Covering poop is a normal cat behavior, right? Not necessarily.
Feral cats rarely bury feces, and often leave waste on grassy
tussocks that elevate and make it even more prominent. They may
cover waste if nearer to home and young kittens. Ferals in
managed colonies may be more fastidious. Cat Litter Box Behavior
Our pet kitties do tend to bury the waste but only because it’s
so close to home. A free-ranging cat’s territory might encompass
more than two miles, so having a litter box across the house is
still virtually in the cat’s face. But cats that choose not to
cover, or leave a deposit outside the box, may simply be doing
what comes naturally. In fact, one study followed female pet
cats out and about, and observed them poop 58 times—and only
twice did the cats try to dig a hole first, or cover it
afterwards. Roaming kitties may use unburied waste as another
form of marking. Humans have encouraged the behavior in our pet
cats, by selectively choosing (and breeding) the ones that are
“clean.” Cats that leave