Litter Box Training
So you are welcoming a new kitten into your home, but you don’t want them using the bathroom on your carpet? Litter box training will save your sanity!
Here are our best tips:
- Get your kitten off to a good start with an appropriate litter box. Often a plastic box is the most practical and easy to clean.
- The sides should be low enough that your kitten can easily climb in and out.
- Place the box in a relatively quiet area of the house. Be certain the box is easily accessible.
- It is usually best to start with unscented clay or clumping litter. If you already have cats at home, provide an additional box for each new pet.
- Most kittens will automatically use the litter in preference to other surfaces, except perhaps for the soil of a potted plant.
- To prevent mishaps, keep plants out of the kitten’s reach or cover the soil with pine cones or decorative rocks.
- To ensure that your kitten uses the litter box every time, always keep it within eye sight. If it stops playing and begins sniffing around, gently carry the kitten to its litter box.
- Praise any sniffing or scratching, and give it loads of praise or small food treats for eliminating in the litter box.
- Whenever you are unable to watch your kitten, restrict it to a kitten-proof room with its litter box. Do this for at least the first 2 weeks, until your kitten is using the box regularly.
- Keep the box clean so that your kitten will return to use it.
- Since it is important that the kitten feel comfortable around its litter box, try to prevent anything unpleasant from happening when it is near its litter box.
