If you’ve recently brought a new cat home, you know that one of the most important things you will ever do with your new feline friend is train them to use the litter box. Keep in mind that just like training a small child, each cat is different.
With these six tips to litter train your cat, kitty will be going potty like a pro in no time at all! Once you’ve trained your cat to use the litter box, you can pretty much just let them do their thing. All you need to do is keep the litter box cleaned and they will go where you want them to go.
6 TIPS TO LITTER TRAIN YOUR CAT!
Choose the right litter box. Be mindful of the age of your cat. A kitten will need a smaller box with short sides that make it easier to climb in and out of. This also applies if you have a senior or special-needs cat.
Some cats prefer a covered box, so they have more privacy to do their business. I had covered boxes for years, but found the majority of my cats preferred no cover. You should always choose a quality material to be sure it holds up well and is easy to clean.
Know how many litter boxes you need. As a general rule, you need one litter box for each cat in your house PLUS one more. If you have one cat, two boxes will do. If you have two cats, you’ll want three boxes.
There are instances where multiple boxes are impossible due to space. In these cases, you will need to scoop the cat litter multiple times a day to keep you and your cat happy.
Choosing the Purrrfect Location is a Must!
Choose the location properly. Most cats don’t like to go if they have an audience. You will want to put your litter box off to the side, or in a small private room. Be sure they have access, but also privacy.
Do not put your litter box where your cat eats and drinks. I have seen this many times and no one, including your cat, wants to eat where they poop.
Train kitty like a child. Just like a small child, you will want to train your kitty to use the litter box by placing her there after a nap, after eating, or at other times when you think she might need to go. Keep this up for a few days, or even a few weeks if that’s what it takes.
When you are training a kitten, you will need to keep putting him back in the box several times in one go just to be sure. Another safe choice is to put your kitten in the litter box every 30 minutes until he starts to use the litter regularly. Better to be safe than sorry!
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A Clean Litter Box Makes ALL the Difference!
Always keep the box clean. Using the litter box is pretty instinctive to cats, but you need to ensure it’s kept clean. Some cats are more finicky about how clean they like it. Some won’t go in the box at all if it is not cleaned after every use.
You wouldn’t want to use a dirty toilet and neither does your cat. There are also options for self-cleaning litter boxes to consider if you really hate scooping. You can also toilet train your cat for no litter at all, but that topic is for another post!
Never punish your cat for accidents. It’s also important that you never scold, yell at your cat, or punish them for having an accident. Again, like with a small child, this will not help. It will teach your cat to fear the litter box instead of using it.
You want your cat’s interactions with the litter box to be positive. Being persistent, but patient pays off in the end. You and your cat will both value a happy litter box experience!
Now that you have these tips to help you litter train your cat, it’s time to get started. Get your supplies and stay optimistic! Remember that some cats will take to it right away, almost as if by nature and you won’t have to do much other than provide the cat box and litter. Other cats, especially kittens, will require a little more help in the process. It pays to be patient and work through it with them.
Karen, says
Question I have two brother cats .The one does just fine with the usage of the litter box. But the dominant one of the two will urinate in the box , then climb out and do his bowel movements on the floor .. We have a
Jumbo size stainless a box . HElP
Kristen says
Cats usually prefer to pee in one box and poop in another. I would get another box for this very reason and that should help!
Abida says
I live in a two storey home and my kittens sleep with me. I have a litter box on the main floor and they are very good at using it. FYI, I’ve had these kitten for two weeks now, I have to bring them down early morning to use the litter box or they’ll have an accident in the room. Should I keep a box in the room as well and not have to worry about it. As they get older, would I be able to remove the litter box from bedroom? Thankyou
Kristen says
As the kitties get older, you can ABSOLUTELY love the litter box and it shouldn’t be an issue whatsoever!!!!
Jen says
It sounds like, as kittens, they do need that second litter box upstairs and nearby. As they get older, please consider having 3 boxes (the recommendation is one per cat, plus one more box), and have at least one litter box on each floor they spend time on.
Alicia Hursley says
Thanks for your tips! I need a lot of help training two strays I just picked up. We’ve had a pet stain removal service out twice already. I’m glad we rescued them, but boy am I excited to get them using a litter box.
Kelly says
I am fostering three little kittens we found in a wooden area by our house. We are working with The Humane Society of Valdosta. We lost one about five days after we got them. My problem is I can’t get them to use the litter box. They also don’t clean themselves but I’m afraid if I bathe them too much, they will get sick. How do I get them to clean themselves?