Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Purchase supplies
• Method 2 of 3: Introduce the kitten to the litter box
• Method 3 of 3: Make it easy for your kitten
• Tips
• Warnings

Kittens naturally like to relieve themselves in mud or sand. If you get them used to a litter box, they will happily go there instead of on your carpet. If you start with it as soon as you bring your kitten home, he or she will start using the litter box very quickly. It's important to find the right litter box for your kitten and encourage her to use it. But you won't have to "house train" your cat like you should a dog. You shouldn't have to teach your cat what to do with a litter box; instinct will generally take over. You must provide an acceptable, accessible litter box.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Purchase supplies

1. Choose a large litter box. Small bowls are available for small kittens, but kittens grow up so quickly that you will need to replace the litter box soon after introduction. When replacing a litter box, you will have to retrain the kitten, so it is better to start with a litter box that you can use for a long time.
   • Kittens have no problem getting into large tubs as long as there is a side low enough for them to step in. If you find a nice box but are unsure whether the kitten can climb in, use a piece of plywood or some other flat material with a good grip to make a slight slope. Secure it to the side of the box with duct tape, and remove it when the kitten is big enough to get in without assistance.
2. Consider an enclosed litter box. Some litter boxes have a rim (or hood) around them. The advantage of the enclosed litter box is that it can hold enough filling for an avid digger and it can reduce odors if you have the litter box in a small living space. Some cats also feel protected by the enclosure.
   • Make sure the enclosed litter box is large; cats need the space to turn around comfortably in the box. Most cats find it necessary to smell and bury their stool, and the bowl should provide enough space for that.
   • Some cats don't like enclosed containers when initially presented. You can make the transition easier by removing the swing door until your cat is used to the bowl.
3. Buy cat litter. There are many types of fillings to choose from, and all types are fine for most young or adult cats (8 months or older). Choose a filling that is as dust-free as possible, as dust can irritate the cat's lungs. You could keep the following factors in mind when making your choice:
   • Use unscented filling if possible. Kittens and cats don't always like scented stuffing; if the smell is overpowering, they may relieve themselves elsewhere. In addition; some perfumes can irritate a cat's nose and eyes or cause problems for cats prone to respiratory problems.
   • Consider a clumping filling. Clumping filling has become a popular choice because it makes it easy to get rid of the kitten's feces. Note that there is some concern that a cat could get sick from ingesting clumping filling. But there is little to no evidence that this is happening.
   • Choose a filling that is widely available. Some cats get used to a specific filling and sometimes do not recognize the litter box as such unless their familiar filling is in it.
4. Buy a scoop and a rug. The last things you need before you are ready to toilet train your kitten are a scoop to get feces out of the litter box and a rug to put under the box to prevent stray kernels from littering your home.

Method 2 of 3: Introduce the kitten to the litter box

1. Place the container in a quiet place. Do not place it in an area with frequent traffic, such as the kitchen or the hall. The ideal place for a litter box is easily accessible, offers plenty of privacy and there are no sudden noises to frighten a kitten.
   • While a laundry room is a popular choice for a litter box because it involves less walking than other areas of most homes, the unexpected noises a washer or dryer can make can frighten a kitten and cause her to lose the courage to use the box. use.
   • The litter box is best placed in an area where a kitten spends a lot of time.The kitten should almost always be able to see the litter box so she can use it when needed.
   • Kittens and cats like to have a little privacy. If they don't, they can start relieving themselves behind the couch or in another quiet corner.
   • When you start potty training your kitten, and it becomes necessary to move the bowl, do it gradually, half a meter at a time, every few days. Moving the box to another room overnight can confuse the kitten and lead to accidents in the house. It may also help to place the kitten's food bowl where the litter box used to be, as most cats don't want to relieve themselves where they eat.
2. Place the kitten in the filled litter box. As soon as you bring her home, place the kitten in the tray so she can get used to the smell and feel of the litter. Let her spend a few minutes there, even if she's not relieving herself right away. Continue to put her in jail after she eats, when she wakes up, or any other time you think she might want to relieve herself. In addition to this, if she sits elsewhere, put her right in the litter box.
   • Some kittens will immediately understand the purpose of the litter box and do not need additional toilet training. Others will have to be put in jail up to ten times a day before they get it.
   • Avoid showing the kitten how to bury her stool by showing it. It might scare her, so resist the temptation to take her paws and help her dig in the bin until she understands.
3. Don't punish but reward. When the kitten gets used to the litter box and starts using it as her toilet, reward her every time she goes by petting her and making sweet noises. Don't punish her while she's in jail, or she'll connect being in jail to punishment.
   • Kittens react badly if you rub their snouts in the mess they've made outside the litter box. If she has an accident, let her sniff the mess, then gently lift her up and put her in the litter box so she knows where to go next.
   • Never hit or yell at a kitten to punish her. It will only make her afraid of you.
4. Provide enough litter boxes. If possible, you should have a litter box for every cat in your house and an extra litter box.
   • For example, a kitten should preferably be able to choose from two litter boxes. If you have three cats, you should provide four litter boxes.
5. Consider a period of incarceration. When you first bring a kitten into your home, you can leave her in a limited space for the first few weeks. This can help her slowly adjust to her new environment, give her easy access to her litter box, and help minimize or at least limit the area.
   • You may want to consider confining the kitten in an area without a carpet. That makes it easier to clean accidents when they occur.
   • Place the litter box on one side of the room, and the food and sleeping area on the other.

