Today I’m sharing tips to help you Litter Training Your Kitten. Have a new kitten? Congratulations! Now the fun can begin of helping them develop into a happy, healthy cat. It’s an exciting time and not only is there lots for your cat to learn, you’ll more than likely learn a few things too, especially if you are new to being a pet parent.

Of all the different things to do during the early stages when litter training your kitten, one of the most important is to help them get used to using a litter tray. Unless you are planning to train them to go to the toilet outside, using a litter tray is generally the best option, especially with an indoor cat. To help, below you will find a quick guide to making this effortless, so you can avoid accidents and help your cat peacefully go about their business.

Teaching Your Cat Good Habits & Looking After Their Health

If you have had cats before, you’ll already know they can be very independent, as well as curious and mischievous, but this doesn’t mean they can’t be trained. Naturally, a cat will be more open to new experiences at an early age, so it is important to start to litter train your cat early. Usually, the breeder will have already done so before you bring them home, so it is a case of getting them used to a new setup and environment.

If at any stage this becomes a struggle, don’t worry. Your vet will be able to offer further advice, so speak to them when going for your kitten’s vaccinations as well as when being neutered in the first few months. As it will be the first of many visits to the vet during your cat’s lifetime, the expense of paying for routine treatments can quickly build up, and that’s before you consider the unexpected.

You should consider taking out a good pet insurance policy that will cover vet fees for emergency care from early on. This means that if they do become unexpectedly ill or injured, you’ll be covered for the cost of treatment. It will give you the same peace of mind as knowing your cat is litter trained, so you can then concentrate on the more fun parts of having a feline friend.

Choosing the Right Litter and Tray

First things first, to be able to litter train your cat or kitten, you need to have the right equipment, so purchasing both litter and a litter tray is the first thing to do. As you will quickly find, there are many different types of trays to consider with varying sizes, designs and features, but a simple one will do.

The litter itself also has many options to choose between. Hopefully, the breeder will have already given some advice on what they have used so far, but if not, you generally want to have the following when you start to litter train your cat:

• The litter tray should be easy for your kitten to get into, so that means one that has shallow sides and is of a reasonable size. You can replace the tray with a larger one as they get older.
• Keep to a simple design with this as some litter trays have an enclosed hood and entry, but this can be a challenge for your kitten to use. Choose a simple tray design to begin with.
• For the litter, choose one that is ideal for kittens, so something fine-grained and soft. It’s best to avoid the larger clumped litter and pellets as these can potentially be a choking hazard or ingested. Also, try to avoid using scented litter as it may be overpowering for your kitten. Just like with the tray design, keep this simple.

Setting Up the Litter Tray Area

When you begin litter training your kitten, where you decide to put your litter tray is important. It needs to be somewhere easy for your kitten to find, and ideally not blocked from view so that it becomes easier to encourage them to use it.

• To begin with, only have one litter tray setup rather than multiple. Once they get used to using this, you can then set up others in different rooms if you want to. Your kitten will ideally only be in one room to begin with, so it should be nearby.
• You want to choose somewhere quiet and away from where their food and water bowls are located. Ideally, this should be where they’ll have few disturbances and ideally away from doors or windows.
• If you have other pets in the home, keep them away from your kitten’s litter tray. Eventually, if you have other cats they can share this whilst also having other trays accessible.
• Be sure to keep the area clean around the tray and also keep the tray itself clean when it has been used. It can be off-putting for cats of any age if the tray has been emptied or cleaned regularly. 

How to Train Your Kitten To Use the Tray

Now that you have the tray, litter and this setup in a convenient place, it’s time to start litter training your kitten. You’ll need to encourage your kitten to use their new personal space, so this is where you’ll need to be consistent as well as patient – some cats quickly adapt to using a tray, whilst others may take a bit longer to master litter tray training.

• If you’ve put your tray in a good location, hopefully, your kitten will notice this early on. Ideally, you will already have this setup before your kitten comes home for the first time.
• Your kitten will usually need to go to the toilet after they’ve eaten or when they’ve woken up from a good nap. They may have watched their mother use a tray in the first few weeks of their life, so may have some memory of this. The breeder also should have got them used to litter trays before you bring them home.
• Gently pick them up and place them in the tray after they’ve woken up or eaten. This will help them to associate going to the tray to do their business.
• If you notice your kitten sniffing around or seemingly looking for something, it could mean they are needing to go, so place them in the tray if you see this.
• Eventually, they will need to use the tray on their own, so encourage them to use it with positive reinforcement. This will help them associate using the tray as a good thing.
• Litter tray accidents can happen, especially during the training stage, so stay calm throughout and keep consistent. They will get into the habit of doing so and start using it on their own. 

Litter Training Your Cat Can Be Challenging

There is no perfect solution or exact timeframe of how long it will take with litter training your kitten or cat, so it is completely normal for this to be a challenge. Don’t put a timeframe in place when you begin to litter train your cat.

There can be a few different reasons why they may not adapt quickly:

• The location – it could be that where the litter tray is placed isn’t ideal for them, so you may need to experiment with different areas that are still easy for them to access.
• The type of litter – your kitten may be fussy with the type of litter, especially if it is different from what they were used to with the breeder. You may need to try different litter until you find one they are happy with.
• Different odours – as well as keeping the tray clean, it could be that the type of cleaner you’re using is too strong for them. Try using less fragrant cleaners. When removing mess, try not to remove all the litter as the scent helps them to return to the tray.
• Still going in other places – if your kitten is still going to the toilet outside of the tray, make sure this is cleaned well. This will help to avoid them returning to the same spot to go again rather than in the tray.

Final Thoughts on Litter Training Your Kitten

With a bit of time and patience, along with the right tray, litter and location, your kitten will eventually be going to the toilet on their own in the right place. Keep an eye on them during the early stages, as accidents can still happen, and if you notice anything unusual, speak to your vet. Good luck with training them, and be sure to make a fuss of them after they do start using the tray – a little positive reinforcement goes a long way.