathroom door shut. 

It’s not uncommon for cats with diabetes, urinary tract infections, or even kidney disease to drink excess water and seek out unusual water sources, like the toilet.

Talk to your vet if you notice your cat is drinking more water than normal.

If your cat regularly puts their butt in your face, you’re not alone in feeling grossed out—but it’s usually a friendly gesture.  

“Cats have pheromone glands around their rear, so it’s normal for a cat to sniff another cat’s butt to identify who they are,” says Lusvardi. “Cats don’t necessarily realize that we don’t enjoy that, so it’s actually a somewhat friendly sign from them.” 

If you’d rather not be face-to-tail with your cat, Lusvardi says you can gently encourage them to turn around or wait for them to move. Often, this behavior is simply an attempt to get attention, so offering them some interaction or affection is usually enough to redirect them. 

Cats lick themselves to keep clean, and that includes areas we might find especially gross, like their butt.  

“As gross as it may seem, cats will lick their buttholes to remove any lingering waste,” says Lusvardi. “This is a completely normal behavior and not something you should discourage.” 

In fact, if you don’t let your cat take care of business, you might be the one to pay the price. “If they don’t clean their rear, it could lead to a rather unpleasant odor that follows them around or getting waste all over your home,” Lusvardi says. 

If your cat is spraying urine, it can be both frustrating and gross, especially when clothing or furniture gets soaked.  

Lusvardi says that there are a number of reasons why your cat could be spraying, including medical reasons or an objection to the type of litter you put in the litter box.  

If your cat suddenly starts spraying, schedule a veterinary visit to rule out medical problems.  

Stepping on scattered cat litter—or worse, finding poop outside the box—can definitely be gross.  

Cats have a natural instinct to dig and cover their waste, but sometimes that digging gets a little too enthusiastic. And cats have been known to fling litter—and sometimes feces—onto the floor, Dr. Stelowsays.  

If this gross cat behavior is driving you crazy, consider switching to a high-sided litter box, such as the Frisco High-Sided Litter Box. 

“Even the most aggressive digger has a difficult time getting litter and feces on the floor from a high-sided box,” Dr. Stelow says. 

Have you ever walked into the kitchen and found your cat licking the sink? If you already hate when your cat jumps on the counter, this behavior can feel like a double dose of ick.  

Lusvardi says this usually happens because your cat is thirsty or there are bits of food left in the sink.  

Make sure your cat is being fed enough and on an appropriate schedule.  

“Cats prefer multiple small meals rather than being fed two larger meals,” says Lusvardi. If you have questions about how much to feed your cat, ask your veterinarian.  

If thirst seems to be the issue, consider why your cat prefers the sink over their water bowl. Lusvardi explains that you may need to clean the bowl more frequently, move it to a new spot, or offer water in a different way, such as with a water fountain.