If you ever studied French, you probably know that lit is the French word for “bed.” Our
English word “litter” is rooted in the old French word, and it has two related meanings that apply to cats. A “litter” of kittens reflects the
idea that a cat “took to her bed” to give birth. The “litter” in a litter box is a sort of “bed of soil” (or recycled newspaper, pine or whatever you use for litter) for the cat to deposit its waste discreetly.
