by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: September 22, 2008   Last Updated: March 04, 2011

As tidy as cats are, kitten hood may be a messy time if you do not supply your fur ball with the right equipment. More often than not, problems with kittens who do not use the litter box are ultimately due to the owner who may not be aware of some important considerations. Litter box training for kittens is an equal process as potty training for children, some pick it up sooner some pick it up later. Eventually, everyone will learn.  If you own an older cat, the same rules applies. Try to learn the most you can about feline psychology and use some strategies. Following are some tips that may aid you and your kitten or cat in the process.

Tips for Litter Box Training your Kitten or Cat

How Old is Your Cat?

If kitty is very young, you must keep this in mind as most breeders allow kittens to go home only once they are 10 to 12 weeks. The reason behind this is because at this age kittens have been able to be well socialized and have learned from their mother many aspects of life and litter training is among them.When taken early away then you must substitute mother cat and help kitty learn. As mentioned above, some kittens learn pretty quick while others may take longer but all will get it sooner or later. There are many things to keep in mind that can help litter training. If you are dealing with an older cat instead, keep reading.

How large is your home?

Imagine a tiny kitten is a large home. The new smells, the new sights, the new people. All this can get pretty overwhelming! So expect a few accidents the first days you have your kitty. To reduce such accidents close your kitten in a small room such as a bathroom with his food, water bowl and litter box. A normal sized house may seem like a mansion to a tiny kitten! He may get lost at times and wonder where he is...

What size is the litter box?

Something to consider is that kittens are pretty small, so make sure that kitty will not need to climb up the litter box. Very small kittens such as 4 week old may hardly see over the litter box and may be unable to climb over it. Try starting with a shoe box cover for the first weeks and then 2 weeks later, get a low litter box that is easy to get into.

If you have an adult cat, get a larger litter box. Some cats are a bit finicky and may refuse to use the litter box if it is too small. Some may even accidentally poop out of it if it is too small.

Where is the litter box located?

Cats do not like to have their litter box near their food.

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