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Make your new kitty's litter training a little easier

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The great thing about kittens is that, by the time you bring them into your home, they are already accustomed to using a litter box. Kittens learn to use the litter box from watching their mother, and even stray cats that have never lived in a home before instinctively know how to use a litter box right away. Although they know the basics of how to use a litter box, kittens still need extra help and guidance from you when they come into their new home in order to avoid having accidents. Keeping the following tips in mind will help your new kitten adjust to using the litter box in his new home.

  • The rule of thumb for litter boxes is to have one box per cat plus one extra. So if you have one cat, you need two litter boxes.
  • If your kitten struggles to get in and out of his litterbox, he might opt to forgo the litterbox altogether. Make sure the box you choose is low enough that your kitten can get in and out of it easily.
  • Your new kitten is likely going to be overwhelmed by his new home and will seek out a quiet area of your house. Make sure to put the litter box in a quiet, low-traffic area where your kitten will feel most comfortable. If the litterbox is in a noisy or busy area, your kitten may not be comfortable using it and will resort to hiding somewhere quiet to go to the bathroom.
  • Another reason a kitten may avoid the litter box is if he feels trapped by a cover. Covered litter boxes give cats the privacy they like but also create a "one way in, one way out" situation. If you have other cats, your kitten might feel trapped in the litter box - especially if you have other cats that gang up on him once he's in there.
  • The bigger the litter box, the better. Even small kittens prefer a large litter box to a smaller one.
  • Always clean the litter box regularly. Would you want to use a toilet nobody ever flushed? Your kitten will find a new place to go to the bathroom if his litter box is unclean.
  • Litters are not scented for the cat's enjoyment, but for us as owners. Many cat litters are overly perfumed, which can be too overwhelming for your kitten. In fact, the litter that you picked out for its pleasant smell may actually be repelling your kitten.
  • Most importantly, if your kitten does have an accident, don't scold or punish him. Instead of pushing him towards using the litter box, it may make him scared about going to the bathroom, which will lead to him hiding to relieve himself instead of seeking out the litter box.
  • Remember that all cats, not just young kittens, are likely to be overwhelmed by their new home and may resort to hiding in a quiet spot, possibly even for several days. Your cat may be too nervous to explore the house and find the litter box, so make sure he has easy access to a litter box while he settles into your home, even if it's not a spot you plan to keep it permanently.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, a cat, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.

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