How to Train a Cat to Use a Litter Box

For cats, using cat litter is a natural thing. And for most kittens, learning to use cat litter is also very easy.

As long as you prepare what you need to prepare and plan the plan, generally speaking, any kitten can learn it.

Preparation before training

The cat litter box, cat litter and training location need to be determined in advance, which will be discussed below.

Cat litter box:

There are many types of cat litter boxes on the market, including electric, closed, and strange shapes.

When training kittens to use cat litter boxes, we should follow the basic principle of “the simpler the better”.

I personally like to use: small, shallow, rectangular, and open styles.

This is the easiest for kittens to “get started”.

Cat litter:

Bentonite litter is the most common choice for most parents. It is both absorbent and environmentally friendly. However, for training kittens, I personally do not recommend using this type of cat litter.

Pine wood litter and tofu litter, which are more environmentally friendly, are better choices. Try to choose fragrance-free products.

Don’t forget to use a litter scoop while training. 

Location:

Wherever you plan to put it in the future, put it there now. Leave an escape route, and pay attention to the privacy of the site selection.

Cat Litter Box Training Tips

Most cats like to defecate in places with sand and gravel. First, the owner needs to lay cat litter in the cat litter box. It is generally recommended to spread cat litter to about 5 cm, and then put the cat in the litter box to let the cat get familiar with and feel the texture of the cat litter, and leave the smell. You can also put a small amount of urine or feces in advance. The last step is to observe the habit of defecation and urination, and take the cat to the prepared litter box when it wants to defecate. Generally, after 3-5 times of guiding the cat, it is basically learned to go to the toilet in the litter box. At the same time, it is recommended to clean the cat litter every day.

Let the kitten know the litter box

For most kittens, using litter is “natural”. You don’t need to teach them at all. Just take them to the litter box and take a look. Generally, they will “dig” in it.

Therefore, as soon as the kitten comes home (as soon as it reaches the age), you should start “training”:

• As soon as you get home, put it in the litter box
• Grab a handful of litter and let the cat touch it with its paws to get it interested in the litter
  After letting the cat know where the box is, you don’t need to care about it anymore. Let it eat and drink when it needs to
• Take it to the litter box 15-20 minutes after eating and drinking
• If the cat does not urinate or defecate in the box, wait two or three hours and try again
• Take it to the litter box once every two hours. Repetition will speed up the training progress

Restriction of activity range

Before the cat fully learns to use the litter box, limiting the activity area will make the training faster.

If you let it wander around, it may not necessarily find a “more comfortable” place somewhere in the house.

The following suggestions will enhance its training memory:

• Make sure that the area where it stays has clean litter boxes and cat litter at any time and anywhere
• Put food, drinks and cat beds in the room where the litter box is placed
• The more diligent the poop and urine shovel, the better

When the cat becomes more and more accustomed to using the litter box, you can gradually let it roam in more places.

In some cases, limiting the area has a significant effect on correcting litter box accidents caused by non-disease factors.

How to litter train a kitten fast?

Just how long does it take a kitten to litter train? Or to potty train a cat? Most kittens will use the litter box instinctively without any training at all, but some need a few days to get the hang of it. “Most cats easily adapt to a good, clean litter box,” Dr. Bell says.

However, some kittens do take several weeks to figure out how to use the litter box. Here are some tips for helping them learn to use their litter box fast.

Some tips to avoid retraining

Some cats may learn to use the litter box, but suddenly stop using it for some unknown reason. Here are some suggestions to minimize the possibility of this:

Food and drink should not be placed too close to the litter box, many cats are very reluctant to do so

• Where the cat urinates, use biological enzyme preparations to clean it thoroughly
  If you catch it in the act, take it to the litter box immediately and tell it calmly where it can urinate
• Consider sterilization
• Try using different types of cat litter

After the cat uses the litter box, you can give rewards in time. The best thing is of course food. After all, cats are typical foodies. Give rewards every time the cat uses the litter box, so that the smart cat knows that this behavior can get food.

Training a cat to use the litter box is a process, just like teaching a child, so you must be patient with cats.