How to Use a Litter Box

Cats have a natural instinct to eliminate on dirt or sand, but you may have to experiment with different boxes and litter material to find the best match for your cat.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scat Mats
• Cat Litters
• Cat Toys
• Liners
• Litter Boxes
• Litter Scoop
• Newspaper
• Newspaper

1. Provide a litter box large enough for an adult cat to stand and turn around in.

2. Get a box that is low enough for an aging cat or tiny kitten to climb into, such as a shallow rectangular baking pan.

3. Try both covered and uncovered litter boxes. Some cats don't like covered boxes.

4. Place litter boxes in quiet areas.

5. Provide a litter box for each cat in your household and place them in different areas. Be sure to keep the litter box away from food and water.

6. Use fine litter that clumps, or try litter material such as wood shavings or newspaper until you find a material your cat likes.

7. Avoid changing the type of litter material if your cat likes it. If you must make a change, set out a new box containing the new litter material in addition to the old, or gradually mix the new litter in with the old.

8. Remove waste from litter boxes daily, and remove and replenish litter material weekly.

9. Have extra litter boxes available for your cat's use if you're unable to change litter material regularly.

10. Reduce trapped odors by keeping covered boxes extra clean.

Tips & Warnings

• Place carpet in litter boxes instead of litter material for cats that soil the carpet. Gradually add litter into the box and get rid of the carpet.
• If only one of several boxes is being used, it may be because it has a better location or because the others are dirty.
• Your cat may change litter habits because of stress.
• Consult a pet behaviorist or veterinarian if your cat keeps urinating or defecating outside of the litter box.

Who Can Help Sponsored

[jillybeanusn]

on 12/2/2009 http://www.ehow.com/how_5706137_keep-litter-box-smelling-fresh.html

for information on how to keep your litter box smelling good

[lollipopkidz]

on 9/4/2007 I have always used this method in getting the cat to use the box consistantly, put fresh litter in the box, place the box of course in a quiet private area,then pick up the kitten/cat ,stand them in it, then take both front paws and rub them in the litter ,as if they were digging in it, do that for about 5 strocks and leave them in it , I have trained my cats that way forever and never had a mess ever (unless some clown closed the door by accident

on 8/26/2006 Lucerne pellets are bio degradable, cheap and don't leave white paw prints. I also have for many years used some 10 layers of newspaper under the litter, which will make the litter last even longer!

Just try it and you'll be convinced!

on 3/20/2006 Most of my cats have taken quite regularly to using a litter box. When they are brought home, the first thing to do is put them in the litter box, so they know where it is, and to let them play if that's what they want. The cat I have now, and her brother, when they were first put in the litter box, they were put in together, I still have the pictures of them sleeping in it. However, they took right to using it. Another cat however refused to use it. We found that she was half wild and was scared of people. So she would hide under the couch and couldn't go in the next room. So we put a litter box next to where she would hide; and success, she started using it.

on 12/16/2005 Demonstrate. With a new kitty especially, but also with one who has strayed from the box, train her by placing her inside the litter box, holding her arms and rubbing her front paws in the litter. Even while she is looking around and squirming, she will recognize this sensation from thousands of years of evolution and know what is expected of her.