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Introducing a new kitten into the home is fun and exciting for the whole family, but teaching her to use her litter box may be a challenge.

It's likely kitty will sense the emotions from everyone in the house, including other pets, so it's important to approach her training with calm and patience.

Causes of litter box accidents for kittens:

Stress There's a lot of pressure on a baby animal when it's first introduced to a new home. Kitty must contend with people she doesn't know, other animals that might frighten her, and feelings of separation from her previous home. If she was recently separated from her littermates, she'll feel lonely and confused. Learning to use a litter box is just one more new experience she must deal with, and it could take a few tries for her to get it right.

Dirty Litter Box If the litter box is not cleaned regularly, kitty will look for someplace else to do her business. While training, try not to leave baskets of laundry around, or clumps of wadded up plastic bags or clothing, because they could tempt her to use them as her toilet.

Other Cats Using the Same Box It's recommended you have one litter box per cat in your home. Most will share without a problem, but some cats, including new kittens, may be reluctant to use the same box as her fellow felines.

Type of Litter Cats are fussy by nature. Some don't care for perfumed litter, others are opposed to litter that clumps, and some prefer pellets or wood shavings. Not just any litter will do.

Inaccessible Litter Box If the litter box is too tall, or in a place too difficult for kitty to reach, she may scout out another location to get her business done.

Urinary Tract Infection If litter box training continues to be unsuccessful, there's a chance your kitten could have a urinary tract infection. This type of infection is potentially dangerous so it may be time to seek a vet's attention.

Solutions to help your kitten use her litter box:

Clean Litter Box - Make sure to scoop out waste regularly, and change out old litter that's been saturated with urine to keep the box smelling fresh.

Try A New Type of Litter - If she's refusing to use her box, experiment with different litters. You can always transition your kitten to whatever litter you want, but it's important to get her using her box first. Our kitten was feral when we got her, so we found that mixing regular soil with litter was exactly what she wanted. We gradually cut back on the dirt until she was completely trained.

Give Her a Litter Box of Her Very Own If the community box has her turning up her nose, provide her with a litter box she can call her own. Give her a small box that's more her size, and make sure it's easy to get to and that it has her scent. If she's soiled elsewhere in the house, place the waste in her box and show it to her. This will encourage her to do what comes natural, in a place where you want her to do it.

Patience is key when training a new kitten to have good toilet habits. Never scold your kitten for having an accident, and allow her the time she needs to figure things out. Then sit back and enjoy a frisky, healthy new member of your family.

Learn more about this author, Karen Duvall.
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