Litter training for cats

Written by Samantha | 31 October 2024

When your kitten has come home, you want to get him used to the new household as soon as possible. Most kittens have already learned how to use a litter tray from their mother. Often times, it is enough to show your kitten where the litter box is and place the kitten inside. It is recommended to do this: - After sleeping - After dinner - If your kitten sniffs, scratch or goes peeing - After playing - Reward your kitten with cat treats or by playing when he pooped or urinated in the litter tray properly. Cats can be very picky when it comes to their litter tray.

Type of litter tray

Usually a plastic litter tray is sufficient. These come in many shapes and sizes, with or without lid and hinged door. A covered litter tray gives your cat more privacy, keeps odours to a minimum and prevents messing around. Let your kitten get used to the litter box by first removing the lid. This makes it easier for your kitten to find his way in the beginning, especially in case of great need.

Some cats will eventually mainly do their needs outside. Don’t move the tray away too fast. In cold weather or illness it may be necessary for your cat to be able to do his business indoors.

Look online for our full range cat litter trays.

Cat litter

For the filling of the cat litter you can choose from sand, granules or cat grit. It often helps your kitten to get used to the new litter tray by using the same filling as the breeder. Garden soil is unsuitable, especially for unvaccinated kittens, because it can contain pathogens from other cats that use the garden as a litter tray.

Look online for our range of cat litter.

Relevant products

Where to place your cat litter tray

Place the litter box in a quiet place, easily accessible, where your kitten won’t be disturbed. Don’t place the litter tray near his sleeping place and food and water bowls. Cats are naturally house trained and will not want to pee or poop in the place where they eat and drink.

Litter tray cleaning

Change the litter tray regularly. Empty it at least once a day. Cats often do not want to use the tray if it is dirty. Empty the litter box regularly to clean it with soapy water. Most disinfectants are toxic. Just clean the litter box with water and detergent. If you are pregnant it is better not to change the container yourself. Cats can carry Toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can also infect people. During early pregnancy, an infection can lead to a miscarriage or death of the child. Congenital anomalies can occur later in the pregnancy.

Accidents

Of course, it can happen that your kitten pees or poops in an undesirable place. Don’t punish your kitten! This can cause your kitten to do its business in ‘secret’ places because he thinks it’s not allowed.

Praise your kitten if he does use the litter tray and give him something nice. Most of the time it will go well by itself.

If your kitten keeps doing it in another, undesirable place in the house, lock your kitten up in one room with the litter box, until your kitten has learned to use it. Place your kitten on the litter tray at fixed times as indicated before, so:

After sleeping
After dinner
If your kitten sniffs, scratch or goes peeing
After playing

What if your kitten doesn’t want to be on the litter box?

Your kitten may refuse to use the litter tray. There can be several reasons:

The litter box is not clean enough.
The litter box is not large enough: the tray should be the size that an adult cat can turn itself around in it and use it more often without getting dirty.
The litter box has been cleaned with a cleaning agent that smells too strong.
The litter box is in an undesirable place, for example too close to the eating or sleeping place.
The cat litter is unpleasant.
Your kitten can’t get the door open properly at a closed litter tray. Then (temporarily) remove the lid or the door.
The entrance to the litter box is too high.

You can still adjust the above points when your kitten does not want to use the litter tray.

Finally…

The key points of the cat litter training are the following:

Order a litter tray large enough
Select a suitable filling. To get used to the litter tray, use the same litter tray as the breeder if necessary.
Place the litter tray in a suitable place
Change the litter tray regularly
Place your kitten on the litter tray at fixed times.