Buy a bigger box

Your kitten will grow up quickly, and if one day the tray is too small for him, the pet can go around the house to look for a larger toilet. At the same time, the height of the sides should be such that the animal can climb into it on its own.

Please note that the trays are closed and open

Both models have their pros and cons. On the one hand, a closed tray gives the animal a sense of privacy. On the other hand, the walls retain odors and the cat may refuse to use the tray that is not clean enough, in his opinion. In addition, large animals in such a tray are not very convenient to turn around and bury traces of their vital activity.

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Open trays also come in different types: with a grid, without a grid, with high and low sides. A tray with high edges is good for an adult animal that likes to rummage through the litter too vigorously and scatter it in all directions. It will not be easy for a small kitten to get into such a tray at the training stage.

But a low tray with a grid can be very handy. The filler in this model is poured under the removable part and does not come into contact with the paws. Perhaps your kitten will not immediately object to the net, and if it turns out that it is vital for him to rummage through the litter, the upper part can be removed permanently or temporarily.

However, with such trays you can do without fillers at all. You just need to pour out the urine every time and rinse the pot.

There are also special toilet seat covers that are good for all but one: they are not suitable for small kittens, pregnant cats, and old or sick animals. But if you really like the idea of ​​potty training and not messing around with litter, you can try this pad when the kitten is older.

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Many of these pads are gradual toilet training systems that use rings of varying diameters that are removed as the animal becomes accustomed. In some of them (for example, in this one), you can first pour filler. Which system is right for your pet depends on his preferences.

Finally, there are fully automatic cat litter boxes that take care of themselves and are therefore very convenient and hygienic. But such a miracle of technology is quite expensive. At the same time, it is likely that it will scare or simply not like your pet.

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Take care of the spare tray

This doesn't happen often, but be prepared for the fact that some cats prefer to urinate in one litter box and defecate heavily in another. If you live in a house or apartment with several floors, a cat litter box should be available on everyone.

And of course, if you have several, each should have its own tray.

Choose the right place

The place of the cat litter box should be easily accessible, convenient and fairly quiet. It is better not to put the tray in the farthest corner of the house: in case of emergency, the kitten may not have time to reach it.

And don't put the tray next to food and water bowls. Cats don't poop where they eat and drink.

What should be the filler

Choose a filler without dust, lumps and smell

Today, in almost every pet store you can buy mineral, wood, corn, silica gel and even paper fillers with a color indicator. In general, they all cope with their function, so the final choice depends on the personal preferences of the owner and the animal. But at the stage of potty training, it is worth paying attention to some important points.

It is recommended to use a litter that has little or no dust, as it can cause discomfort to the kitten when inhaled. It is also not recommended to start toilet training with clumping mineral litter because your pet will almost certainly taste it and this can cause severe constipation.

Try to buy products of widely used brands. Perhaps your pet will get used to a certain type of granules and refuse to use the toilet if suddenly the same filler is not in the store.

Neither you nor the kitten may like the silica gel filler, since it rustles quite loudly when instilled. Small corn filler sticks sometimes even to dry paws and spreads throughout the house.

It is better not to buy scented litter, as a strong fragrance can scare the animal away and it will begin to look for an alternative place for the toilet.

Therefore, it is better to buy pressed sawdust as the first filler, and later, if you want, try other options.

If your kitten is just starting to toilet train, it makes sense to leave some wet litter or excrement in the litter box as a reminder of where the toilet is in the house.

Once the animal gets used to it, everything will need to be cleaned, as a dirty pot can cause puddles and piles in inappropriate places. It is enough to remove the used filler from the tray 1-2 times a day with a scoop and pour a new filler in its place, plus wash the container once a week with warm water and a mild detergent without a strong odor.

If you have a double litter box, empty it regularly. If possible, wash the net after each use of the toilet. Well, keep the filler clean.

The toilet seat must first be cleaned and washed in the same way as a regular tray. If you use a toilet training system with rings, then there will soon be nothing to clean. The diameter of its rings gradually increases and as a result the animal will learn to use the toilet bowl without a nozzle.

How to potty train a kitten

Put the kitten in the tray

Let the baby get used to the smell and look around. Let the kitten sit or lie down in the tray for a few minutes to begin with. It's okay if the pet does not use the toilet immediately after this.

Put the kitten in the tray every time after eating, sleeping, playing, or if a lot of time has passed since the last departure. Also, immediately transfer the animal to the tray if it sat down with obvious intentions in another place. Try to play with a kitten next to the pot: after jumping and somersaults, your pet will probably want to relieve himself.

Be patient: some kittens understand why they need a tray almost instantly, while others need a little more attention and reminders.

Keep track of feeding times

Kittens usually need to relieve themselves about 20 minutes after eating. If at the same time, it is possible to predict the time of planting in the tray.

Show the kitten what to do

If your pet has never seen a tray, you will need to demonstrate to him what to do with this item. Of course, you do not need to use the tray in front of the shocked cat - just show that you can dig here. To do this, put the kitten in the tray and scratch the filler with your finger.

Never try to teach a kitten to dig by holding its paws. From this, he will only get scared and next time he will bypass the tray.

Praise and don't punish

Pet and talk to your kitten each time he shows interest in the litter box or uses it properly. Do not scream, do not poke the animal in the face and do not beat him for mistakes: this will only ensure that the toilet will be associated with punishment and the pet will relieve himself in secret hard-to-reach corners.

