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Cat Pee Dog Pee Problems

If your new kitten has come from a reputable breeder your kitten will most likely be trained to use the litter box. Kittens learn from their mothers and breeders will reinforce what mother cat has taught them.

Ask the breeder which type of litter box and kitty litter your kitten is used to. Often if you change to a different brand of litter the kitten may not understand what is required of it and may stop using the litter box. If you want to change to a different brand of litter from the one the breeder used do it slowly by introducing the new litter into the old a little at a time over a period of a couple of weeks until the old litter has been replaced by the litter of your choice.

Of course not everyone acquires a kitten from a breeder and some of these kittens come from an environment where they have never seen a litter box in their lives. Some kittens may have been raised outside or they may be a rescue kitten and you have no idea of their history.

 

How to begin toilet training: Equipment Required

Litter Tray

There are many different types of litter boxes but basically you need a litterbox 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.

How to litter 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.

Cats are fastidious animals and by instinct they prefer to bury their urine and faeces. Watch your kitten carefully and 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. Take one of his paws and scratch the litter with it. Because he can dig in the litter his natural instincts should take over. 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 tray in any way.

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 to the litter box so that the  smell of it encourages him to use the litter.

What are the signs kitty needs to toilet?

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 behaviour. Often a hurried departure from a game will indicate that he is hurrying off for a toilet break.

 

Establish a routine

A few minutes after your kitten has finished eating put him in the litter box and scratch his paw. If he doesn't want to go let him get out but watch him carefully because kittens often need to go to the toilet after eating. Use the same procedure after your kitten has woken up from a nap. This is another time when it is most likely they need to eliminate.

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.

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 toileting 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.

If accidents happen on a regular basis you can confine your kitten for  part of the day to a small room such as bathroom or laundry. Place the litter box in the room with him and he will soon get the idea to use it. Don't leave him there on his own for long periods of time and always make sure he has fresh water and something to play with.

You can also confine him when you are not there to supervise him.

Read this article on 10 Reasons why your cat won't use the litter box

Cleaning Issues

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.

Always clean urine accidents thoroughly. The smell of cat urine will entice your cat back to the inappropriate location. How to clean cat urine odors

How to teach your kitten to toilet outside

If you live in a safe location and will allow your cat or kitten to go outside you may want to progress to toileting 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 toilet.

 

 

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