How long does it takes for a kitten to learn to go to litter tray?

Question

Got a new lovely kitten about 3 weeks ago (he is about 10 weeks old). I don't have any experience with this little thing and now I just wonder how much longer is it gonna take him to get used to litter tray. I have 2 trays and I'm keeping them as clean as possible. When I got the second one things were going fine for 4 or 5 days but then he started to go elsewhere again. I keep showing him and even moved the tray to place where he goes to.
Another advice I need for is...he keeps sleeping in my bed and using it as a tray. How do I keep him away? I put treats in different places, keep taking him off the bed but he just won't get it and keeps jumping back up. Thanks for all the advices

Answer 1

when my cat had kittens they where all tray trained by the time they left me at 8 weeks old ! i think this is about the right age but some will take longer i guess ! it is possible though that the kitten does not like the kind of litter you are using i find most cats prefer the gritty litter rather than the wooden pellet kind ! the bed thing is just him markin his territory you can get sprays from pet stores that will leave a smell he doesn't like and hopefully prevent him from going pee pee in your bed ! good luck i'm sure your furry friend will get the hang of things soon :)

Answer 2

Using litter almost comes naturally to a little kitten. There may be a couple of reasons this is happening. What type of litter are you using? If it is scented, that could cause a problem. There are certain litters which are too rough on a kittens paws so it gets distressed and won't use it. You must make sure the litter is clean at all times. Do you have enough litter in the pan? Put the tray in an area which gives the kitten privacy. If none of these suggestions seem suitable then you need to take it to a vet to check and make sure it has no urinary problems. Cats are extremely clean animals so this behaviour is not normal, even for a young kitten.

Answer 3

I know this might sound cruel, but I've fostered cats and kittens and have had to keep them separate and they do fine. You might consider keeping the little fellow in a spare room or even a bathroom for a little while when you are not sleeping or not home so that he is in closer proximity to the litter and perhaps with the smaller space he will teach himself to only go where he's supposed to after you've shown him a time or two. When you are home and awake, keep a close eye on him and when he goes to squat, quickly pick him up and put him in the litter. Have you tried changing the litter? Maybe the litter has an odor that disagrees with him (an odor from the litter material, not his own waste).

Answer 4

cats will go in places they have been before. Mostly they are very clean and will be careful only to go in the proper place but clearly your kitten has got confused. You need to completely irraticate any possible trace of smell for any area you don't want him to go in. Remember cats noses are much more sensitive than ours so spraying with air freshener will not do it. Cat's are also extremely particular about how clean their toilet area is. Always change the litter completely if he has done anything solid in it. Don't try just scooping it out, change all the sand and wash the tray. Also if the sand is slightly damp that will put a cat off as well and they will look elsewhere. I tend to encourage mine to go outside, it's better for everybody I think.

Answer 5

Does he have free range of the house? You may have given him too much freedom too quickly. Try putting him in a smaller room, like the laundry room or a large bathroom, with his litter box, food and water, a toy or two, and something to sleep on. The room should be large enough that he doesn't have to sleep right next to where the litter box is. Once you see him consistently using the box, you can open up another room to him, then another, and so on. When you do this, don't just throw him in there, be sure to visit him and play with him quite a bit.

If that's not possible, make sure the box is easily accessible and clean (which it sounds like you are doing). If you have a covered litterbox, try an open one and vice versa. You can also try switching the litter. Cats can be fickle and sometimes they just don't like the set up, and you have to play with it until you get it right for them - then don't change it! :)

Make sure you are using an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle to clean up any messes. If any trace remains, even one invisible to your nose and eye, he will continue to use that area as his potty place.

It's near impossible to train a cat to stay off the furniture. They will go where they want to go. You can try the repel sprays that some pet stores sell, but they aren't always sucessful. The best results would be from closing the door, but most people like to sleep with their cats nearby. You can try putting a cat tree with a bed on top of it next to your bed and see if that becomes as appealing as your bed does, but it's likely that it won't. However, if you follow the first bit of advice about keeping him in a smaller room for a few days (sometimes even longer), it should help prevent him from using your bed as a litterbox.

Answer 6

To answer the second question first, if you dont want him on your bed, keep him out of the bedroom. It is POINTLESS to own a cat and expect it to not enjoy the bed.
THe best way to train a kitten to use the box, is repeat repeat repeat!!! Stop moving the box all around, its only CREATING confusion. You need to find a permanent place for the box. Consider putting newspaper, or plastic under the box itself, to avoid carpet or rug stains and smells. You need to find the time to dedicate to the cat, and its training. They wont learn on their own, and they wont learn by following treats. You need to be around 100% of the time, to make sure you catch EVERY movement of his to pee other than the box. When you see him starting to go, get up as fast as you can and go place him in the box. If NONE of this is working, you can try option 2. Lock him in say, a bathroom - make sure its well ventilated- with his food and litter box. OH!
DON'T PLACE THE FOOD AND LITTER NEAR EACH OTHER!!!!!!!! Cats hate that, at least 98% percent of them do, and thats a cause for not using the litter box. Make sure you get him nuetered right way when he comes of age. Most males can be done around 5-6 months , depends on their weight. ( i work at a cat shelter, so i know..) If nothing works or helps, you may have to come to terms with getting rid of him to either a cat shelter, or another family. My aunt had a cat that nothing could be done with, he never stopped peeing everywhere- and he had to be put to sleep. Do what is right when the time calls for it. Hope I was of some help.

Answer 7

my kitten got it in a few days. and my other cat when she was a kitten got it the same day. try putting him in the the tray after meals. he should have been litter trained already, ask the people you got him from which kind of litter they were using as some cats dont like it when you change the litter. good luck.

Answer 8

when my kitten was very young, he couldnt actually climb in the tray so i had to get a special tiny kitten one:P

also, the kitten should have learnt to use the tray while with its mother. try use the same litter as the breeder did or another stronger smelling one to help it find its way.

and your cat might also be finding it difficult to get off the bed in time so until its able to get to the tray ok, dont allow it to sleep on the bed when your around.

Answer 9

When we got our kitten, it helped (I think anyways) that we had other cats & a used litter box. We stuck him in it right away when we got home and now 3 years later, there have never been any accidents.
Maybe let it go 3 or 4 days before you clean the box(es) after he/she has used it. Maybe the kitten is confused.
Good Luck!

Answer 10

I got my cat at 8 weeks and it took her just under a week, to learn how to use the litter tray. As for him sleeping in your bed, I know its hard, but close the door until he is properly trained.