How can I get my kittens to use the litter box?
Friday, February 26th, 2010 at
4:36 am
We have one older cat and 2 younger kittens. The kittens use the litter box when we are awake at home but everyday when I go to work or wake up in the morning they have pooped or peed on the floor. I scold them and put them in the litter box but they just keep going around the house but only when we are not around to see. I’m about to have a baby soon so I cannot have them making a mess all over the house but I also do not want to get rid of them. Any suggestions?
Filed under: Cat Litter
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You cat could have a medical condition. My 7 year old female used to urinate all over the house, on the couch, clean clothes.. it didn’t matter to her. We took her in to get her fixed (when she was 1 or 2) and we found out that she had a huge cyst, which was causing her extreme pain and causing her to urinate everywhere. It was removed successfully and she is one of the most calm, well mannered and obediant cats I have ever had.
What I do with my 6 week old kitten is monitor her eating and drinking and as soon as she is done with either or both I put her in the litter box. She will not go then but about 15 minutes later she will go in there. It should be easy to train the younger cats to do this, the older one may be difficult though.
First- if you are pregnant you should not be going anywhere near the cat-box. The risk of toxoplasmosis or toxemia(if I remember correctly that’s what it’s called) is very high for women who are expecting and exposed to cat feces. I am a cat person so when I was expecting my husband just cleaned out the cat-box for me ( and he hasn’t done it since!) With kittens the very best way to litter train is to have the box , their area, set up when they first enter the house. Place the kitten(s) IN the box before the set their little feet anywhere else. This way their whole world revolves around the box, it’s the center of their universe. If it is too late for that, then try changing to a different litter. Gravel litter is hard on a kittens or even a cats paws and can discourage them from using the box. Sand litter or a paper based litter like YESTERDAYS NEWS may help to encourage the use of the box. Also avoid scented litter. And some kittens and cats are very picky about how clean the box is, with some cats you can get away with cleaning the box once a day, the best advice though is to clean out the box once each day for every cat or kitten using the same box. If 3 cats are using the box it should be sifted 3 times per day and so on. It’s important to keep a really close eye on whats in their box anyway to watch for any possible health problems such as not pooping or peeing enough or worms or blood showing up in the stool. Enjoy your new kittens and good luck with them and your new baby!
There is no use scolding them when you get up in the morning as they will have no clue why you are scolding them.
Try putting their poops in the litter box and showing it to them. Also get a few extra litter boxes and put them in quiet places throughout the house. Some cats do not like to share and will not go in even a slightly dirty box (especally if it is dirty from another cat)
Ally
Easy! Cats are so esay to litter box train.
When you keep them indoors, look after them. When they look like their goin to go potty [they usually scratch around, and/or sniff the floor alot] grab them and run em over to the litter box.
They’ll have occasional accidents b/c you wont be there watching their every move.
But if and when you can. Just do thatt every time, and they’lleventually learn to use it all the time.
Cats prefer sand or dirt over the bare floor to go potty anyways.
Good Luck
First of all be very careful around cat liter while pregnant..
you may want to get a second box or try getting one with a top
you could also maybe change your brand of liter.
If Momma cat is well trained she will insist her babies use it too . Start with momma
You should trained it when she was small (ithink so)
The problem may me medical, territorial or stress related. I suggest you visit the following web site:
http://www.animaltrustees.org/ATA_Web/pdfs/atalitterboxproblems.pdf
They explain the causes of the problem and what to do to solve it. Also, using a multiple cat formula of scoopable litter and cleaning the box often may help make the litter box more attractive for your cats.
Some cats are really good about using the litter box, and sometimes there not. Try getting another litter box. One for the older cat, and the other for the kittens. They are like puppies if you can’t train them to use the bathroom correctly GET RID OF THEM.
you can try and show them where it is.
do you have a litter boxx in the bathroom?
whenever youu go to the bathroom..they sometimes follow you and then they get the erge to go well you know potty.
but once they the hang of it they will learn to go on their own.
Gently pick them up and set them in the litter box in time they will get the hint and return on there own.
Put their bed by the litter box.
Most cats have a specific preference about where they want to eliminate. By following the suggestions outlined in this handout, you’ll be able to start off on the right foot with your new cat.
Location
Most people are inclined to place the litter box in an out-of-the-way spot in order to minimize odor and loose particles of cat litter in the house. Often, the litter box ends up in the basement, sometimes next to an appliance and/or on a cold cement floor. This type of location can be undesirable from your cat’s point of view for several reasons.
If you have a kitten or an older cat, she may not be able to get down a long flight of stairs in time to get to the litter box. Since she is new to the household, she may not remember where the litter box is if it’s located in an area she seldom frequents. Your cat may be startled while using the litter box if a furnace, washer or dryer suddenly comes on and that may be the last time she’ll risk such a frightening experience! If your cat likes to scratch the surface surrounding her litter box, she may find a cold cement floor unappealing.
