How Can I Litter Box Train A Kitten?

Question

I am getting a kitten soon and I want to know how I can litter box train the kitten. Also... would this litter box be good for a kitten? I'm afraid that it is too high for the kitten to get into and the kitten won't use the litter box. If it's not a good litter box, which one would be best?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14882

Any other information about kittens/cats would be helpful.

Ok... thank you for your answers but what I really want to know is that would this litter box be okay for my new kitten or it too high?

Answer 1

this web site has all you kitty answers
http://cats.about.com/

Answer 2

Kittens are the most easiest to litter box train than any other animal. I found some kittens that someone had dumped by the side of the road and they wasn't but maybe 3-4 weeks old. I bottle fed them and gave them Kitten Chow that had been soaked in warm water and was very soft. Just have a litter box small enough for them to crawl into. Get you some litter, I always use a good brand cat litter that helps with the smell and get you a scoop so you can clean out the litter box daily and sometimes more than once. If it gets too full, a cat will not use the litter box. Just pick up the kittens and put them in the litter box and it is really like magic. They will naturally use the bathroom in the litter box if you do this. Those kittens I took care of I just picked them up after I fed them and put them into the litter box and they used the litter box the first time they used the restroom and used it everytime from then on. Good luck.

Answer 3

Amazingly, kittens usually come already litter trained. Their mothers usually do this, if they are raised in a house. The best thing to do with a kitten is decide on where you will keep the litter box. Then, for the first day or so, keep the kitten confined in that room with the litter box. It wouldn't hurt to put the kitten in the litter box as soon as you bring it home. It will get the message.

Do be sure the litter box is easy for the kitten to enter. If it can't see the litter, it won't know it's there. Litter boxes are not expensive and you can easily buy a larger box when you baby grows bigger.

Answer 4

Start with a shallow dishpan. If the kitty is really young, you'll want to use the litter that doesn't clump because sometimes young cats eat it and the clumps can block digestive passages. Put the pan where she can easily get to it. When she arrives, show her the box. Put her in and scratch a bit to give her the idea. It is instinctive for cats to bury their "leavings". All she needs is to know where. If an accident does happen, clean the area well with vinegar and baking soda so the smell doesn't draw her there to go again. If you can, try to find a kitty who is already trained. It's best to get one about 8 weeks old who has been with mom for a while. The more time with Mom, the better trained she will be. Spay or neuter! Good luck with your new pal!

That box looks fine. Kittens can get around pretty well. I have one from Petsmart that has a walk up ramp. The brand name is Booda Clean Step. Check it out on the net. If you're concerned about her getting in, I would go that route. The covered box is great! Mine like to sling the litter everywhere and this keeps the floors clean.

Answer 5

It has a kitten in it it should be ok. You need something with sides so they don't kick all the litter up. AS far as litter box training. Don't take the kitten away from the mom to early, they really do most of the teaching for you. Place the kitten in the litter box and it usually figures it out. You may have to catch it in the middle of doing its buisness and then place him in the box. That should be enough. If they strart going in a specific spot instead of the litter box. Clean the area w/ a cleanser that removes the proteins that cause the smell and move the litter box to that spot. You may be able to move it back to the origional spot if the new one is inconvenient.

Answer 6

When you get the kitten (they are so adorable) have the litterbox ready -get a small low box made for a kitten-try WalMart or definitely can get at Petstore,Petco any Petfood store but if too expensive try WalMart- have it where you want the kitty to use the litterbox and put the kitty into the litterbox then leave it in there-if it'll stay(do not force for then you'll make afraid of it) for approx 10 minutes. The kitty should scratch in the litter foor its a natural instince and then should also stimulate using it to go to bathroom. Until its pretty much littertrained always leave some litter-used-in the litterbox for the kitty will smell and they always go where they have already gone.If she jumps right back out-after 2 attempts do not force and she has a accident -take some feces and put into the litterbox and if you can soak some of the litter with urine-wear rubber gloves and put it back into the litterbox. Be sure that where she had accident is cleaned thoroughly so she cannot smell-----if bare floor -clean up with vinegar-willkill urine ,bacteria and vinegar smell goes away 15 min. if carpet test small area the vinegar should not discolor but soakl where it goes down into the pad Enjoy your kitty

Answer 7

It is going to depend on the age of the kitten. I also was afraid my kitten would not be able to get into her litter box but they can surprise you with how high they can reach and climb and jump. I think for a 10-12 week old cat and older that should be just fine. If you decide on a 6 week old kitten which is still rather tiny, that might be a bit high. Good luck and congrats on being a fur mommy!!!

Answer 8

As other people said, cats are usually litter trained in advance. The only word of advice I have is once you bring your kitten home, place her in the litter box, pick up a front paw and make a scratching motion with it in the litter.

Answer 9

you can start with a shallower pan,, or can make some steps out of an old phone book or two. Have the level of litter inside the box high enough it can get back out.
After every meal and when it wakes up from a nap-immediately set it in the litter box. Cats are born with the instinct to use a litterbox. As others have said,, maybe take it's paw and 'help' it to start scratching a hole. Nature should take over. Make sure the box is in a quiet area so it won't be startled by any noise or things bumping into the box while it's trying to use the box. You may want to have the kitten live in the same room the box is in for a couple days to imprint on him where his place to go is located.

Personally, I'd start with a pan that had lower sides and then graduate to the covered, taller one once it's able to crawl inside. You can get both and see which one is best for the first couple of weeks until it is big enough to get into the covered one. And a covered one is going to be best in the long run. Mine tend to really get aggressive and scatter stuff when they dig!

You can get a decent litterpan from any discount store like WalMart for about $3 or less. A covered one like the one you posted is about $20 or less at the same place. Scratching posts vary from $8 and up depending on how fancy you get.

Remember to get a scratching post!! Get one with sisal type rope, NOT carpet! Some cats trained on a carpet post tend to get confused when they are disciplined for clawing the carpet on the floor. Rub a bit of catnip on the rope to entice him to use it. If he tries to claw things that are off limits don't yell at him.. Gently tell him no while picking him up to set down at the post and help him make the scratching motion.. he will catch on pretty easily. Most cats like a post that allows them to stand on hind legs and stretch up while they sharpen claws. I've only had one cat declawed and wish I hadn't done so. (Shoulda kept the claws and gotten rid of the husband that had insisted upon it!)

Simple toys like a stuffed mouse, even a brown paper bag from the grocery store works fine. They love to chase things.

Do make sure any needles and threads are always kept out of their reach.. Cats tend to start playing w the thread and end up swallowing the needle on the other end of the thread.

Answer 10

Cats dont usually need to be trained so to speak. I have always just shown them the box once or twice and they tend to figure it out. As far as litter boxes go, I might suggest one with a little lower wall on the entrance but then again kittens are pretty good at getting where they need to go.

Answer 11

best to get a book on care of cats at the library

there is much to learn.
if a regular one is too tall.
maybe use a small disposable tin pan at first.

i use a covered tin cake pan for travel.
don't use fancy stuff regular litter or scoopable no smells chemicals and clean it very often
every time you use the toilet.at least
empty totally weekly.or when too wet.

you should never smell the box in the house.

here's a site fro now
Purina Cat Chow: Kitten Care Center
Includes articles on feeding, training, growth, and safety.
www.catchow.com/KittenCareCenterHome.aspx - 51k