Litterbox training
Most kittens and cats litterbox train almost instinctively. Upon taking your new pet home, it is generally a good idea to confine them to one small-ish room of the house for the first few days. This will give them a chance to get used to the litterbox in a smaller environment (where they will be less likely to foprget where it is) and will also give them a chance to adapt to their new family and home in a smaller, less intimidating environment. If the kitten or cat has never used a litter box before, a very small area (like a bathroom) is probably a good starting point. The smaller the area and few other appealing locations to choose for elimination will help the cat chose to use the litterbox. After a few days when the cat has started to get used to you and when it has proved that it is consistently using its litterbox, you can start slowly expanding its environment. Most of the time, even with a cat who has never used a litterbox, keeping them in a small area and providing them with a clean litterbox is all you have to do.
Choice of cat litter and boxes
There is an amazing variety of cat litter available today. You should avoid clumping litter in kittens less than 7 weeks of age as they are usually too messy with food and water and will often walk into their water bowl, then proceed into the litterbox, and end up with clumping litter stuck to their feet. In kittens and cats over 2 months of age, the best type of litter is really what the cat prefers and will use most consistently. In general, clumping litters provide a fine sand-=like texture and receives the higher cat approval ratings. Their advantages include their fine texture and the fact that you can scoop out urine and feces, minimizing odor. Their disadvantages include their dustiness and tendency to be tracked out of the litterbox. (These may not be an ideal choice for an asthmatic cat). With clay litters, you can scoop the feces out, but must empty the entire box to remove the urine. Therefore, the box must be emptied and cleaned much more freequently. There also are the pelleted pine litters and pelleted newspaper litters which do not adhere to anything (these can be a nice choice for a pet with wounds or a recent surgical incsion). There are litters made of"crystals" or "pearls" (which, larger particules) which often control odor well while minizmizing dust- they absorb the urine and you scoop the feces. The larger size of the particles may be less desireable to some cats, but may be well accepted by others.
There are litterboxes of varying sizes and shapes, with and without covers. Covers decrease the tracking of litter, but some cats may find covered boxes less appealing. You want to make sure that you chose a litterbox large enough to accomodate your cat comfortably. In general the best cat litter and the best litterbox is the one your cat prefers, and thus uses consistently.
There are litterboxes of varying sizes and shapes, with and without covers. Covers decrease the tracking of litter, but some cats may find covered boxes less appealing. You want to make sure that you chose a litterbox large enough to accomodate your cat comfortably. In general the best cat litter and the best litterbox is the one your cat prefers, and thus uses consistently.
Number of Boxes:
Ideally the veterinary behaviorists recommend that the number of litterboxes in the house is 1 more than the number of cats. You can sometimes get away with less than this number, but if you are having any problems with litter box compliance, you should adhere to this rule.
Cleaning
Keeping the litter box clean is extermely important to keep your cat using its box. All litterboxes should be scooped daily andemptied and cleaned out (scrubbed out with a non-ammonia cleaner - dish soap and water is often a good choice) routinely. When using clumping litter,monthly emtpying may be enough. When using non-clumping litter,weekly (or morefrequently) is often necesary. In general,if the litterbox is smelly, your cat is probably not going to be as happy to use it.
If you cat is not using the box: if a small kitten is not using the litterbox,most of the time it needs its basic training reinforced. You will probably need to confine it to a very small room until its starts using the box consistently again. If a previously litterbox trained cat starts going out side of the boxl, it may be a medical or behavioral problem. You should first bring your pet in to the veterinarian to make sure that it is not having a medical problem. If it is ok medically, more frequently cleaning of boxes or offering your cat other box or litter types can help. Your vgeterinarian can give you advice of further steps to take to help your cat return to its previous good behavior.
If you cat is not using the box: if a small kitten is not using the litterbox,most of the time it needs its basic training reinforced. You will probably need to confine it to a very small room until its starts using the box consistently again. If a previously litterbox trained cat starts going out side of the boxl, it may be a medical or behavioral problem. You should first bring your pet in to the veterinarian to make sure that it is not having a medical problem. If it is ok medically, more frequently cleaning of boxes or offering your cat other box or litter types can help. Your vgeterinarian can give you advice of further steps to take to help your cat return to its previous good behavior.
