Cats instinctively like to do their business in dirt or sand. If you get used to your puppy getting them in a litter box, he will gladly start using it instead of the carpet. If you train it as soon as you bring it home, it will learn to use it regularly in no time. It is important to find the right litter box for your kitten and encourage him to enter, but you do not have to "train" him as you would a dog to get him used to leaving the house to fulfill his needs. There is no need to teach your cat what to do with the litter box; his natural instinct usually takes over. What you need to do is provide them with an acceptable and accessible litter box.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Purchase the Material
Step 1. Choose a large litter box
The small ones you find on the market are suitable for kittens who are still puppies, but know that they grow so fast that you should replace them immediately after getting used to the cat. When you replace the litter box, you need to re-train your cat to use it, so your best bet is to get one right away that you plan to use for a long time.
Even if he is a puppy, he has no difficulty reaching a large litter box, as long as there is a low enough side for him to enter. If you find a large tub but aren't sure if the kitten will be able to access it, get a piece of plywood or other flat, non-slippery material to create a small ramp. Tape it to one side of the litter box and remove it when the cat gets old enough to easily get in on its own
Step 2. Consider getting a closed litter box
Some models have a casing (or lid) surrounding them. The advantage of this type is that it can retain the sand even of a particularly lively cat, which loves to dig and scrape, in addition to the fact that it allows to reduce odors, if you plan to keep it in a small living room. Also some cats feel protected by the cover.
- Make sure the closed litter box is large; cats need a lot of space to move around comfortably. Most cats have an instinctive behavior that leads them to smell their feces and then bury them, for this reason the container must be large enough to allow it.
- Some cats don't like closed litter boxes the early days they get used to using them. You can eventually ease the transition by removing the swing door until the cat begins to get comfortable with his "toilet".
Step 3. Buy the sand
There are many types to choose from, and all are suitable for most young or adult cats (8 months and older). Choose a type that is as dust-free as possible, as it can irritate your cat's lungs. Keep the following factors in mind when choosing the product for your fluff:
- If possible, get a fragrance-free litter box. Both adult cats and kittens dislike scented sand; if it gives off a rather strong smell, the animal may be tempted to go elsewhere to carry out its needs. In addition, some smells can irritate the cat's nose and eyes or cause problems for those cats who already suffer from respiratory diseases.
- Consider purchasing clumping litter. It is a choice that has become very popular, since it allows you to collect the cat's droppings in a simple way. Keep in mind, though, that there can be some risk of the cat ingesting the sand and getting sick, even though there has never been any evidence that this could happen.
- Choose a litter box that is widely commercially available. Some cats become accustomed to a specific litter and cannot recognize a litter box containing a different product as a “toilet”.
Step 4. Also buy a scoop and an absorbent cloth
These are the last tools needed to educate the cat in the use of the litter box, as the first is used to remove the feces from the sand, while the cloth must be placed under the tray to prevent the animal from dirtying the floor of the house.
Method 2 of 3: Accustom the Kitten to the Use of the Litter
Step 1. Place the bowl in a quiet place
Do not put it in a very busy part of the house, such as the kitchen or the entrance. The ideal place is one that is easily accessible for the puppy, which guarantees him a lot of privacy and where there are no sudden noises that could scare him.
- Although the laundry is often the most common choice because it is not very "lived in" compared to other areas of the house, the sudden noises that the washing machine or dryer can make during the spin cycles could frighten the kitten and cause him to fear the use of the litter box.
- The "toilet" must be placed in an area where the cat spends a lot of time, so that it can almost always see it and use it when needed.
- Cats like an environment with some privacy. If you can't find a suitable one, you can create a space behind the sofa or in another secluded corner for your puppy.
- If, during training, for some reason it becomes necessary to move the litter box, be sure to do it gradually, a few centimeters at a time every 2-3 days. If you move the container from one day to the next in another room, you could confuse the cat, which would inevitably cause some "accident" in the house. Eventually you can try to avoid this risk by placing the bowl of his food where you previously kept the litter box, as most cats are reluctant to do their business where they eat.
Step 2. Place the kitten in the litter filled with sand
As soon as you bring your puppy home, place him in the tub so he can smell and get used to using it. Allow him to spend a few minutes inside, even if he does not have the need to fulfill his own needs. Keep putting your kitten in the litter box every time after meals, when she wakes up, or at any other time when you think she needs to defecate. Immediately put it in the tub even when you see it crouching anywhere else in the house.
