Cat Litter Box Training: Teaching Kitty Where to Go

Cat litter box (or tray) training should start immediately upon bringing your fluffball home. To avoid suspicious stains and smells, learn how to litter box train your kitty cat early on. Getting in early will save you from washing poop and pee from furnishings and carpet *cringe*. Plus, it will increase special bonding time with your feline friend.

Save kitty from having to do the same by introducing them to the cat litter box the moment they arrive. Having a clean, accessible cat litter box will help your kitten quickly learn where to go, preventing any unwanted accidents.

Cat litter box training for a kitten

First, you need to motivate your kitten to use their litter box. Do this by showing them where the box is and gently scratching the litter with their paw. This brings out the reflexive digging and covering up of pee and poop instinct in a cat.

Litter tray training can succeed quicker if you keep your kitten’s environment smaller while they’re getting the hang of it. This makes it easier to locate the litter right away when needed. You can do this by keeping kitty in a single area or room of the house until they’ve tried and tested the box a handful of times.

You may want to move it from there afterwards or make it a permanent location. Just be aware the area will end up with a kitty aroma plus bits and pieces of litter. Plan ahead for the least viewable mess and smell…

Tips and tricks

You can also:

• Take your kitten to the litterbox after meals
• Do the same when they’ve just woken up
• Ditto for any crouching or sniffing behaviour
• Show them where the litter box is in new new room you introduce them to

Once your kitty’s used the box once, they’ll begin associating toileting with its smell. Which means they’ll (hopefully) continue to return to that sacred spot when it’s time to go.

Conversely, if they toilet in the wrong place, this can start a negative cycle you’ll then need to help them unlearn. Which is why getting it right from the start is so important.

Another option is to forgo the litter altogether with cat toilet training. Yep, some cats aim right for the toilet bowl with a little bit of persuasion.

How to pick the best cat litter box

When you start toilet training your kitten for the first time, use a shallow tray that’s easy to access for little legs. Avoid getting anything with doors or lids as these can be intimidating or hard to navigate for a kitten.

At this stage you can even use a DIY open cardboard tray, like the ones you get with fruit and beverages. Or a cardboard box lid because the sides are lower than a conventional litter tray. This means a little kitten can just walk right into their toilet area with no hassles.

It also makes life easier for you because you can just pick up and throw away the entire tray, contents, and all.

Once kitty has the general idea of the litter box principle you can move onto a more conventional litter tray from a pet store. These come in different depths and some are open, some have doors and others have covers. While the open one continues to be the most popular, it’s up to you and your meow.

The main thing is that it must be long and wide enough for kitty to turn around easily. If it’s too small, you might end up with unwanted drops (or more!) outside the perimeter of the box.

Choosing the right litter for your cat

Avoid clay based and scented litters for kittens because these could harm their tummy if eaten. A plant or paper based litter is your safest bet at this stage, plus they’re the best choice for the environment.

There are two main principles to litter: clumping and non-clumping. Once you’ve tried out each it’s a matter of preferences based on ingredients, cost and biodegradability. And of course, what works for your cat.

Ingredients in cat litters range from clay and minerals to plant matter like wheat, corn, or pine, as well as synthetic crystals from silica.

If your furry friend seems to be having any trouble using the litter box, then they might just be sensitive to the litter type or texture. Swap out your type of litter and see if it makes a difference.

It could be your kitty just needs smoother, smaller or less smelly litter.

How many litter trays do I need?

When your cats are grown, you’ll need one litter box for each cat (is one kitten or two best?). Plus, potentially an extra one if you want them to have a choice of toilet. Some people say a cat only needs one, while others think more are needed. Perhaps start small and go from there – the fewer trays the better if you can manage it.

Ideally, while your kitty is still learning to use the litter tray, you’ll have one box in one room. That way they don’t end up running around trying to find the box and going somewhere else. This is where DIY cardboard boxes we mentioned can come in handy.

Place the litter tray in the corner of the room as cats like to toilet in ‘privacy’. We’re not sure what the science behind this is. Or if it’s simply a home décor preference for where the toilet should be located.

How do you change cat litter?

Cats are stylish, and by stylish we mean clean. They have the same objective as we do – to keep away from pee and poop once it’s on the outside of our bodies. So, if you leave their poop in the litter tray, your cat is going to look for somewhere else to poop. In short, you need to keep the litter tray fresh (even though your cat has buried the treasure).

Here’s how:  

• Check the litter box daily after mealtimes and scoop out any clumps right away
• Replace all the litter once a week
• Clean the box with a gentle unscented soap and mild bleach and water solution
• Dry the box thoroughly before placing new litter

A great trick to spruce up the litter box is adding a sprinkling of baking soda under the litter. Baking soda helps keep things bacteria free and absorbs smells.

However, if you try this and kitty stops using the box then it’s not their personal preference. Also, your cat might stop using their box if offended by the soap you cleaned it with. Or if the bleach mixture is not diluted enough. Tough crowd. Welcome to cat parenting.

Reward with cat litter box training, not punishment, is key

You may have heard that reward not punishment is key for both cats and dogs and this is true. Perhaps read our positive reinforcement for dog training article and apply similar concepts to your new cat. Once they go in the litter box, show them affection, and tell them how proud you are.

Your kitty will associate the behaviour with good feelings, and they’ll want to repeat the exercise when they’re ready. (If you’ve got a new pup rather than puss, here’s a guide to toilet training your puppy.)

Why are cats so independent?

Perhaps one reason why cats have a reputation for independence is that many use the litter tray without much direction. The principle of covering their duties up with sand, soil or any other loose matter is natural for cats.

As a result, they usually get the litter box principle without too many mishaps.

Given this happens because of cats’ instinct to cover up pee and poop, don’t leave laundry lying around. Or your cat may use this instead, unless they’ve learnt where the correct place is.

If this sounds like an old housewife’s (furry) tail, read our Love your Pet Day article. You’ll find the evidence you need under the ‘cheekiest ways our pets love us’ section.

Pet insurance for your pawsome pet

They say cats have nine lives and always land on their feet, but that’s not always true. Before you even commence cat litter box training, give your meower a soft landing with cat insurance. If they get sick, hurt, or injured you can access the medical attention they need without fussing about costs.

You’ll be happy to know we give new customers one or more months of FREE cat insurance with no lock-in contract. Just a free, no-obligation offer to see what insurance does for your peace of mind and bank balance.

What more could you ask for 😊 Get in early to be insured before any ‘pre-existing conditions’ start emerging!