How to Train a Cat to Use a Litterbox

Training a cat to use a litter box is relatively easy, but it does take some forethought and planning. Cats are naturally intuitive and very clever. Unlike some other domestic animals, they are very clean and finicky about their "space." If you have a cat that is used to being outdoors and for whatever reason you need to train it to use a litter box, don't fret. They adjust quite easily when you use these simple tips.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cat litter container, such as a large plastic bin
• Cat litter
• Cat litter scoop

1. It's important to confine the cat into a small area for the first day or so. You'll want to provide food and water, of course, and a soft place for the cat to sleep. A spare bedroom or bathroom is ideal. Make sure to place the litter box and the food and water on opposite sides of the room, or at least far enough away from each other so as not to offend your cat. Like people, cats don't enjoy eating in the same area that they produce waste.

2. Fill the litter box about half full of clean litter. Regardless of the age of the cat, you can place the cat in the litter box to "sniff" around for a bit. Cats naturally will scratch into dirt, so litter makes it easy for cats to recognize the dirt where they need to urinate or defecate.

3. Close the door to the room and leave the cat to adjust to its new environment. Every hour or so, either poke your head into the room or pick up your kitty and pet it, giving verbal reassurances. Before you leave, introduce the cat again to the litter box. Don't be surprised if the cat begins scratching and then relieves itself in your presence. It's getting the hint.

4. On the second day, you can open the door to the room and allow the cat to wander. It will always return to the place that it finds food and water. The litter box will be a daily reminder and the cat will use it freely for lack of other facilities in the house. Always keep the litter box clean. It may need emptying once or twice a day. This is very important. If you fail to keep the litter box clean, the cat will find another place to use.

5. By the second day, your cat will be very familiar with its litter box and will return there to relieve itself. If for some reason you intend to move the box to a different or other permanent place in the home, you will just need to make sure your cat knows where it's at by carrying the cat to the litter box a few times a day, as you did in the beginning.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are trying to train a small kitten to use the outdoor facilities after it has learned to use a litter box, it's very easy to do. Just begin moving the box closer to the exit door, one day at a time. Eventually, you can place the box outside of the door. The kitten will meow at the door when it needs to relieve itself ("Where's my box?") and you simply open the door for the kitten to go out ito the litter box. After a week or so, you can remove the box completely as your kitten will have learned to dig in the dirt outside to releive itself.
• Keep the litter box away from other pets (such as dogs) and small children, who may eat the litter or stools. If you have a spare bathroom with a tub, you can place the box in the tub where access is limited. Otherwise, "kiddie" gates are handy.