Kitten Litter Box Training Tips

  Kittens know instinctively how to scratch in the dirt to make a spot to deposit their waste but contrary to popular belief, aren't taught to use the litter tray by their mother. Therefore learning a kitten to use the tray from the earliest age solves many problems and here are some tips. Over the years, people have gained the belief that mothers teach their kittens to use the cat litter box at the right point in their development, but this is actually a myth. In reality, kittens begin to dig in dirt and scratch loose, dry material around from the age of about 4 weeks without ever having seen Mum or Dad do so, because their instincts tell them to. But helping them out to ensure they start as they mean to go on with the litter process is something that should be done as soon as you bring your kitten home.

Picking the litter box
When you get a kitten from a breeder, it is worth checking to see what type of litter box they have been using, as providing something familiar is the best way to ensure a smooth transition. However, if you are adopting an abandoned kitten, they may have been living outside and not encounter a litter box before. If this is the case, you may need to fill the litter box with dirt at first so they associate it with the toilet process and gradually swap to cat litter, as they get older.

The best type of litter box is a large one that allows the kitten plenty of room to scratch around and get used to the idea of using the box. Having a box where one side is low can also be ideal as this saves little legs struggling to hop out of a high-sided box and will also be less intimidating for them. Placement of the box can also be important – it is ideally placed somewhere out of the high traffic areas of the house so the kitten can have some privacy. If you find you need to move it at a later date, do this slowly and a step at a time to allow them to learn the new position.

Using the litter tray
When the kitten has had a nap, a play session or any time you think they need to use the litter box, lift them up and place them in the box. When they do use the box, heap praise on them so they know it is good thing and if they make a mistake and deposit their waste somewhere else, pick them up and put them in the box straight away. Don’t tell them off as this can lead them to associate the litter box with being scolded and can become a negative thing in their mind.

Never rub a cat’s nose in the mess they have made as they won’t understand the purpose of the exercise and can come to fear you for it. If they are choosing an out of the way spot to leave their mess, take steps to block it off so they can’t use it.

During the learning process, leave a tiny amount of wet or dry waste in the box so that the kitten recognizes their own smell and what the box is for. As soon as they begin to use the litter box properly, you can clean out all the waste as normal and start the full litter box cleaning regime.

Changing the litter
Once the kitten is regularly and consistently using the litter box, you can look at changing the type of litter in use if you require. This may be because the type you have creates a lot of dust that can cause a reaction in both cats and humans and even lead to respiratory problems. It may be because you want to swap to clumping litter as this can be easier to change as long as the cat doesn't find it difficult to use.

There are even litters that can be used to diagnose problems, if you suspect your cat may have a health condition. These include ones that change color due to the level of pH in the urine and a litter that detects urine glucose levels to monitor diabetes. A new development in a litter brand detects blood in the urine as a possible sign of FLUTD.