How to potty train my kitten?

Potty training a kitten is usually quite easy. This is because cats are very hygienic animals plus the mother teaches its kittens how to use a litter box. Here are some tips to make the process of potty training your kitten even faster and easier!

Make sure the litter box is accessible

A litter box is a vital part of potty training your kitten. Make sure you pick a suitable location for the litter box. Put yourself in a kitten’s shoes; make sure the litter box isn’t too high up, remains easily accessible and isn’t located near any food bowls. Remove the lid of a covered litter box at first. This will make the litter box appear more accessible to your kitten. Also make sure your kitten has access to the litter box at all times. The kitten must maintain access to the litter box when you leave the house as well. if a door closes (for example while your kitten is playing) and your kitten can no longer reach the litter box, it will have to find a different place which is something you want to prevent from happening.

Help potty train your kitten

A kitten may need some help getting potty trained, especially if it was taken from the nest at a young age or if it has to grow up without its mother. Put your kitten in its litter box in the morning, evening and after dinner. It will likely have to go around these times. Sometimes it helps to gently rub its belly in order to stimulate its digestion. Keep an eye on signs like mewing and walking around nervously. If that happens, put it in the litter box to see if this behaviour is a sign that it has to go. Tip: Do not leave any clothes or plastic bags on the floor. A kitten may mistake it for a proper place to go.

Clean the litter box

Scoop the poo out of the litter box every day and clean the litter box with water and replace the litter on a regular basis. Cats are clean animals and enjoy a clean litter box. Do not use scented detergent when cleaning the litter box, your cat won’t like it. Cleaning with soda or scent-free detergent is fine.

Provide plenty of litter boxes

It is recommended to get one litter box for each cat plus one extra litter box. This means you’ll need two litter boxes for one cat, three litter boxes for two cats and four for three cats. If your cat is used to having a single litter box, this shouldn’t pose any problems. As long as every cat has its own litter box.

Potty trained kitten

Sometimes a kitten has already been potty trained by mom. Quite convenient for you as its new owner. Do make sure to check what kind of litter the breeder has been using. Using the same kind of litter will help your kitten figure out that this is where it should be doing its business.

Potty training reversed

Did your potty-trained cat suddenly start spraying or peeing in other places? Behavioural changes like that can have multiple causes. In case of sudden reversal of potty-trained behaviour, always consult a vet. It may be caused by medical issues such as bladder infection or cystitis.

Other reads: Buying a litter box: how to decide