Mastering Cat Toilet Training: A Step-by-Step Guide

Firstly, the good news is that training a kitten to use the litter box properly is much easier than teaching a puppy to go to the bathroom outside. Cats naturally prefer to urinate and defecate in sand or soil, so they are less likely to randomly排泄 in your home's floors or carpets.

However, what are the downsides? Although their instincts can help them learn to use the litter box more effectively, these instincts can sometimes be disrupted by other factors. For some kittens, you may need to invest more effort than others to help them get accustomed to the litter box.

So, how do you train your cat to use the bathroom correctly? Here are the specific steps, and we will also teach you how to choose the right litter box for your feline friend.

1. Placing the Litter Box

The first step is quite straightforward. You need to fill the box with litter and a tray. There are many types of trays to choose from, but the two main types are open and closed.

Open trays are more common, allowing your cat to easily enter the box. However, they have some drawbacks. Firstly, they cannot cover up the smell of the cat feces. Secondly, you will need to do more cleaning around the area, as your cat may kick up litter particles when covering its waste, which can then fall outside the tray.

On the other hand, a closed litter box is perfect for those who do not want to see or smell their cat's waste. These boxes have lids that cover the feces, leaving only a small space for your cat to enter and exit. These closed boxes are excellent at containing debris, so even if your cat kicks up litter particles, they won't end up outside, making cleaning much easier. However, the downside is that they are relatively more expensive, and you will need to clean the lid thoroughly each time before reuse.

In reality, your cat will get used to any type of litter box, so the choice is entirely up to your preference.

After choosing the litter box, you need to find a good place to put it. Cats are habitual animals, like most mammals, so once you decide on the location for the litter box, do not change it. It is worth noting that you should not place the litter box near where your cat eats or sleeps, as cats do not like to use the bathroom near their dining or resting areas. If you put the litter box too close to the cat bed, it may choose a more comfortable place to rest, such as behind the sofa. Therefore, the location of the litter box should be far from its resting and dining areas.

Place the litter box in a more secluded area, such as a spare bathroom or storage room. A corner is better than an open space, as cats need to feel safe when using the bathroom. If your cat has many escape routes to choose from while using the bathroom, it will feel more relaxed. Additionally, some cats are easily stressed, and even a slight movement can cause them to seek a quieter and more secluded place to use the bathroom.

2. Training Your Cat to Use the Bathroom Properly

1. First, place your new kitten in the litter box. It's best to have the litter box ready at home before bringing the kitten home. When you bring it home, you can gently place it in the litter box. At this point, the chances of it using the bathroom inside are low, but this will help it get familiar with the location of the litter box. When it leaves the box, let it slowly get accustomed to its new home. You can play with it, explore with it, and provide it with food and water.

2. After your kitten eats, put it back in the litter box. It's best if it uses the bathroom inside at this time, but make sure not to make it feel anxious, as cats need a sense of security when defecating. Since this is a new kitten, it may not be familiar with you and is in a new environment, so it may take some time to feel relaxed and comfortable.

3. Reward Your Cat When It Uses the Litter Box Properly

1. Continue to gently place your kitten in the litter box until it can use it properly. If this little one still needs some time to get used to the litter box, don't get discouraged too much, and never raise your voice. If you lose patience with the cat, it will sense your negative emotions and become panicked, which will only make the training process more difficult. Therefore, give it enough time to adapt to the litter box.

2. When it successfully uses the litter box, be sure to praise it. You can praise it, hug it, stroke it, or give it a treat. Even if it makes a small amount of progress, you can reward it.

In most cases, as long as your cat can use the litter box properly one to two times, it can get used to this way of defecating.

If your cat still can't get used to it or often defecates outside the litter box, here are some possible reasons.

1. The type of litter

Cats naturally dig into soft soil to cover their waste, and the litter you provide can be used as an alternative. The big question you face is: what type of litter is best? There are many types of litter on the market, including claybased and plantbased litters. Some cats may refuse to defecate on certain types of litter, but most cats, especially kittens, will adapt to any type of litter you provide. Just like choosing skin care products, you spend a lot of effort choosing the brand that suits your skin. This is a matter of preference. You not only need to consider what your cat likes but also what you like. For example, does your cat prefer fine sand or chunky granules? Do you prefer sustainable litter? Do you mind the strong smell of the litter? Based on these answers, you can choose a litter that is particularly suitable for both you and your cat.

4. Introduction to Different Types of Litter

1. Clumping Litter

This type of litter is designed to make it easier for cat owners to clean up their cat's waste. Most clumping litters contain a material called bentonite, which forms a solid clump when it absorbs liquid. In addition, they contain biodegradable fibers that help the litter clump together more tightly. Moreover, they are infused with odorcontrol ingredients that can effectively control the unpleasant smell of cat feces, such as the Purina brand, which not only eliminates odors but also emits a fresher scent. Keep in mind that using clumping litter does not mean you can do less cleaning. You should empty the litter box at least once every two days, and ideally, once a day if possible.

2. Nonclumping Litter

Although clumping litter is more popular now, nonclumping litter was once the most costeffective option. This type of litter can absorb a lot of urine, and additional ingredients like baking soda or charcoal help reduce the unpleasant smell of cat urine. Nonclumping litter is usually made of clay and contains other ingredients, such as plant substitutes (pine, corn, wheat, beet juice, and wood). Typically, this type of litter is cheaper than clumping litter. It's worth noting that cleaning a nonclumping litter box can be more challenging than a clumping litter box. You may find that since the cat's waste does not clump together, you might end up cleaning the entire box when you accidentally scatter it, making the experience quite unpleasant.

3. Ecofriendly Litter

Ecofriendly litter is usually made from recycled materials, such as newspapers, or from biodegradable materials like wheat, corn, and wood shavings, which decompose easily in landfills. Some ecofriendly litters are fine sand, while others come in granular form. The downside is that you may not like the dust emitted by fine sand, and your cat may not like to cover its feces with stonelike granules. If you choose to use ecofriendly litter, it is best to use it for kittens, as older cats may have a hard time getting used to it.

Keep using the same type of litter for your cat.

The choice of litter ultimately depends on your cat. Once you understand the type of litter your cat prefers, stick with it and don't switch to another type of litter. Cats are very particular, and changes in litter can cause them to be unwilling to adjust. So, once your cat has become accustomed to the current litter, don't buy any other types.