Little kittens copy their mother. If she relieves herself in the tray, the cub repeats after her. Over time, he forms a dynamic stereotype, in simple words – a habit. Once and for life. If you picked up a small kitten from the street, he does not yet have the habit of using the litter box. How to potty train a kitten? How quickly can a kitten be toilet trained? What should you do to develop this healthy habit in your kitten? In this article, you will get answers to these questions and become a real cat tamer!
At what age to train a kitten to the litter box?
All vital skills are formed in early childhood. In humans, basic habits are established in the first 4 years, in kittens – in the period from 2 to 7 months after birth. If your pet is at this age, consider that you have drawn a lottery ticket. It only takes a few days for the furry to develop a conditioned reflex.
If you picked up a kitten on the street, it takes 7-10 days for him to get used to the new habitat. A change of scenery for a baby is a lot of stress. Be gentle with him, scratch his ear, stroke his chin, or think of other ways to express your concern. Observe which caresses the kitten likes best and use them! The sooner the kitten becomes attached to you, and the sooner he relaxes and gets used to the new environment, the better it gives in to training. This happens for 2 reasons:
- The kitten often contacts you tactilely, he likes your strokes and gentle words. Soon he will consider you his mother, he will be imbued with confidence, and it will be easier for you to teach him anything. That is, there is a deep trust in you and a simultaneous need for tactile contact. Under stress, cats are less susceptible to training. For the pet, you need to create a cozy and friendly environment, then the learning ability improves.
- Under stress, cats are less susceptible to training. For the pet, you need to create a cozy and friendly environment, then the learning ability improves.
Why is it best to potty train kittens at the age of 2 to 7 months? The fact is that during this period, reflex arcs in the brain are formed the fastest. Nature has established an unspoken rule that in infancy any living organism learns faster. By a certain age, he should already have a whole set of skills and reflexes. The ability to survive in the wild depends on them, to get food for themselves, to protect themselves in front of predators, and so on. This concept holds true for all animals, from fish and turtles to humans. Seals are no exception.
If you want to potty train a kitten, remember that before the age of 7 months he has the greatest need for maternal affection and at the same time wants to copy the actions of his mother. This happens unconsciously, this is also a reflex laid down by Mother Nature.
If you want to potty train a kitten, remember that before the age of 7 months he has the greatest need for maternal affection and at the same time wants to copy the actions of his mother. This happens unconsciously, this is also a reflex laid down by Mother Nature.
Seals older than 7 months no longer show such interest in their mother. By human standards, 7 months for a cat is like 4 years for a child. He becomes more independent, feels less need to copy the actions of the parent. Therefore, it is 2-3 times more difficult to train a kitten to the litter box at the age of 8-15 months. An adult cat (from the age of 2 years) will have to be “trained” for a long time and painfully.
How to choose a place for the tray?
We recommend choosing any of these strategies:
- Find a secluded place where no one will disturb your pet.
- Observe the furry and determine which places he loves the most.
Let’s make some clarifications to the second point. We do not mean a place where the kitten likes to relieve itself. We mean the corners where the kitten likes to be, to fondle on objects, meow or lazily wallow and yawn, looking at the ceiling. Why?
The fact is that some cats can pee out of fear, and not out of need, or express their protest in such an unusual way. And the favorite place in the house or apartment is the corner where the kitten has the maximum comfort zone. This means that it is here that he will come after a hearty dinner, and it is here that there is a high probability that he will want to “use the toilet”.
The fact is that some cats can pee out of fear, and not out of need, or express their protest in such an unusual way. And the favorite place in the house or apartment is the corner where the kitten has the maximum comfort zone. This means that it is here that he will come after a hearty dinner, and it is here that there is a high probability that he will want to “use the toilet”.
How to train a cat to use the toilet in the place where you want it? What if your pet wants to go “on the little one” near your couch, where you watch TV series?
In this case, follow these simple instructions:
- Eliminate all odors from the area where the kitten walks “small”.
- Do a thorough cleaning.
- Place bowls of food and water here.
All cats, without exception, are clean, they will not relieve themselves where they eat.
Another option is to put the pot near the toilet in the toilet. Then grab your pet’s attention with litter. Rustle them – this may interest the furry.
On the one hand, it is important to treat your pet kindly and affectionately. On the other hand, it is not recommended to give him excessive freedom. Finally, the habits of cats are formed by 6 months. If your purr likes to relieve himself in the kitchen, and you want to accustom him to the bathroom or toilet, gradually move the pot in the right direction. In doing so, remove stains and any odors from where the pot used to be. For a kitten, smells play an important role. “Noticing the tracks”, you will make your pet forget the place where the pot used to be. Even if the path of the pot from the kitchen to the toilet takes a month or two, the game is worth the candle! Conditioned reflexes in cats are formed for many years, and soon the kitten, unexpectedly for itself, will run “to the toilet” in a place convenient for you.
What are the types of trays?
It is impossible to fully disclose the topic of how to properly train a kitten to the toilet without studying the classification of trays.
Pet trays are divided into 2 large groups:
- Open.
- Closed.
