If you want to be the best pet parent for your cat, you must train her for everything. Litter training has no exception in this regard. Most kittens learn from their mothers to use a litter box. However, when you adopt them, the responsibility to train them to use a litter box is on your shoulders now. By potty training Your Cat, you cannot only keep your furry companion neat and clean but also save yourself from a lot of effort.
Most adults cat has the natural capability to find a sandy, granular place to eliminate, but young kittens need help from their parent in this regard. Here, we’re going to summarize some handy tips that can help you potty train your cat without much effort. So, let’s get started.
How to Potty Train Your Cat?
Before discussing these useful tips with You, you must have the following supplies before starting the training:
- Litter Box
- Kitty Litter
- Toys
- Treats
These tips are for training an older cat that can quickly figure out how to use the litter box. For younger cats, you might need to follow some different steps that we’ll discuss at the end of the article.
· Choose the Right Litter Box
Choosing a litter box might seem a trivial and less-complicated task to you, but it can make a massive difference for your kitty. The first and most important thing that you should consider while choosing a litter box is its size. The litter box should be of an optimal size depending on the body size of your kitty. It shouldn’t be too big for your kitty that she might start feeling intimidated. Most International Animal behavior consultants recommend a litter box that is 13×9 inches in size.
If you own an older cat, you may need a full-sized Litter Box. Similarly, younger kittens require smaller litter boxes. Don’t forget to increase the size of the litter box with the growing body of your kitty. A litter box that is approximately 11/2 times your kitty’s length would be a great choice. Always keep a reserved litter box in your home that you can use in emergency conditions.
Now the next question is what type of litter box can be the best for your kitty, Covered or Uncovered? Well, you must keep in mind that most cats prefer uncovered litter boxes to covered ones because they simply don’t want to feel being trapped.
· Choose the Right kind of litter.
Once you’ve chosen the right litter box, it’s time to choose the right type of litter for your kitty. Researches suggest that most cats love to eliminate fine-grain litters because they offer a softer and more comfortable feel. The next choice you have to make while choosing the litter is in between clumping or non-clumping litters. Most pet owners prefer clumping litter because it’s easy to scoop. Animal Experts recommend clay litter because litters made of other materials (such as corn or wheat-based litter) smell of food, due to which cats might go for eating them.
· Choose the Right Place to Put the Litter Box
Although most pet owners don’t care about it, litter box placement and availability can be a significant factor in potty training your cat. How can you make your kitty learn faster to litter if the litter box is not available or accessible easily? Certainly, you should put it in place not only easy to access for your kitty but clean as well.
While placing the litter box, make sure that:
- It is not hidden from your kitty
- It doesn’t have any distractions that can block the sight or way of your kitty.
- The place where you’re going to put it is clean, safe, and not slippery.
· Start the training by introducing Your Cat to the Litter Box.
As everything is ready, it’s time to start the potty training by introducing your kitty to the litter box. You can follow these easy steps to make the introduction effective and fast:
Step 1: Take Your kitty to the litter box location
Show your cat the location of the litter box and let her sniff it until she has a proper introduction to it.
Step 2: Place Your Kitty in the Litter Box
Now place your cat in the litter box with soft hands. You might find her pawing at the litter instinctively or even using it. If you observe no action from your kitty, run your fingers through litter as a demonstration of pawing action for her.
Step 3: Continue the training until your cat gets used to eliminating in the litter
If your kitty seems not interested in using the litter box even after a thorough introduction, don’t be disappointed and continue the training. Place your kitty in the litter box every time she eats, drinks, or wakes up to instill litter box use in her mind.
· Don’t forget to reward Your Cat after using the litter box
Whenever your kitty uses the litter box to eliminate, don’t forget to reward her with a delicious treat or toy. It’ll help you to reinforce the litter box habit in a great way. You can use the treats and toys to make potty training more effective.
How to potty train a 4 Weeks or less old Cat?
Potty training a younger cat might be a challenging task. If you own a younger cat, you can start that potty training by using soft cardboard with some litter on it. The steps of potty training will remain the same as we explained in the case of older cats.
When to seek help?
If your cat isn’t using the litter box, if even you have tried your best, you may seek help from an animal behavior specialist to figure out any possible mental or behavioral issues with your kitty.
