How to Train Your Cat to Use the Litter Box
Litter box training comes naturally to most cats. Adult cats tend to seek out grainy places to go to the bathroom, even if they’re strays. However, older cats and young kittens that have never been exposed to a litter box may need a bit more help to learn where it’s appropriate to go while inside the house.
When thinking about litter box training a cat, preparation is key. There are a few important questions that you will need to ask yourself before beginning the process.
How many litter boxes will you need?
The amount of litter boxes in a house is important. Ideally, there will be one litter box for each cat, plus one extra. If there are two cats in the home, you’ll need three litter boxes, and so forth. Having the right number of boxes eliminates possible aggression between cats if several need to use it at the same time.
What size litter box is needed?
Most adult cats do perfectly fine in a full size litter box, but many kittens can feel intimidated by such a large box. If they feel the box is too big, they’ll prefer to go elsewhere. Litter training in kittens can start as early as four weeks of age, so buying a kitten-friendly box is an important step if you have a young cat. As they grow, so should the size of their litter box.
What type of litter should be used?
All cats have preferences on their litter, and no two are exactly alike. However, most cats prefer fine-grain, soft litter. There are clumping and non-clumping types, but that decision falls on the owner. All brands come with their own unique benefits, and it may take a bit of trial-and-error to figure out what your cat prefers.
Where will the litter box be placed?
The placement of the litter box is important. If your house has multiple floors, there should be at least one litter box per floor. Making it difficult for cats to access their litter box, whether they have to climb stairs or walk across several rooms, leaves room for more accidents to happen. Litter boxes should be placed in an open space, as most cats don’t like to feel trapped when trying to relieve themselves. It’s easy to place boxes in corners or closets where they won’t be noticed, but that can make cats feel stressed, leading them to avoid using it. Additionally, it’s important to place litter boxes away from where your cat eats. Cats are very hygienic animals and won’t appreciate having to use the bathroom and eat so close together.
Once you feel adequately prepared to start the litter training process, the steps are fairly straightforward.
Show your cat the location of their litter box.
Take them into the room that the litter box is placed in and let them investigate it. This will show them where the box is at so they will be able to go back to it.
Try to place your cat into the litter box.
If your cat hasn’t shown any signs of fear towards the litter, you can try gently lowering them down into it. They will likely become curious by the grainy flakes around their feet. They may want to sniff it, or they may start pawing it. All interactions with the box at this stage are good things!
Place your cat into the litter box after eating, drinking, or waking up from a nap.
If your cat was okay with you placing them into the litter box the first time, but hasn’t made any attempt to use it since, you may want to try placing them into it when you know they’ll need to use it. Soon, they will start to associate actions like eating and drinking with a trip to the litter box afterward. Forming these healthy bathroom habits early helps them to recognize their own needs.
Reward positive litter box habits.
When your cat successfully uses the litter box, it should be a celebration! You can reward them with their favorite toy or treat, or even a few extra pats. They will start to make the connection between using the litter box and rewards, which makes them more likely to use it next time. If for some reason your cat fails to use it, don’t punish them. They could become fearful of you, or they could be more likely to try to hide their accidents where you won’t find them. If you notice an accident, don’t react to it. Calmly clean it up, and continue to reward positive litter training when you see it.
Keep the litter boxes clean.
A clean litter box is always important, but it’s especially important when training. You’ll want to scoop it as frequently as possible in the beginning. That will help to eliminate any possible aversions your cat might develop towards the litter box.
If all of these steps have been followed, but your cat still doesn’t seem to be catching on to the litter training, you’ll want to look at a few details.
Is the litter box located in a quiet area?
Are there other cats around guarding the box?
Is the box easily accessible?
Is the type of litter not your cat’s preference?
Does your cat have an issue with a high sided box if that’s what is provided?
Some cats can be picky with their restroom habits, so keeping an eye on their preferences is key!
Litter box training is an important step for any cat owner. It may not be easy, but patience and consistency will be the biggest factors in aiding your cat’s litter success. You may try a few things that don’t immediately work, or you may have a cat that instantly takes to using the box. Either way, you will find the right balance that works for you and your feline companion.
