Here’s some good news – although you have to put lots of time and energy into training your puppy, kittens have a natural tendency to use the litter box.

Here’s the bad news   –  There are lots of frustrating factors, which can lead to elimination problems later.

     From a young age, cats have a strong instinct to void in sand or soil.   Typically, cats dig to prepare a shallow hole, eliminate, and then dig to cover it.   To encourage a kitten to use the litter box place it gently and quietly into the box soon after each meal and when you see it is starting to squat.   If it does have an accident outside the box, place the mess in the box to help the kitten make the desired association.   Avoid disturbing your kitty while it is in the litter box and never punish it for any reason when it is near the box.   You never want your cat to have any aversions to the litter box or you’ll be finding little presents outside the box.

     There are several things to consider about setting up the “toilet” system: type of box; type of litter; and location.

     For a small kitten or an old arthritic cat you should use a low pan so he can easily crawl into the litter box.   The bigger the cat, the bigger the box.

There are also covered boxes with charcoal type filters to reduce odor, but beware!   Odors trapped in a covered box may deter the cat’s from using the box, so be sure to keep it clean even if you’re not offended by the odor.   There are also motorized self-cleaning boxes.

The best type of litter box is the one that your cat will use.  

     When deciding on the type of litter, remember that cats’ natural choice is sand or soil.   It may be helpful to try two or three different types in several little boxes simultaneously to see which material your cat prefers; the best litter is the one he or she likes.

     For a kitten just learning, the litter box and your new pet should be confined to a small room.   Later the box can be placed elsewhere, but it should be a quiet location away from traffic.

Cats like their privacy and don’t want anyone sneaking up on them.   It also should not be placed by the food or water bowl.

You should have at least one litter box per cat.

One more factor in encouraging litter box use is cleanliness.   Cats are generally very clean animals that avoid foul smelling and damp places.

You should keep the box very clean or you may be cleaning your rugs.   Once a cat stops using it’s litter box it’s tough to get them back in it.

We’ll cover more on this next time!