How to Litter Train a Kitten: A Step-by-Step Guide for Success

Common Misconceptions About Litter Training Kittens

It’s a common belief that you never have to teach kittens to use the litter box, but that’s not always true. While some mother cats may naturally show their kittens how to use it, not all do.

Key points to remember:

• Not all kittens instinctively learn how to use the litter box.
• Some mother cats may not actively teach litter box behavior.
• Kittens might require direct training to understand the purpose of the litter box.

Early Litter Training for Kittens

According to Elizabeth Teal and Micky Niego of the ASPCA, who discuss this in their article on Petfinder, “cats do not come into this world knowing how to use a litter box.” Kittens typically learn how to use the litter box by observing their mother at around 4 weeks of age.

• Kittens watch and imitate their mother’s behavior when it comes to using the litter box.
• Training often happens quickly and subtly, making it easy to miss.
• Some mother cats are more involved in teaching their kittens than others.

For kittens born outdoors, Teal and Niego point out that they may imprint on natural textures like leaves or soil, and these kittens may need to be trained to use a litter box filled with clay litter when brought indoors.

How to Encourage Litter Box Use

Here are a few things you can do to help your kitten get comfortable with using the litter box:

Fencing In

Use a modified version of the crate principle, as explained in this Petful article:

• Section off part of a room.
• Place the litter box, bedding, dishes, and toys in the sectioned area, and add the kittens.

This setup forces kittens to use the litter box, explains Susan Graham of Aksum Abyssinians. Be prepared for potential setbacks, especially as the kittens adapt to new foods. Having plenty of paper towels, cleaners, and patience will be helpful.

Note: Avoid using Lysol or other toxic cleaners, as they can be harmful to small animals. Opt for nontoxic alternatives instead.

Litter Matters

Your kitten should feel comfortable when using the litter box. Foster & Smith recommend:

• Choosing a litter “with the consistency of beach sand or garden soil.”
• Opting for unscented litter to avoid overwhelming your kitten.

However, be cautious as young kittens might try to eat bits of cat litter, which can lead to dangerous blockages. To prevent this, Susan Graham suggests:

• Using corn-based litter like World’s Best Cat Litter, which is safer if ingested compared to clay litter.
• A budget-friendly alternative for litter training is chicken “crumbles” or feed, which is also made from corn.

Learn more about why kittens might eat bits of cat litter and how to address it.

Watch these adorable kitties quickly learn how to properly use a litter box for the first time:

Less Is More… (Except When It Comes to Litter Boxes)

Once your kittens leave their enclosure, make sure to have multiple litter boxes available. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• If you have more than one floor, place at least one litter box per floor.
• Ensure the litter boxes are in quiet, private places.
• Don’t fill the boxes to the top—just a couple of inches of litter should be enough.

Going Through the Motions

If you’re stepping in as the “mom cat,” here’s how you can help your kitten understand litter box habits:

• Place the kitten in the litter box when he wakes up or after meals.
• Gently guide his paw to scratch at the litter, showing him how to cover up properly.

According to Cats of Australia, “The kitten should get the idea from doing this.” If not, try scratching the litter yourself to make it look like a game and capture his interest.

A Little Help From the Doctor…

Sometimes, you might need a little extra help—enter Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Litter Attractant. Just a small amount can go a long way, drawing kittens to the litter box like a magnet.

In just a few weeks, your kitten will have the litter box routine down perfectly, ready to charm in their forever home.

How to Litter Train a Kitten: 5 Tips You Need Now

Here are a few quick tips to help you and your kitten succeed in litter box training:

Size Matters

Choosing the right size litter box is essential. Too-small litter boxes can make kittens feel confined, and this discomfort may discourage them from using the box.

• Linda White, in her book First Steps with Puppies and Kittens, recommends that each litter box should be 3 times the length of the kitten from nose to tail.
• Younger kittens need a litter box with lower sides for easier access.
• As your kitten grows, gradually replace the “kiddie box” with a standard-sized adult box before they feel uncomfortable and start refusing to use it.

Know Where to Put the Litter Box

Location is key when setting up your kitten’s litter box:

• Choose a quiet, low-traffic area where your kitten can eliminate with some privacy.
• Make sure the area provides multiple escape routes. Kittens and cats are cautious creatures and may avoid a location where they feel trapped.
• As Linda White explains, “Your kitten will not want to feel trapped, so the area containing the litter box should have a few escape routes in case they are startled.”
  Learn more about how cautious creatures like cats can be when it comes to their litter box habits.

A Room of His Own

Most cats prefer not to share litter boxes. In a multi-cat household, it’s best to have 1 more litter box than the number of cats you have. For example:

• If you have 1 cat, provide 2 litter boxes.
• If you have 2 cats, provide 3 litter boxes, and so on.

Forcing multiple cats to share a single box may lead to unwanted behaviors, such as:

• Urinating or defecating outside the litter box
• Dominance issues or territorial struggles
• Ambush-style attacks from other cats

The Humane Society of the United States also advises against placing all litter boxes in close proximity, as cats may perceive them as “1 big box,” which can create additional problems.

Choose the Best Litter for Your Cat

While some kittens may use any type of litter, others can be more selective. According to Linda White:

• Kittens often prefer soft, clumping litters, which feel like sand.
• Some kittens may favor smooth surfaces to eliminate on.

To help your kitten settle on a preferred litter, offer a couple of options:

• Set up multiple litter boxes with different types of litter and observe which one your kitten prefers.
• Using your kitten’s favorite litter from the start will make the rest of the training much easier.

Learn more about the safety of clumping litters for kittens and how to prevent potential issues.

This mama cat has a frustrating time showing her kitty what a litter box is really for:

Use the Right Amount of Litter

Kittens can have different preferences when it comes to litter depth, so you can experiment to find what works best for your kitten. Here’s how:

• In one litter box, pour only 1 to 2 inches of litter.
• In another box, use 3 to 4 inches of litter.

Step back and observe which box your kitten uses more frequently. This will help you determine their preferred litter depth.

Remember, the most important things you can bring to the litter box training process are patience and love. Cats and kittens naturally want to bury their waste, so you’re already at an advantage.

• Watch your kitten closely to identify any preferences or problems.
• Address any elimination issues quickly to prevent bad habits.

Don’t stress—while it can take months to potty-train human babies, your kitten will have litter box training down in no time.

For more tips on litter box training, check out this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)