There are many different types of litter boxes but
basically you need a litter box that gives your kitten plenty
of room to move around in and also it must have sides that are
low enough for your kitten to climb over.
Choosing
the right litter box for your cat
In an emergency you can
improvise with something you have around the house such as a
baking pan, a plastic container or a cut down cardboard box. (make sure you line
these with plastic liners for example with plastic garbage
bags)
Kitty Litter
There are many commercial Cat Litters available and you
should experiment and use what works best for you. Avoid
scented litters. People may like the smell of scented kitty
litter but many cats and kittens do not. You will have to
strike a happy medium between the litter you prefer to use and
the litter the kitten prefers to use.
Also avoid using clay clumping litter for young kittens as
it can be dangerous, causing intestinal blockages if
accidentally ingested.
In an emergency you can use shredded newspaper or soil or
sand from your garden.
Where to place the litter box
Place the litter tray in a quiet area because cats like privacy. Don't
choose a position where there is a lot of traffic or noise and don't place
it out in the open. Preferably place it in a corner or at least with one
wall behind it.
Don't place the litter box near your kitten's food or water bowls.
Make sure your kitten knows where the litter box is and that he doesn't
have to travel far to reach it.
As a rule of thumb provide one to two litter boxes
per cat in a household. If your house is very large, or has
multiple floors, you may need to provide multiple locations.
How to house train your kitten
Firstly, do not allow your new kitten full run of the
house.
Try to contain him to the room you spend the
most time in so you can watch him most of the time. Close all
bedroom doors and barricade other areas that do not have
doors.
Establish a routine
Gently place your kitten in the litter box a
couple of minutes after he has finished eating and a couple of minutes
after he has woken from a sleep. Cats by instinct prefer to bury
their urine and feces. His instincts may take over and he will begin to
dig and scratch at the litter by himself. Give him some time to sniff
around and decide what he is going to do. If he doesn't start scratching
by himself, all you need to do is gently take hold of his front paw and
simulate a digging and scratching motion. The kitten should get the idea
from doing this. If this doesn't work scratch at the litter with your
fingers. Try to make it look like a fun game so you attract his
interest.
If the kitten uses the litter box
give him lots of praise. If he doesn't use it don't force the issue. You
must never use a raised voice or make him afraid of the litter box in any way.
Establish a routine of placing your kitten in
the litter box at hourly intervals throughout the day. He may not want
to go every hour but this will reinforce the idea of where you want him
to go. It also helps avoid too many accidents.
Observe your kitten as much as
you can
With young kittens accidents can occur
frequently. You must be prepared to watch your kitten carefully at all
times. If you see signs that
he is about to go pee or poop, gently pick him up without a fuss and
without scaring him place him in the litter box.
Once your kitten has used the litter he leaves the smell of cat urine
which will encourage him to come back next time. If he continues to have
accidents try transferring some urine or faeces from the 'accident' to the litter box so that
the smell of it encourages him to use the litter.
What are the signs kitty needs to potty?
One of the signs that a kitten needs to eliminate is that he will begin
scratching at the floor. He will often go to a corner, behind a couch or a
quiet area. Be observant and watch your kitten's behavior. Often a
hurried departure from a game will indicate that he is hurrying off for a
bathroom break.
My kitten has
accidents and pees on the floor!
Expect accidents. Your kitten is only a baby and is still learning what
is expected of him. Do not punish a kitten by rubbing his nose in the
accident as this does not work. All it will teach the kitten to do is to
fear you. Praise good behaviour and try to keep a closer eye on your
kitten in future.
If you catch your kitten in the act quickly pick him up and take him
quickly to the litter box. Say words such as 'Ah Ah' or 'No' in an unhappy
voice when he is eliminating in the wrong place and then praise him and tell
him what a good boy he is while you have him placed in the litter.
Make sure the litter box is always clean. Cats and kittens do not like
using heavily soiled litter boxes. Scoop out the hard bits frequently and
change the litter daily. Thoroughly wash litter boxes once a week.
If you live in a safe location and will allow your cat or
kitten to go outside you may want to progress to pooping and
peeing
outside. This is achieved by simply moving the kitty litter
box closer to the outside door slowly over a period of time.
Eventually move it to just outside the door and then you can
progress to no litter box at all. Make sure your kitten knows
where the litter box is at all times. Don't move it suddenly
from one room to the next and expect your kitten to know where
it is. When you have reached the stage of having the litter
box outside watch your kitten and wait until you see him begin
to use it. Then gently pick him up and show him an appropriate
spot in the garden or yard that he can use instead. Cats and
kittens love freshly dug soil or a sandy spot so you may be
able to prepare an area ahead of time that you would like him
to use. Eventually he will find his own preferred spots to
eliminate.
Different breeds of cats
with pictures, description and information on each of the listed domestic cat
breeds.
Which breed would you choose?
