Follow these four simple steps to set your kitty up for litter box success.
Look for a small, shallow box: A low-sided litter box, like the VanNess litter box, is ideal for training kitten litter. Low walls make it easy for your cat to climb in. A larger and taller box may be a bit too much for young kittens and may discourage them from using the box.
Avoid covered litter boxes: Covered litter boxes can trap odors inside, which may be great for you but will discourage your kitten from using them. Additionally, they can be scary for some kittens, especially if you have other cats who may guard or ambush the box. So keep it small and naked for the time being – you can always upgrade to a larger size as your kitten grows.
Multiple cats mean multiple boxes: ideally, each cat should have a litter box, plus an additional litter box, some cats prefer a small urinal box and a poop box, and some cats will protect the litter box from other cats – one more box is logically impossible. Remember: it's much better to have to scoop multiple boxes than to let your kitten choose another place, such as your bed or bath mat.
Choose the right bedding
In general, cats prefer fine-grained, odorless clay bedding. When you start your kitten litter box training journey, we recommend using special kitten litter, which contains special pheromones that can help kittens find the litter box.
Don't use litter box liners, your kitten can easily get their paws caught in the liner and it can be frustrating or even painful – both of which will prevent them from returning to the litter box the next time they need to leave.
1. Select a location for the litter box
When it comes to garbage training, location is everything. Cats love privacy and easy access, so it's best to find a place that's easy to find and step in in an area with low foot traffic. Many pet parents keep the litter box in a quiet corner of the bathroom, bedroom or living area, or closet with an open door.
If you have multiple floors in your home, we recommend keeping a litter box on each floor so that your cat doesn't have to climb the stairs at the end of the day. Again, it's all about making it as easy as possible for your kitten.
This space should make your kitten feel safe and have enough visibility so that they can monitor their surroundings while moving. Going to the bathroom will put your kitten in a vulnerable position, so you want to make sure they feel comfortable and let their guard down.
Finally, do not place the litter box next to the kitten's food plate. Hey, do you want to eat every meal next to the toilet? For hygiene reasons, as well as for general cat pickiness, you need to keep the litter box and its feeding station in two different separate areas of your home.
2Show your cat the litter box
Get your cat to their litter box as soon as possible – this should be the first thing you do when you first bring them home. Continue to put them in the litter box a few times a day to help them remember where the litter box is.
You can gently put your kitten in the litter after a meal and after waking up, maybe scrape the litter with your own fingers to let them know it's fine and ready to dig into, and you can also praise the kitten when they use the box and maybe give them a little treat.
3. Scoop the litter box once a day
There's a good chance your kitten will use the litter box right away. To ensure they keep coming back, it's important to scoop the litter box once or twice a day. A dirty litter box can be stressful for cats of all ages, including kittens, and may prevent them from using it.
Make sure the box is very clean, scoop it regularly, and wash it every one to four weeks depending on how dirty it is.
4. Be patient
There may be some accidents with your kitten, so be patient as they learn Xi ropes. If your cat does come out of the box, don't scold them. They won't understand why they are being punished and may even learn to be afraid of you because of it.
Cats tend to return to the same place repeatedly to do business, especially if it smells like their excrement. For this reason, and also because you don't want your home to smell like a dirty litter box, clean up any mishaps thoroughly, and it's best to use an enzyme cleaner such as enzyme stain and odor remover to remove their odor as much as possible.
What if my kitten still doesn't use the litter box?
Kittens may not enter the litter box right away. Patience is key, but if your kitten still doesn't use it after a few days, it's time to look into it and maybe make a change in your routine.
Some common reasons why kittens don't use litter boxes include:
Not easily accessible litter box: Make sure your kitten can easily get in and out of the litter box. If they have difficulty entering or exiting, this may prevent them from doing business there.
Don't like the location of the litter box: Is their litter box close to noisy appliances?doesn't provide enough privacy?Maybe your cat just doesn't like the color of the walls in the room where you put it. Cats are notoriously fussy. Try troubleshooting in different locations of the litter box and see if that helps. If your cat has a favorite area in your home, try putting their litter box there and see if they are more encouraged to go.
Likes different types of litter: Did we mention that kittens can be fussy? This also applies to their litter preferences. Experiment with odorless, lumpy vs. non-lumpy, and different materials to find the best one for your cat. If your cat is from a shelter or breeder, you can also call them and ask them which litter they are using – if it worked for your kitten before, there's a good chance it will work for them now.
The box is too dirty: If the box hasn't been cleaned in a while, your kitten may avoid it, so be sure to scoop it daily.
Other cats in your home are blocking their access: If you have multiple cats, add one or more litter boxes to help prevent bullying or protection issues.
Their goal is deviated: sometimes kittens miss boxes when they first learn to use them Xi. They may realize their mistake on their own and reposition themselves the next time they use the box until they get it right.