How does potty training for cats work?

March 07, 2022 by Natasha V. Training

Training your cat to use its litter box is an important aspect, don't wait until an "accident" happens, as this will not help either you or your kitty.

Luckily felines are instinctively drawn to relieve themselves in areas similar to the ground, making it even easier for cats to use the sandbox by their nature.

Even so, he may need a little help, especially if he is very young. so, if you need to know how to train a cat and do his business. The following tips will ensure that you are prepared to potty train your cat.

How to potty train your cat?

Potty training begins around 3 weeks after birth when kittens can excrete on their own.

Many cats are already potty trained before they arrive in their new home or are even able to do it by instinct. However, others, especially smaller and stray cats, will need to be shown a few little tricks to learn how to use the cat litter box.

Fortunately, cats can be potty trained very quickly, in as little as a week.

What you need to potty train your cat?

To teach your cat how to use the toilet, you will need the following.

Litter tray

Litter tray should be big, the cat should be able to turn in it without problems, if you have a small cat, don't worry, it is better to buy a big one and wait for him to grow in it.

Make sure that it has a good height and that it is easy for him to access but it should be deep enough so that the litter does not run out. It should have enough litter for the cat to cover its droppings, but not too much.

Litter

It is highly recommended to use dust-free litter, such as silica or vegetable litter, as dust can irritate the lungs. Avoid using the scented litter.

On the market today, there are three main types of litter for your pet's litter box.
For example, absorbent litter, which absorbs liquids and deodorizes them, or clumping litter, which clumps around feces and urine, creating clumps that are easy to remove. Or Biodegradable litter: made with recyclable plant-based elements.

Scooper

Cats are very clean and it stresses them out if their bathroom is dirty, so it is very important that the feces are removed daily so they have to be removed easily.

How to potty train your cat?

Place his litter box in a quiet and easily accessible place.

The location of the litter box is important, if it is an uncomfortable place for cats, it may not be easy for them to remember. Look for quiet places where not many people pass by, such as near front doors, corridors.

Make sure it is away from the cat's bed and where there is no loud noise. Also, make sure it is not visible to people but easily accessible to the cat.

Introduce him to his litter box.

Place your cat on top of the litter box and allow him a few minutes to become familiar with it.

After eating, take him to his litter box and teach him to dig in it using his paws so that he understands the purpose of the litter box, be patient and repeat this action as necessary.

Take him to the litter box after eating.

Normally, they usually relieve themselves after eating or after a nap. You have to pay attention to when they do it to make sure they have already learned to do it.

If you see that your kitten is about to relieve himself, you can quickly take him to his litter box: do it quickly but gently, so that he doesn't get scared.

Take his waste to his litter box.

If your cat goes to the bathroom in a different place, pick up the waste, and before throwing it away, leave it in the litter box for a few minutes so that through smell it associates the litter box as its new bathroom.

And if he doesn't bury his droppings, cover them with some litter so he learns that he has to do the same.

Reward him.

Once he uses his litter box for the first time, reward him with petting or a treat to let him know he did well.

Don't scold your cat.

When potty training your cat it is important not to scold him if he does not use his litter box properly.

Cats do not understand when they are scolded and may think you are scolding them for defecating, so they will then do it in hidden places so as not to be scolded.

Make their toilet more attractive.

If your cat still won't use his litter box, you may need to come up with ways to make his toilet look attractive.

Consider changing to a different litter box that is easier to get into, putting the cover on or taking it off, moving it to a quieter place, stopping the use of deodorants, or cleaning more frequently.

Depending on the kitten, urinary tract infection may prevent toilet use, so don't hesitate to consult a veterinarian.

Litter boxes accessible to all cats.

In case you have more than one cat at home, it is best that each one has its own litter box, and that they have differentiated spaces.

That means that 5 kitties in your home will also mean 5 litter boxes strategically placed around the house where each cat will generally be trained to defecate.

You are now ready to potty train your cat.

Cats like to be clean and are particular about their litter box, so they must be comfortable and kept clean for the cat to use comfortably.

While these steps are guaranteed to work, the amount of time needed to perform each step varies from cat to cat.

If you are concerned that after a while your cat does not want to use his litter box or continues to relieve himself in other places, it is best to have him checked by your veterinarian to rule out any health problems.

Patience, as always, is necessary when training our pets.