How to Get My Kitten to Use the Litter Box?

Most grown cats will normally seek out a granular, sandy place to eliminate, but kittens may require a bit of help learning litter box habits.

There are some things you can do to litter train your kitten successfully. Below are tips on how to select litter boxes, choosing the right kind of litter, where and how to place the litter boxes and how to guide your kitten to make a habit with litter boxes.

Supplies You Will Need

To begin training your kitty to develop good bathroom practices, you will require some supplies:

Litter boxes: 

It is recommended to place one extra litter box than the number of kittens that are going to use them, so if you have one cat, you may want to begin with two litter boxes. Place the boxes in areas where it is easy to get in and also have some privacy. If they’re placed in a too open space, your cat may feel exposed and won’t want to use them.

Kitty litter: 

There are many options available, varying from low-cost non-clumping clay litter to high-quality, eco-friendly choices made from materials like recycled newspaper, pine pellets, and even wheat. While most cats are not very concerned about the kind of litter you use, however, some are very specific and will not use the litter if they have any objection to the smell or texture. Your best option, to begin with, is a typical clumping litter (unscented) and then if you like to experiment with something else you can do so once your cat is perfectly litter trained.

Treats and toys: 

When you notice your lovely kitten has used their box, offer a reward with a piece of dried cat food or a cat treat. You may also give toys and praise them to create a positive association with using their litter box.

Ultimately, you will have to encourage them to expect a treat (food-related or others) every time they make use of their cat toilet.

How to Litter Train a Cat

Listed below are some tips to successfully litter train a cat:

• Show your cat the boxes right at the moment they arrive by placing them inside and allow them to examine and sniff the box. Make sure to not move the boxes once they’re shown to the cat. Doing this might confuse them.
• Place your kittens in any of the boxes right after meals and after they wake up from sleep. If you see them acting like they need to go, which may look like crouching or sniffing in a specific area, pick them up and place them in the litter box.
• Reward your cat whenever they use the litter box. Praise your kitten and give them a toy or a treat.
• Never scold or punish your cat for accidents. Doing this will only cause anxiety and stress, which can exacerbate the issue and make teaching harder. Cats usually can not associate punishment with the action in question, so it does not help teach them to not do it next time. 

Cat’s litter training is a must for every owner and with some patience, you can master it. Training is time-consuming, but your cat will learn these habits with your support, love and attention.