Method 3 of 3: Make it easy for your kitten

1. Clean the litter box every day. Kittens don't like to go to the bathroom in a dirty container. If you don't replace the filling, the kitten may find a cleaner place, such as the carpet, to go to the bathroom.
   • To clean the litter box, scoop the feces out of the box, put it in a small bag, close the bag and throw it away.
   • You can leave a little bit of stool in the bowl (but change it regularly) during the first few weeks. This will help the kitten remember what the tray is for.
2. Clean the entire litter box regularly. About once a week you will need to throw out the entire contents of the container and clean the container thoroughly. Once the container is completely empty, you can wash it with a harmless detergent (or warm water with soap). Rinse, dry and refill the bowl with clean litter.
   • It can be tempting to leave clumping fillings in for more than a week due to the ease with which you get rid of the excrement. However, even clumping filling must be completely discarded and replaced on a regular basis.
3. Thoroughly clean the areas where accidents happen. When your kitten or cat goes to the bathroom outside of the box, make sure to clean the area completely, removing any traces of urine or feces. This will help prevent accidents from happening again in the same place.
4. Consider removing large potted plants from your home. If you find that your kitten uses the soil in the pots as a litter box, you may need to remove them or cover the soil with foil during litter training. Kittens instinctively bury their feces, so they can be attracted to soil or sandy spots. Make sure the litter box is the only place in the house where they want to relieve themselves.
5. Feed the kitten at regular intervals. This will help you predict when to use the litter box. Kittens generally feel the need to go to the bathroom about 20 minutes after eating. If you think she has an urge, you can take her to the bin and let her climb in.

Tips

• As your kitten grows, you will need to add more litter to the litter box. By the time your kitten is six months old, you should start putting about two to three inches of filling in the bowl.
• It is best if you have a house with a wood or tile floor, as this will allow you to mop up the puddles.
• If you have a relatively large house or apartment, consider using several litter boxes. This ensures that if your kitten has an urgent need, she will be more likely to use a litter box than any other corner of the house. As your kitten becomes more reliable using the bins, you can start to gradually remove the bins.
• If your kitten seems unsure about using her litter box, make sure she is able to get into the litter box easily or try switching litter, the latter especially if the current litter is scented.
• Change your cat litter gradually. If you find yourself needing to change fillings, try to gradually switch from one type of fill to another, mixing new fillings with the old ones and gradually increasing the amount of "new" fillings.

Warnings

• Make sure to get your new kitten checked out by your vet to make sure he's healthy. Some illnesses cause kittens and cats to behave differently with regard to the litter box.
• Give your kitten dry kibble or semi-wet food, especially for kittens.
• A common reason a kitten relieves outside of the litter box is if the owner has punished the kitten for using the wrong place. The kitten may feel insecure about going to the toilet (especially in an open area) for fear of being punished, and then act reluctantly. With this in mind, never punish your kitten for going to the bathroom in the wrong place, as it will only make matters worse.