Cats
Litter Training a New Kitten
Cats are constantly grooming and as such are naturally clean. This makes litter training relatively easy. Remember, your kitten will want to toilet somewhere out of the way, somewhere clean, and in a material where they can bury it.
- Ask the breeder or shelter what type of litter they were using. The cat will be used to that type of litter and will find it easier to know where to go, once they are living in your home.
- When you bring your kitten home, place several litter trays around the house so that there is always one within easy reach. Show your kitten the litter tray, so they know where it is.
- If you have more than one cat, you will need more litter trays. Use the + 1 rule – you need as many litter trays as you have cats, plus one extra, otherwise you can end up with guarding and anxiety problems.
- Make sure the litter trays are clean and that they are situated in a relatively quiet area. They also need to be away from food and water bowls and sleeping areas.
- If you are having problems litter training your kitten, try confining them to one room. Place their sleeping spot, water and food in one corner, and the litter tray as far away as possible in the other. Once they get used to using the tray, you can start to let them regain their freedom.
- If you are still having difficulty, have a look at our ‘toilet training problems’ article for more help.