- Some puppies are able to immediately understand the purpose of that strange container full of sand and do not need any further specific training. Others, on the other hand, will have to enter it up to ten times a day, before they understand it.
- Try to avoid "showing" the kitten how to dig to bury the feces, as it may frighten him, so don't think about grabbing his paws and helping him move the sand until he learns for himself.
Step 3. Use praise, never punish him
As the cat grows accustomed to using the litter box and to consider it his "bathroom", praise him every time he goes there and caress him by talking to him in a comforting way. Do not scold him when he is inside the container, because he could associate the use of the litter box with punishment.
- Kittens do not respond well to the widespread technique of rubbing their nose in the feces that they have made out of the tray. If he gets dirty anywhere in the house, just let him smell the dirt and then gently lift him into the litter box so he knows where to go next time.
- Don't spank him and never scold him to punish him, as it will only cause him to be afraid of you.
Step 4. Make sure it always has enough sand
If possible, you should arrange a litter box for each cat in the house, as well as an extra one.
For example, a kitten should ideally have 2 possible litter boxes. If you have three cats, you should get 4
Step 5. Consider establishing a period in which you limit the area available
When you bring your puppy home, you should limit his space to a small area during the first few weeks. This can help him slowly settle into his new home and give him easy access to the litter box, thus reducing the spaces where accidents can occur.
- You should set up a space that is free of rugs or carpets, so that it is easier to clean in case it needs to be done in areas not designed for this.
- Make sure to keep the litter box and food with the bed in opposite corners of the space available to him.
Method 3 of 3: Helping the Kitten Feel Comfortable
Step 1. Clean the litter box every day
Cats don't like to do their business in a dirty area. If you don't change the litter regularly, your puppy may find a cleaner place, such as a carpet, to defecate.
- To clean the litter box, scoop up the feces with the scoop, put it in a bag and throw it in the trash.
- During the first few weeks you can leave some small traces of feces (to be replaced however with a certain frequency), so as to help the cat recognize the purpose of the litter box.
Step 2. Clean the entire container often
About once a week, completely empty the tray of all material and clean it thoroughly. When it is completely empty, wash it with a non-hazardous cleaning solution (or warm soapy water), then rinse it, dry it, and fill it with new sand.
If you've got clumping litter, you may be tempted to leave the litter for more than a week, thanks to the ease with which it is removed. However, even in this case it is necessary to completely empty the material and replace the sand often
Step 3. Thoroughly clean the area of your home where accidents occurred
If your cat has been relieving outside the litter box, be sure to clean the area completely, removing any urine or feces. This way you should be able to reduce the number of future accidents in the same area.
Step 4. Consider removing plants in large pots from your home
If you find that your kitten uses the soil from your plant pots as a personal "toilet", it may be necessary to remove it or cover the soil with aluminum foil during the training period. Kittens instinctively bury their litter, so they are naturally attracted to the earth and sandy areas. Make sure the litter box is the only place in the house where the cat wants to relieve himself.
Step 5. Feed your cat at regular times
This allows you to predict with some degree of accuracy when the litter box will be used. Puppies generally have to free their intestines about 20 minutes after eating. When it seems to you that he feels the need to evacuate, take him to the litter box and allow him to enter.
Advice
- As the kitten grows, you will need to add more sand to the tub. When it reaches 6 months of age, you should start putting a 5-7cm layer of litter in the container.
- It is best if the floor around the litter box is tiled or treated wood, as this way the pee can be cleaned easily.
- If you have a relatively large house or apartment, you can consider getting more litter boxes to be placed in different parts of the house; in this way you are sure that the cat can go to any of these when it has an urgency and that it does not cause accidents in other areas. When the cat starts using the litter box more reliably, you can start removing some, a little at a time.
- If you feel reluctant to use the litter box, make sure it can be accessed easily or try changing the type of sand, especially if the one you are using is scented.
- If you need to change the litter box, replace it gradually. If it is appropriate to add a new type of sand, try to exchange it slowly, mixing the new product with the old one and integrating it within two weeks.
Warnings
- Make sure you take your cat to the vet regularly for medical checks to make sure it grows healthy. Some diseases cause adult cats and kittens to behave in unusual ways when using the litter box.
- Feed your cat a dry or semi-moist puppy food.
- A common cause for cats to do their business outside the litter box is the owner scolding them for using the wrong place. The kitten comes to feel insecure when he has to evacuate (particularly in an open space) for fear of being punished, so he does it in secret. Knowing this, don't punish him when he messes up in the wrong place because you only risk making things worse.
