I have a question when it comes to litter training a kitten...?

Question

Ok, well we are getting a kitten tomorrow, and we have a chihuahua. When we got Spencer (the chi) we got a baby's play pen to keep him in so we could start the process of getting him to "go" on paper. Well, he is older now, and trained successfully (sp) and we're thinking of using the same baby play pen to litter train a kitten. If we keep him/her confined to one room and in that playpen until it goes to the bathroom will it work or what?? I am confused here kinda lol. Also, dont they get used to going to the bathroom in one place and if you move the box it will throw them off? So, like if we were to train it that way would we have to keep it there or would it just be better to start off in the place we plan to put the litter box? ALSO, someone said to keep the box up away from Spencer's reach but if we dont know where to put it where the kitten can get it... Also, there is one more thing we are kind of concerned about and that would be the fact that most people let out their cats

and think its kind of cruel to keep your cat confined to just a house. We can't let the cat out in this neighborhood out of concern for its saftey. Its a rather small neighborhood and thier are german shepard's, chow's, austrailian shepard's, lab's, etc.. that run freely. Do you think it's cruel to keep him/her inside??? ok im through now thank you all soo much

i made a typo... it should say at the end of the first half... we also have another concern and that is most people let thier cats OUTSIDE! mybad

Answer 1

Litter box training isn't hard. All you have to do is put him/her in the box a few times and if he/she goes show him/her how to bury it (i always used a hanger or something like that) It also depends on where you're getting your kitten from. We got our kitten from the SPCA and he was already trained so we didn't really have to worry about it. As for your dog, I have heard that some dogs eat the cat poo (disgusting I know) and that it can make them sick. You will just have to watch Spencer and make sure he doesn't do that. Now keeping a cat inside, well we do. It just depends on your preference there too. I don't want mine outside because of fleas/ticks, etc. Moving the litter box I think depends on the cat, I just moved my cats litter box and he had no trouble with it, BUT I showed him where I moved it to AFTER I moved it. I should add that we've had our kitten for almost 4 months so he had time to get used to it in the one spot and going in it before I moved it. I hope this helps you some!

Answer 2

Depending on where your getting your kitten, it should already be litter box trained. I just got finished bottle feeding a litter we found in an alley and I had them litter box trained by 3 weeks. It is natural for a kitten to seek out soft dirt like areas to potty in so they can cover it up. My guess is put the kitten in the litter box, and they will know what it is for. If the kitten is very small you may need to keep the litter box close by. Tiny kittens will be afraid to go off looking in strange places for a litter box. As the kitten adjusts to the new enviroment, you can move the box farther and farther away until it is where you want it. Moving the box will NOT make them go in the floor. It's not the place they get used to its the litter box. However, if a tiny kitten can't find it, they will be more likely to use the floor. So keep it close, at least for a while. The play pen won't work for a kitten I'm afraid. I came home to find one of my kittens 1/2 way up my curtians!!! They will just climb out. No I don't think it is cruel to keep cats in the house. Roaming cats are always at risk of getting hit by a car, killed by another cat or dog, or person, poisoned or any number of other things. You can if you want purchase a cat condo. They are large pens with adjustible shelves in them. I have one on my front porch. When the weather is not to hot or cold and I want my cats to get some fresh air, I put them in it. They are rather expensive. I gave over 100. for mine, but I love it. It is on rollers. If Spencer is like most dogs you will want to keep the litter out of his reach. I have never met a dog that would not eat cat poop. I can tell you why they do it, but it would take up too much room. If you would like to e-mail me I can explain it to you. Good luck.

Answer 3

Cats are pretty easy to litter train. You put the kitten in the litter box a few times and they usually got it. I put the litter box down wherever you are planning on keeping it at...as its true if you move them some cats will start using the floor.

