HOW CAN I TRAIN MY KITTEN TO USE A LITTER BOX?
If your kitten won't use a litter box, what do you do? No matter what age your cat is, it can be troubling to see him struggle to use the litter correctly. You only want the best for your kitten, so of course, you want to make things right. Thankfully, there are several effective strategies that can help. You just need to get to the bottom of what is causing the aversion in the first place.
Some Kittens Need to be Trained
Some kittens instinctually dig and cover their pee and poop, while others learn from watching their mothers.1 If your kitten doesn't fall into these categories and never used the litter correctly, she may need a little push in the right direction.
Start by feeding your kitten on a schedule, so her litter box times become predictable. Kittens often need to use the litter fairly soon after eating and after waking up in the morning or from a nap. During her "scheduled litter times," keep your kitten in a small room, like a bathroom, with the litter box. (Very small kittens might be kept in a gated area or small room all the time unless supervised.)
Once there, put her in the litter box. After she uses the litter, gently hold her paw and scratch the litter to show her how to cover it. Give her lots of gentle pets, praise, and a treat. This can build positive associations that last a lifetime.
Watch your kittens to make sure they don't try to eat the litter. If they do, you might want to temporarily use something safe on their stomachs, as recommended by your veterinarian.
Clean Any Accidents Thoroughly
If your kitten has litter accidents outside the box, it's important to clean thoroughly. You want to use a cleaner designed especially for cat pee, rather than a regular household carpet cleaner. An enzyme-based cleaner, for example, can help break down the uric acid in cat pee, removing the smell. This makes it less likely that your cat will be drawn back to that spot again and again.
