Litter boxes for Kittens
How to easily get your kitten to use a litter box
MetPet.com Staff Writer
Most cats learn how to use the litter box from watching their
mother. By the time your kitten comes home, usually around 8-12
weeks of age, he is already using a box regularly. The stress of moving to
a new home and away from his litter and mother can cause litter box problems.
Here are some easy suggestions for making the transition as accident-proof as
possible.
Stick to the familiar
If you can, take a plastic bag with you and bring home a small amount of his
soiled litter. Add that to the new box so that he gets a scented reminder
of what to do where.
To be really sure, buy the same brand and type of litter that he
has been using. As an alternative, see if you can take a small amount of
clean litter with you. Spread the old litter on top of whatever litter you
decide to use then add his used litter on top of that. Most cats prefer an
unscented, clumping litter. Scents are for humans and may overpower your
cat's normal inclination to use the litter box.
Use a kitten-sized box
Since kittens are small, an uncovered, shallow box is
best. He needs to be able to get in and out of it easily and quickly with
a minimum amount of effort. If you
have a deep box, place a wrapped book next to it for use as a step.
Place a thin
layer of litter in the box so that he doesn't sink into it. He only needs
about an inch of litter at first. If he has to
trudge or wade through litter up to his arm pits, he might feel too tired or
discouraged to use the box properly. Having too much litter also makes it
most likely for him to get bits of it on his fur which he may ingest and create
gastro intestinal problems.
Any problems that your kitten has with his litter box will
increase the likelihood of problems. He may consider your floor or
carpeting as a comfortable alternative. As he gets older and bigger, you
can gradually add more litter.
Make the litter box an inviting place
Coax him into the box rather than plunking him unceremoniously
into it. Praise him when he uses it which is generally after he plays
hard, eats or sleeps. Once your kitten is using the box successfully, it is
best to make changes (such as getting a new box with cover) gradually.
Place the new box next to the old one for a day or so and let your cat examine
it inside and out. Add litter to it and then move it into place.
Confine your kitten to a small room
It is easiest for your kitten to get used to the box when he has a limited area
to live in. Place the box on one side of a small room, remove any towels,
papers, hampers, boxes, rugs, etc. that could be used to eliminate. Place
his toys, his scratching post, food, water and bed on the opposite side of the
room.
Since cats naturally want to keep their sleeping and eating
areas clean, this provides only one solution for him. When he is using the
box 100% of the time, he can have access to another room or two. If he
starts to have accidents, you can reduce access, thoroughly clean up the areas
and consider what changes you need to make.
Easy to find
Make sure that you place the litter box in an easily accessible place.
Having it upstairs, down the hallway, inside a bathroom, under the vanity may be
too far away and hard to find for the little tyke. For large homes or
homes with multiple levels, you
will need more than one to prevent accidents.
Luckily, most cats actually like their litter boxes. Some
indoor/outdoor cats will come inside to use them instead of finding a spot of
garden. Just following the basics will do the trick in most circumstances.
Related Information:
Litter Boxes
Litter Box Problems With Cats
Litter Box Placement and Maintenance
Litter Boxes and Strays
Litter Boxes for Multiple cats
Plants as Litter Boxes
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