As far as letting cats outside I dont think it's cruel at all to keep a cat inside. We have some outside cats that came to us as strays and they dont like it in the house but we live in the country so its fine for them to be out. We have one cat that we have had since a kitten and she is an indoor cat and doesnt even want outside. The way you described the neighborhood I would suggest keeping him/her in the house :)

Answer 4

Hi there... many people gave excellent wonderful litterbox tips here. One more thing to add that one you first bring home the kitten please confine it to a small room (e.g. bathroom) for the first 24/48 hours with it's litterbox, food and water dishes. The reason is that it helps gives the kitten time to get used to the new strange smells in the home as well as help it slowly adjust in a small quiet room. Also that room will later become a pleasant place associated with the litterbox so it will less likely have accidents if it knows the litterbox is a quiet and secluded area away from the chihuahua and other upsetting things. Please don't fret about confining the kitten in a small room temporarly it actually will find it comforting rather than a large space.

To answer your other question... it is perfectly fine to have an indoor-only cat. It will contribute to a healthier and longer life as the outdoors can be a hostile environment ...attack dogs, infected/ill cats, host to many toxic pesticides and infected small animals if ingested.

Please remember to have your kitty vaccinated to protect it from feline diseases (even if it's an indoor-only cat). Cats are suspectible to these diseases and your vet can confirm this fact. I have included a weblink below which explains why they are very important to your cat's overall health.

Finally, please remember to have your kitty spayed (female)/neutered (male) about 5/6 months. This will remove the temptations of it accidentally running out and getting pregnant or having them spray your home with urine. Please note that both males and female cats can spray and a vet also can confirm this fact as well.

Answer 5

First I hope that Spencer will not find the new kitten a threat and gets jealos of it .. second .. I feel taht the best thing is to introducde the kitten not only ot the litter but also to the house and the inhabitants .. so the best thing is to put it in one room furst and put all the stuff it needs in it .. and try that the room be a bit big not too small.and try for Spencer to smell it and the kitten smells him too in this case when the door is open they feel kind of familiar. Second it is important to introduce the kitten to the litter box .. just put it in the box and let it smell it .. it is ok if she tasted it .. my kitten instead of using the litte box she started to eat from it .. but then she knew why the litter box is used! being alone in the room is very important but try not to let it stay there alone a lot .. she will feel left or neglected. when moving the litter to its new location also try to put it again in the litter but better if it does not cause any threat by Spencer
and regarding her staying in the house I personaly think that cats should be left inside and not leave the house .. for many rasons .. in in your case being safe from dogs is best.
Good luck with your new bember and I hope that things will get just fine

Answer 6

I have both dogs and cats, well one cat now, the one I let outside, came back in after a few minutes and never used a litter box. The other cat does not like being out side and has always used the litter box. I have had the inside cat its whole life. she was born on my rear porch in an old basket of rags. I kept her and saw to it the others were taking care of too. I never worried about training her to the liter box she seemed to know exactly what it was for without any outside help. The outside cat was a male and thought he was a dog he ran with my dogs and played chase with them. The dogs protected him from other dogs and other male cats in the neighborhood, and all went well till he got about a year old then he started to wonder away from home, sometimes leaving for days but always returning. Then one day he did not return, I never saw him again so I do not know what happened to him. He had a collar with his rabies shot tag on it but I never received a call. So if you let your cat have its freedom, please be sure it is in the house after.

Answer 7

First letting the cat out: I don't think it's cruel to keep it inside. My cats are all happy inside except I put them on a harness and them both out every morning when I get the newspaper so they do get some outside time, but I don't let them out by themselves it's safer, they won't get hit by cars or anything.

Second for the litter training, here's one idea about where to put the box btw, my sister keeps her littler box in a cupboard with the door open it's out of the way and people don't have to look at it, another friend keeps hers a broom closet. When I litter trained my guys there were habits that they had when they'd need to go to the bathroom, for intstance one would start crying and squating, I'd just pick him up and put him in his new litter box and rub his feet in it so he'd get used to it. Then when they do use the litter box give them lots of praise and tell them they're good kitties and pet them and all that, they'll realize that they're doing a good thing by using the box and keep doing it.

Answer 8

Mine are all indoor cats. My kittens were three weeks old when I brought them home, and they were confned to a small bedroom until they were old enough to jump the side-ways door that I had blocking the doorway. they pretty much figured out the litter box on their own. I reached over their barrier-door to play with them and only actually went inside every 3-4 days. The one was going outside when we lived in a trailer, but we're in a secure condo building now, and none of them have figured out how to "get out" yet.

Answer 9

Don't kittens get trained by their mothers before they are old enough to be sold or adopted?