Therefore, you may have to compromise. The litter box should be kept in a location that affords your cat some privacy, but is also conveniently located. If you place the litter box in a closet or a bathroom, be sure the door is wedged open from both sides, in order to prevent her from being trapped in or out. Depending on where it’s located, you might consider cutting a hole in a closet door and adding a swinging door. If the litter box sits on a smooth, slick or cold surface, put a small throw rug underneath the litter box.
Type Of Litter
Research has shown that most cats prefer fine-grained litters, presumably because they have a softer feel. The new scoopable litters usually have finer grains than the typical clay litter. However, high-quality, dust-free, clay litters are relatively small-grained and may be perfectly acceptable to your cat. Potting soil also has a very soft texture, but is not very absorbent. If you suspect your cat has a history of spending time outdoors and is likely to eliminate in your houseplants, you can try mixing some potting soil with your regular litter. Pellet-type litters or those made from citrus peels are not recommended. Once you find a litter your cat likes, don’t change types or brands. Buying the least expensive litter or whatever brand happens to be on sale, could result in your cat not using the litter box.
Many cats are put off by the odor of scented or deodorant litters. For the same reason, it’s not a good idea to place a room deodorizer or air freshener near the litter box. A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling your cat. Odor shouldn’t be a problem if the litter box is kept clean. If you find the litter box odor offensive, your cat probably finds it even more offensive and won’t want to eliminate there.
Number Of Litter Boxes
You should have at least as many litter boxes as you have cats. That way, none of them will ever be prevented from eliminating in the litter box because it’s already occupied. You might also consider placing them in several locations around the house, so that no one cat can "guard" the litter box area and prevent the other cats from accessing it. We also recommend that you place at least one litter box on each level of your house. It’s not possible to designate a personal litter box for each cat in your household, as cats will use any litter box that’s available. Occasionally, a cat may refuse to use the litter box after another cat has used it. In this case, all of the litter boxes will need to be kept extremely clean and additional boxes may be needed.
To Cover Or Not To Cover
Some people prefer to use a covered litter box, however, there are some potential problems with using this type of box. You may want to experiment by offering both types at first, to discover what your cat prefers.
Potential Problems
w You may forget to clean the litter box as frequently as you should because the dirty litter is "out of sight — out of mind."
w A covered litter box traps odors inside, so it will need to be cleaned more often than an open one.
w A covered litter box may not allow a large cat sufficient room to turn around, scratch, dig or position herself in the way she wants.
w A covered litter box may also make it easier for another cat to lay in wait and "ambush" the user as she exits the box. On the other hand, a covered litter box may feel more private and may be preferred by timid cats.
Cleaning The Box
To meet the needs of the most discriminating cat, feces should be scooped out of the litter box daily. How often you change the litter depends on the number of cats you have, the number of litter boxes, and the type of litter you use. Twice a week is a general guideline for clay litter, but depending on the circumstances, you may need to change it every other day or once a week. If you scoop the litter daily, scoopable litter can go two to three weeks before the litter needs to be changed. If you notice an odor or if much of the litter is wet or clumped, it’s time for a change. Don’t use strong smelling chemicals or cleaning products when washing the litter box, as it may cause your cat to avoid it. Washing with soap and water should be sufficient.
Liners
Some cats don’t mind having a liner in the litter box, while others do. Again, you may want to experiment to see if your cat is bothered by a liner in the box. If you do use a liner, make sure it’s anchored in place, so it can’t easily catch your cat’s claws or be pulled out of place.
Depth Of Litter
Some people think that the more litter they put in the box, the less often they will have to clean it. This is not true. Most cats won’t use litter that’s more than about two inches deep. In fact, some long-haired cats, actually prefer less litter and a smooth, slick surface, such as the bottom of the litter box. The litter box needs to be cleaned on a regular basis and adding extra litter is not a way around that chore.
"Litter-Training" Cats
There’s really no such thing as "litter-training" a cat in the same way one would house-train a dog. A cat doesn’t need to be taught what to do with a litterbox. The only thing you need to do is provide an acceptable, accessible litter box, using the suggestions above. It’s not necessary to take your cat to the litter box and move her paws back and forth in the litter, in fact, we don’t recommend it. This may actually be an unpleasant experience for your cat and is likely to initiate a negative association with the litter box.
If Problems Develop
If your cat begins to eliminate in areas other than the litterbox, your first call should always be to your veterinarian. Many medical conditions can cause a change in a cat’s litter box habits. If your veterinarian determines that your cat is healthy, the cause may be behavioral. Most litterbox behavior problems can be resolved by using behavior modification techniques. Punishment is not the answer. For long-standing or complex situations, contact an animal behavior specialist who has experience working with cats.