littertrain

Litter Box Training your kitten!

Litter Box Training

With a new kitten, carry her to the litter box and let her investigate. Take her back every time she has eaten and after she awakens from a nap. Place the litter tray in a quiet and easily accessible place. For kittens, the tray should be shallow. Remove feces and urine-soaked litter every day and clean out the tray and put in fresh litter as needed.

Cats naturally respond to the feel and texture of the kinds of litter box materials commercially available by sniffing, pawing, then posturing to evacuate. Some cats will dig a small hole first, and most will cover their urine or feces with litter after they have evacuated. A layer of baking soda on the bottom helps control odor.

It's best to stick to one good brand of litter. Switching brands often can make some cats refuse to use their litter boxes. Avoid buying litter that contains a lot of fine dust, which could cause problems for the cat. Some litter boxes have a removable cover. A covered litter box helps stop the cat from pawing the litter out of the tray. It is important to keep the litter box clean, because accumulated urine can make the interior of a covered litter box irritating for the cat to enter.

Cats are fastidious creatures and can become unhousebroken if the litter tray is dirty, or if they are suffering from a bladder infection, intestinal upset, or emotional disturbance. A dirty litter box is a major reason why cats become unhousebroken. You can retrain cats to use their litter boxes, but first it is essential to taken an unhousebroken cat to the veterinarian to check the cat for a number of physical ailments and emotional stresses that can make cats unhousebroken.

Many cats respond to confinement training, being kept in a small room or large pen with a litter box, food, water, and a pillow to lie on for 10-14 days. Time out of the confined area for play, petting, and brushing should be frequent, but strictly supervised so the cats aren't allowed to go near the places in the house they have marked. These spots should be shampooed and temporarily covered with a plastic sheet.

by Dr. Michael W. Fox, born in England, obtained his veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, and moved to the US in 1962, subsequently earning his PhD and Doctor of Science. He serves as a consulting veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and international lecturer. He has authored over 40 books on animal behavior and care and has the syndicated newspaper column �Ask Your Animal Doctor.