Good litter box habits

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How to properly and efficiently teach your cat to use the litter box.

 Each pet owner has at least once encountered the bad habits of his pet. When buying a puppy or kitten, many rarely think about the difficulties that come with it. And when a little kitten begins to “mark” their territory, or tear apart the wallpaper, emotion and irritation appears. To prevent this from happening, you need to know how to train your pet. 

 Kittens generally learn quickly how to use a litter tray as long as it is clean and placed in the convenient location. For new kitten owners, your pet may have already observed his/ her mother using a litter tray. If this is the case, the kitten is likely to be well on their way to copying her behavior.

But even if you pick up a kitten from a shelter, you can easily train him to use the tray if you use our tips.

Choosing a tray

 Make sure the tray fits the kitten. It should not be too large and with high sides, but it should not be too small. 

 Kittens grow fast. And the baby will perfectly jump into the tray if its height is 10-12 cm if he knows where to go.

Closed and automatic models are convenient for owners, but they can scare away kittens.

What should you use for litter?

Choose a filler without dust, lumps and odor.

Today in almost every pet shop you can buy mineral, wood, corn, silica gel and even paper fillers that change color as an indicator that it’s been used. In general, they all serve the same function, so the final choice depends on the personal preferences of the owner and animal. But at the stage of getting your kitten accustomed to the tray, it is worth paying attention to some important points.

It is recommended to use a filler from which there is almost no dust, since it can cause a kitten to feel unpleasant when it’s inhaled. It is also not recommended to start the toilet training with a clumping mineral filler, because your pet will almost certainly taste it, and this can cause severe constipation.

In the early days, limit the kitten's space to one room.

Some make a mistake, believing that once the kitten is accustomed to the litter box, he can be let out to run around the house. What happens is that the situation is now completely different and the kitten just might not yet be orientated and, without having the ability to hold it, go to the toilet in another place. Therefore, if you notice that the kitten begins to sniff and scratch its paws on the floor - take it to the tray.

 Put the kitten in the tray. Let the baby get used to the smell and look around. Let the kitten sit in the tray for a few minutes to begin with. It's okay if immediately after this the pet does not use the toilet.

Put the kitten in the tray after eating, sleeping, playing, or if a lot of time has passed since the last “toilet”. Also, immediately transfer the kitten to the tray if it crouched with obvious intentions elsewhere.

Try playing with the kitten next to the tray: after jumping and somersaults, your pet will probably want to use it.

Praise and do not punish.

Gently talk with the kitten every time he shows interest in the tray or uses it correctly.

Do not shout, and do not hit him for mistakes: this will only ensure that the toilet will be associated with punishment and the pet will relieve himself in secret corners that are hard to reach.

If the kitten left a surprise in the wrong place, transfer the pile to the tray. This will remind the baby where to go to the toilet, and the smell will be associated with the tray.

To prevent accidents from becoming a regularity, remove all traces of accidents as soon as possible. It is necessary to get rid of the smell, otherwise the kitten will consider this place as its permanent toilet.

Place food and water in a different place.

Instincts do not allow cats to defecate near their food or water.