How to Litter Train a Kitten

You have decided to bring home an adorable and the cutest kitten in whole wide world as a pet. Welcome to the world of purr and paws. The wish of the feline pet will be your command for life. However, there are some things that the cat needs to follow as it is now a part of your family. Of the few things is to use the litter box. The kitten needs to understand it cannot relieve itself anywhere around the house. It has to use the litter box whenever the need arises, during the day as well as night. Even though your cat may spend a lot of time outdoors, it still needs to be taught to use the litter box as a kitten. Many cat owners have a problem related to how to litter train a kitten. If you too are wondering how to train a kitten the following information will prove to be useful.

When to Litter Train a Kitten
Many first time cat owners have a question when to litter train a kitten. You should begin litter training the minute you bring the fur ball home. A kitten must remain with the mother cat for about 8 to 12 weeks. Most kittens instinctively follow their mother and use the litter box. However, if the kitten was born and raised outside, you may begin litter training when it is about 4 weeks old. You should take the kitten to her litter box after a meal and before as well as after a nap. If you see the kitten trying to dig the floor or searching for far off corners, pick her up gently and place her in the litter box. You can continue reading the following paragraph and learn the best way about how to litter train a kitten.

How to Litter Train a Kitten
Before you bring home a kitten make sure you have bought a litter box. There are plenty of litter boxes available at pet stores that you can choose from. If you have not been able to visit the pet shop, you can always use an old cut down cardboard box, plastic container, or a large baking pan. Next, you need to shop for cat litter that is non-scented and non-clay clumping litter. Fill up the litter box about 1 to 3 inches with the cat litter. Place this tray in an area that is private, away from traffic and easily accessible by the kitten. It should be kept away from her food and water tray. You can even place rubber mat for her around the litter box. She can scratch her paws clean to remove any cat litter sticking to the paws. Let us now go into the details of the best way to litter train a kitten.

The first thing to do after getting a kitten home, is to take her to the litter box. Place her very gently in the litter box and allow her to explore it. If she is still a bit confused, you can gently hold her front paws and carry out the digging action. Gently move her paws for a few strokes. She will probably guess what you are trying to say and begin to dig a bit. If you are lucky, you may have adopted a smart girl who will learn to use the litter box in just a day. If not, you may have to help the kitten learn to use the litter for a few more days. You may have to place your kitten gently in the litter box half an hour after she has her meal or playtime. You may have to initiate the digging action by stirring the sand in the litter box. Allow the kitten to jump in and out and become comfortable with her litter box.

You need to understand the signs your kitten gives before she eliminates. This will help avoid accidents within the house. If your kitten scratches the floor, or goes to a corner, tries to go behind a cupboard or couch, it means she needs to use the liter box. If she suddenly breaks off from an interesting game and begins to sniff around, it may mean she needs to use the litter box. You should pick her up very gently and place her in her litter box. If the kitten has an accident around the house, do not shout or scold her. Once she finishes her business, pick her up and place her in the litter box. Let her associate her action with the litter box. You may even pick up the mess and place some of it in the litter box. The smell of her urine or stool will encourage her to use the litter box. Make sure you clean up the area properly and leave no traces of the urine or potty smell. Do not get angry or punish the kitten. Accidents do happen and like a baby it is still in the learning process.

Once your kitten begins to go to the litter box on its own, praise her well. This will help associate the litter box with pleasant feelings. She will make it a point to use the litter box. However, in case of tom cats, he may spray or mark his territory around the house. You may consider getting him neutered to avoid this behavior. Keep the litter box clean at all times. Kittens as well as cats are very fastidious creatures and will avoid using a heavily messed up litter box. Wash the litter box with water and detergent once a week to keep it clean and to avoid germs. If you wish to help your kitten learn to begin going outdoors, you can gradually begin placing the litter box towards the door. Finally, the cat will get an idea and start going outdoors to answer nature's call. This is all you need to do when it comes to how to litter train a kitten.

How Long Does it Take to Litter Train a Kitten?
If you are thinking how long does it take to litter train a kitten, then the answer is a few days to couple of weeks. Most of the kittens that are 8 to 10 weeks old come litter trained. They are trained by their mother (who is of course a house cat). However, within a 5 to 7 days the kitten gets an idea of how to use the litter box. Sometimes, you may take about 2 weeks after following the proper way to house train your cat.

Cats are different from dogs in many ways. You do not need to train a kitten like the way you house train a puppy. They have a natural instinct to use the litter box as they are very fussy creatures themselves. They have a tendency to be clean and dig in their urine or stool in the mud. Hope the above tips on how to litter train a kitten helps. Kittens are very active and will always be up to some tricks. I am sure with good cat care and loads of love & affection, you and your kitten will spend many years of healthy companionship.