If your cat often waits outside the bathroom, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat wait outside the bathroom? Likely reasons why your cat waits outside the bathroom are that it hears water in there and it wants to see how you are, separation anxiety, it is waiting for something from you or that it just likes the spot.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat waits outside the bathroom and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Reasons why your cat waits outside the bathroom
Below are some likely reasons why your cat has been doing it and what would make them more likely.
It wants to see that you’re ok
Cats do not usually like water. It might be the case that it waits outside the bathroom because it hears running water and wants to see that you are ok. This would be more likely if it only waits outside when you shower or run the bath water and it can hear the water running.
Separation anxiety
Another possible cause is that it has some separation anxiety. This would be more likely if it follows you around the house, it waits outside the bathroom regardless of whether or not it can hear water and if it can become anxious when you are leaving it.
It wants something from you
Another reason could be that it is waiting to get something from you. This would be a lot more likely if your cat only seems to do it when it has not been fed yet and it does not wait there after it has already been fed.
It likes the spot
It might also be the case that your cat does it because it likes the spot. This would be more likely if it even sits outside the bathroom when you are not in the bathroom.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat has always sat outside the bathroom
If your cat did not always sit outside the bathroom, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be because you started showering before feeding it in the morning or because something caused it to start being anxious without you.
What is different when your cat does not sit outside the bathroom
It would also help to consider the timing of when your cat sits outside the bathroom.
If it sits there when you are not in the bathroom, it would be more likely that your cat likes the spot or because it wants to sit inside the bathroom itself.
Whereas, if it only sits outside the bathroom when you are in there, it would be more likely to be because it hears the running water or because it is waiting for you due to hunger or separation anxiety.
What to do about your cat sitting outside the bathroom
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Give it other places to sit
The first option would be to encourage your cat to sit somewhere else. One way to do so would be to put a cat bed where you want it to go and to put your cat there whenever it tries to sit outside the bathroom.
Limit reasons why it might get anxious
It could also help to try to limit reasons why your cat might get anxious when you are not around. Ways to do so could include giving it a safe spot it can go to without you and to feed it before leaving it and to give it access to water and a litter box when you are not around.
Let it sit there
If the behavior is not bothering you, another option would be to allow your cat to continue doing it.
Why does my cat sleep outside the bathroom?
If your cat sleeps outside the bathroom, it would be likely that your cat either likes the spot or that it wants to sleep inside the bathroom itself. If your cat does it when you are in the bathroom, it would be more likely that it is waiting for you due to separation anxiety or wanting something from you such as food.