November 12, 2024, 12:10 pm | Read time: 7 minutes
Kittens use the litter box from a very early age. However, accidents happen from time to time, especially at the beginning. Playful training can help here. PETBOOK editor and cat expert Saskia Schneider reveals how.
Kittens typically learn how to use the litter box on their own. Mainly by observing and imitating adult cats. This usually happens from the age of three to four weeks. Before that, the mother cat takes care of the removal of feces and urine by picking it up when she cleans the kittens.
As soon as the kittens become more independent and mobile, they go exploring. They do not automatically know that the box with the litter is the toilet. It is, therefore, not uncommon for some kittens to use the box as a bed or play area. Only with time and by observing and imitating do they understand its actual purpose. It is also part of their biological program not to defecate and urinate near their sleeping and feeding places. They then specifically look for a place that is quiet and where they can bury their droppings.
Some kittens have difficulties with the litter box
If kittens grow up with their mother in a human household, they learn how to use the litter box almost all by themselves. The situation is different when kittens grow up as orphans, i.e., without a mother. In this case, humans must ensure that the kittens learn to go to the toilet on their own. As a rule, rearing- or foster homes for motherless kittens do an excellent job of this. Nevertheless, training should be continued at home to avoid accidents in the new environment.
In addition, you should only take kittens from the age of 12 weeks. Only at this point are they mentally stable and have learned many important behaviors from their mother. If kittens are separated too early, they can behave very insecurely and then tend to mess – even if they know where the litter box is and how to use it.
It becomes more difficult if the kittens grow up on a farm or in a colony of wild domestic cats. There are no boxes with litter here. The animals learn to find suitable places in the wild. If they are then placed in an apartment, it can happen that the kittens prefer other areas, such as flower pots or the bath mat, instead of the litter box.
How to help kittens with litter box training
It doesn’t matter whether the kittens have already learned what a litter box is or whether this is still a completely new concept for the animals. As prospective cat parents, there are a few things you can do to help them with litter box training. Here are a few tips:
Place the litter box nearby
Normally, litter boxes belong in quiet places. However, when kittens move in for the first time, you shouldn’t let them run around the whole apartment or house. This can quickly become overwhelming and cause the animals to hide under the sofa, a cabinet, or the bed – and relieve themselves there because they are too afraid to come out.
It is better to keep the kittens in one room for the time being and place the litter box close by. This gives the animals the best chance of finding and using the toilet. Later, when the kittens have settled in well, you can gradually move the toilet to where it should actually be.
Barrier-free access
The current trend is for self-cleaning cat toilets or those with complex entryways to prevent litter from scattering throughout the home. This may work for adult cats. However, to ensure that kittens accept the litter box as quickly and easily as possible, the simpler, the better. A box with litter is perfectly adequate in the beginning. It is important that the cats can get in and out easily.
The more complicated the toilet setup, the greater the chance that the animals will find the toilet scary and avoid it. Especially if you can only get inside via a staircase or a hole in the top of the lid. Put yourself in the kitten’s shoes. Would you just jump blindly into an unfamiliar, dark box?
Introducing kittens to the litter box in a playful way
In contrast to adult cats, kittens have a decisive trait that you can use to your advantage when training them to use the litter box: They are still open to new things, extremely playful, and curious. A simple wand toy is often sufficient to entice them near or into the litter box. Food is less suitable for this, as cats do not usually eat where they defecate or urinate.
Remove alternatives
In addition to the litter box, kittens sometimes look for other places that they consider suitable as a toilet. Initially, it can help to remove common “accident spots” such as bath mats, flower pots, and even cushions. Sometimes, it is also enough to make certain places inaccessible and keep a close eye on the animals. Before kittens urinate or defecate, they often start scratching and squatting.
Familiar smells can help
If possible, use a litter similar to the one in the environment where the kittens grew up. The smell and feel will help the animals to understand that this is the place to do their small and big business.
If you already have an adult cat in the house, it can also be helpful to put litter from their toilet in the new kitten litter box. But please do not take any urine or feces with you. The litter alone is sufficient as an odor carrier. However, keep a close eye on how the kittens react, as such foreign smells can also unsettle them and then have the opposite effect.
The right litter
This is a point that many cat owners underestimate at first. If the litter is unpleasant for the kitten’s sensitive paws or even hurts, the animals will avoid the toilet or urinate next to the box. It is, therefore, best to choose a litter that is soft and does not consist of sharp stones.
The appropriate amount of litter is also crucial. Kittens still have relatively short legs and are therefore prone to sinking into the litter box. This can also be unpleasant or scary for the animals. They also pick up more dust from the litter when they clean themselves.
Reinforce positive use
Positive reinforcement is an important key to success in any animal training program. As soon as the kittens use the litter box, you should praise them. Preferably verbally and not with treats. And please don’t overdo it. Praise does not mean that you should leap up and exclaim with joy as soon as the kitten crouches in the litter box. A friendly “Super” or “Great job” in a slightly higher tone of voice is enough.
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Accidents can happen
Even if kittens have already learned to use the litter box, accidents can still happen from time to time. Especially at the beginning, kittens sometimes do their business on the carpet, bed, or sofa instead of using the litter box.
On the one hand, the soft surface can remind them of the litter in the litter box. Secondly, kittens are not yet able to control their bladder so well. When they are playing wildly, they sometimes forget to go to the toilet, which is very similar to human toddlers. Suddenly, it’s warm, soft, and cozy on the sofa next to their human companion; the animals relax and may occasionally urinate.
Here, it is important never to scold the kitten. Especially not if the mishap happened some time ago. On the one hand, the animals cannot associate the “punishment” with the behavior, and on the other hand, sudden aggressiveness on the part of humans can unsettle them. If you catch your kitten in the act, remain calm, gently pick up the kitten, and carry it to the litter box.