If you are planning on bringing home a new kitten it’s important to do some reading about litter box training first. Granted it isn’t the most fun topic but it is important to understand some of the basics ahead of time. By taking the proper steps right away you should have a much better chance of avoiding litter box problems in the future. Unfortunately many cats are given away because of they aren’t using the litter box regularly, but in many cases this can be avoided.

Cats naturally like to scratch in sand or dirt to dig a hole to relieve themselves and then cover it. Between this natural instinct to dig and watching their mother use a litter box, your new kitten will probably already be using a litter box by the time you bring her home. But with all the changes and being in a new home she will still need a little help.

Cats are private about their litter box habits so be sure you put the litter box in a quiet place that the kitten can easily access. When you bring her home take her over to the litter box and place her in it. She will likely jump out but that’s ok. You want to get her familiar with it. It’s good to put her in the litter box a few times a day until you notice she is using it regularly. If you notice her using it step back and let her have her privacy.

Cats usually start using the litter box pretty quickly, but if for some reason your kitten isn’t using it don’t punish her. This can confuse her or cause stress which can lead to other problems. Rather than scold it’s best to clean the mess well and start placing her in the litter box more frequently until she starts getting the hang of it. If she continues to mess outside of the litter box watch to see if she is either straining to go to the bathroom or has diarrhea. These could be signs of a medical problem which may be causing the litter box problems. In this case you will need to consult your vet.

You’ll have much better luck litter training your kitten if you keep the litter box in a quiet room where the kitten feels safe. Keep the litter box away from high traffic areas and away from loud appliances. It also needs to be convenient, so if you have multiple levels in your house you should keep a litter box on each level. And keep all litter boxes away from the feeding area. Not unlike us cats don’t like go go to the bathroom where they eat.

As a general rule it’s good to one litter box for each cat plus one extra. In small places this can be difficult so at minimum you should have one box for each cat.

Keep the litter box clean to avoid litter box problems. Cats are cleanly and sometimes picky; some cats won’t use a litter box that is too dirty or one that smells too much. Clean the box every day and set up a regular schedule to wash the box with a mild soap occasionally. Don’t use a cleaner with a strong smell for this because if the smell lingers it can deter your cat from using the box.

Cats are generally pretty easy to litter train, but by knowing some of the basics you should be able to prevent litter box problems in most cases.