How to Litter Box Train Your Cat
Cats are naturally tidy animals that will do their “business” in soft sand or dirt when they live outdoors. This same sort of habit has transitioned easily into the litter box for the indoor cat, but all cats are usually going to have to receive some “training” in how to properly use their box. The training is going to differ according to the age and history of the cat, and some might need a little prompting in order to recognize the litter box for what it is.
We’ll begin this discussion with a look at the easiest cats to housetrain – newborn kittens. The mother cat will tend to their kittens’ sanitary needs for the first few weeks of life (and any kitten that hasn’t eliminated after the first two weeks of life must see a veterinarian right away). After that time, however, it is a good idea to begin presenting the kittens with an assigned area for them to begin using as a litter box. While it is not a good idea to use regular litter for the kittens, it is a good time to get them used to an assigned location for this particular activity. Many people use paper towels or shredded paper for kittens, and then switch over to litter when the cats are a few months old.
The box or area selected should have low sides and be easy for the kittens to reach and access. As time passes the box can be made taller and less accessible, including a cover or lid, but for initial training it is a good idea to constantly allow the box to serve as a visual reminder for the kittens to “go” in that one spot.
If the cat is older and being brought in from the outdoors the training is going to be somewhat different. It will have to begin with an understanding of the materials that the cat is used to using for litter purposes. It is a good idea to scatter some loose soil over the top of the new litter in order to give the cat a visual and mental cue as to the purpose of the box. It is also a good idea to locate this box in a quiet and out of the way location to provide the cat with an adequate amount of security and comfort.
It is important to keep all litter boxes as clean as possible because cats have a very sensitive nose and strong odors might make them refuse to use a box at all.