Open planters are more popular, simpler in design, and less expensive. They come with high or low sides. If the pet has a calm character, he will not litter and scatter filler around the pot. In this case, a pot with low sides will suit him. If the cat is active and playful, buy a product with high sides.
Some trays are produced with nets, the filler is placed under them. It is more difficult to get accustomed to such a tray because cats love to fumble in the filler and “forget” why they came here. It will take 2-3 weeks for the purr to get used to the mesh and litter tray.
The latest know-how in the world of pots is automated products that are capable of self-cleaning. The disadvantage of an automated pot is the presence of metal parts. Their appearance alone can confuse a cat, and it will take him longer to adapt.
The closed design of the pot looks like a pet carrier. The biggest advantage of the design is the ability to retire and calmly relieve themselves. On the other hand, unpleasant odors are concentrated inside the pot, which prompts the cat to look for another “toilet”. The only way out of this situation is to change the litter more often and wash the pot to eliminate unpleasant odors. Do this at least once a week. Better yet, two.
Filler types
How to quickly train a cat to the litter box? Sometimes the choice of filler is as important as the age of the pet or the “tricks” of its training. Each filler has its pros and cons, let’s consider them in more detail:
- Paper filler. The cheapest type that has been used for over 70 years. Use the scraps of newspaper that were about to be thrown away. Minus filler – unhygienic. If the paper gets wet, it will be difficult to clean out of the pot during the “spring cleaning”. The paint from newspapers has a bad effect on the health of seals, so the owners are gradually abandoning this filler.
- Woody. This is the most sustainable option. The natural scent of wood attracts a pet. But be careful – remove pieces of wood with sharp corners so that the kitten does not injure its paw or muzzle.
- Clay. Most popular. An added bonus: the smell of clay reminds cats of the wild, so the fluffy adapts to the tray faster. The smell of clay activates the cat’s instincts, and he quickly remembers where the toilet is.
- Silica gel. The most expensive type of filler. The main advantage is that there is no bad smell. Silica gel granules absorb moisture well and do not clump. This type is also good because 5 kilograms of material is enough for 5 weeks. You will save a lot!
If you bought a kitten from a breeder, be sure to ask what kind of litter the pet goes to. Most likely, he has already formed a habit of specific material.
If you don’t want to use the litter, just choose a pot with a convenient design and don’t sweat it. A cat that has never seen litter will quickly get used to an empty litter box. Another thing is when the purr is used to rummaging through the filler with its paws, and you have the idea to completely abandon the material. The fluffy has already developed an instinct to disguise his feces – to bury them in clay, wood shavings, or paper. In this case, reduce the amount of litter gradually until the cat learns to walk into a completely empty pot. 
4 ways to train your kitten to the litter box
How to train a kitten to the litter box? How can you avoid making mistakes? These 4 tricks will make it easier for you:
- Limit your freedom of movement. For example, put a pot in one room and wait for the fluffy to come to that room. Then lock yourself in the room with him for a few hours. If you notice that the cat is looking for a toilet, pick him up and place him in the pot.
- Positive reinforcement is an effective way to develop a conditioned reflex. A kitten can be litter trained simply by stroking and praising it after the next “trip to the toilet”.
- If the kitten is still very small (2-3 months), put it in the pot every time after active games, sleep or food. While doing this, gently massage the belly of your purr to induce an act of defecation or urination. It is important to do this very carefully, do not force the kitten.
- Show your cat how to use the litter. Place it in a pot and scrub the litter with your finger. So you activate the necessary instinct in the cat. Never take your pet in your arms when it starts to play with the litter. So you will only scare him and interrupt a very important stage in the study of new material. So potty training will not work.
The kitten doesn’t want to go to the litter box – what should I do?
If you have faithfully potted your kitten and you have failed, follow these simple tricks:
- Don’t scold your pet. Don’t poke his face into a puddle. The baby may develop a conditioned reflex that going to the toilet is something bad, associated with screaming and stress. Therefore, the cat will start looking for secluded and hard-to-reach places. For example, under your bed.
- Praise the furry after every successful toilet trip. The animal perfectly understands your intonation and feels when it is praised and when it is scolded.
- Wipe the puddle with a rag and place it in the pot. The smell will tell the cat where the toilet is.
- Empty the pot as soon as possible. Cats don’t like going to a dirty pot that smells bad. If your cat gradually gets used to peeing the litter box, change the litter box and wash the litter box at least once a week. Clean the litter box with non-strong household chemicals.
Means for training a kitten to a litter box
The litter training process can be accelerated by using special sprays that push the pet away from its chosen place. Ask your pet store for any of these remedies:
- “Antigadin”.
- Toilet training.
- “Tray training”.
Use mountain lavender to draw the cat’s attention to a specific location. Place it next to the tray, but not in the tray itself.
And one more life hack in the end. Do not bother with the question of how to quickly train a kitten to the toilet at home. Each animal has its own speed of adaptation and learning ability. The process of getting used to the tray should take place gradually, slowly, and naturally. Be patient, and after a few weeks, the fluffy will definitely have the right habit.