Middening is visually similar to defaecation: the cat sniffs the area prior to lowering its hindquarters into a squatting position and passing faeces. However, the cat does not dig a hole prior to defaecation, cover the faeces, or sniff the area after defaecation. Additionally, the faeces are deposited in an open or visually obvious area, as opposed to a hidden location as in normal defaecation.