If the kitten left a surprise in the wrong place, transfer the pile to the tray. This will remind the baby where to go to the toilet, and the smell will be associated with the potty.

Wash the area thoroughly

To prevent randomness from becoming a pattern, remove all traces of hooliganism as soon as possible. It is necessary, otherwise the kitten will consider this place its permanent toilet.

Place food and water bowls in the wrong place

If the kitten has chosen some completely unintended place for the toilet, rearrange the food and water there. Instincts do not allow cats to defecate near food and watering places, and your stubborn pet will be forced to abandon his dubious venture.

Your childhood dream has finally come true - a cute fluffy ball has appeared in the house! One problem remained unresolved: how to accustom a kitten to a tray? It is this question that we will deal with, talking about the simplest and most effective ways to raise a neat and clean pet.

Cats are naturally very clean, so in most cases, owners do not have much difficulty in effectively and quickly teaching a kitten to go to the toilet in the same place. Of course, in this very place there must be a special tray in which your pet will defecate. This issue is especially relevant when you get an animal in an apartment where it is not possible to let it out into the street or take it to the yard every time to use the toilet.

Domestic cats generally do not need to visit the street, they get used to the atmosphere of the house and adapt to almost any conditions. It should be borne in mind that even in a city apartment, cats walk by themselves, choosing their favorite places to sleep, play and relax. But as for the toilet, here it is necessary to slightly correct their behavior, because the baby must know where to go if needed to keep the owners happy and satisfied. By the way, it is not worth intimidating and scolding an animal if it first relieved its natural need in the wrong place. To clearly understand how to teach a kitten to go to the tray, zoologists recommend following two simple recommendations:

• Firstly, you should ensure that the kitten has round-the-clock access to the toilet (keep the door of the toilet or bathroom where the tray is located, always open);
• and secondly, the tray should be clean and comfortable for the animal and it is desirable to be in a secluded place that the kitten has chosen on its own.

Some owners teach their pet immediately to the toilet, which is very convenient in terms of hygiene. However, for this you should have a very decent experience of interacting with animals and a real "pedagogical" talent. This practice is suitable for an adult cat, which is why we will talk about toilet training a domestic cat a little later. But what to do if a wonderful meowing baby has just settled in your house, we will tell you right now.

How to teach a street kitten to go to the toilet: a simple solution to a spicy problem

We all at least once in our lives dreamed of sheltering an unfortunate street kitten. However, not everyone brought this noble deed to the end. We dedicate this section to those who were not afraid of temporary difficulties and gave a street kitten a house. To begin with, it should be understood that the cat's cub his behavior resembles a small child: he can also be capricious and protest, he also requires your attention and care. Therefore, so that you don’t have to clean up “traces of a cat crime” every day, wondering why I couldn’t immediately toilet train a kitten, you should understand some rules that will help you prepare both yourself and the animal for living together in a comfortable, and most importantly - in a clean environment.

Let's remember school and present the whole process of learning an animal in the form of a task. So, the task: almost at the same time you have both a kitten and a tray, in which he subsequently must learn to go to the toilet. Initial data: you live in a city apartment, the animal does not go outside, and you do not plan to let it out. The task: how to accustom a cat to a tray, without extra effort and problems?

The solution of the problem consists of several steps

How to train a cat / cat to the tray in 1 day?

Some novice owners dream of how to accustom a cat / cat to a tray in 1 day. In principle, this is possible if you follow simple recommendations.

1. Attach the tray with filler in a visible place. Ideally, the cat litter should be between its bowl and the place where the kitten sleeps or plays. On the way, he will pass by the tray and will definitely be interested in it. Over time, you will move the tray closer to the bathroom or to the place where you plan to equip the cat litter box.
2. Limit the space in which the kitten will move. At least for the first time, so that he looks less at the corners and is more often near the tray.
3. If your miracle is all the same shitting where it shouldn't, take a piece of paper and blot it with cat urine (after your cat has peed). It is this "smelling bait" that should be placed in the tray so that the animal can navigate where its toilet is. If the kitten went big, do the same with his excrement. Remember to put on rubber gloves first, and then wash your hands with soap and water.

Some pet owners think that toilet training a cat is a rather strange and incredibly troublesome task. However, in such a delicate matter, you should focus only on your patience and on the individual characteristics of your kitty. For instance , it is worth considering the age of the animal. A very small kitten should not be taught to the toilet - it can simply fall into it. First you need to accustom the cat to the tray, and then gradually move it to the toilet so that the animal moves to its final goal without any special obstacles and psychological trauma. After the tray with the filler is near the toilet, lay down newspapers or plywood, and then install the cat litter on them. Increase the height of the tray every day until it reaches the toilet, and then transfer the tray itself to it. Over time, the animal will get used to the toilet "on top", and you can hide the tray and give the cat the opportunity to go to the toilet.

If a kitten was born in your house with your cat, who takes care of him, educates and keeps him clean, then the question is not relevant at all. Mother cat herself will perfectly cope with the habituation of offspring. It is not uncommon even for a cat that does not follow the rules very carefully, teaches kittens very well.

I had a cat named Brunnhilda - a rather absurd person, as they say, "with character." I knew perfectly well that I had to go to the tray. But as soon as I relaxed a little, for example, did not immediately wash her toilet or just rinse, and not rinse thoroughly - and her ladyship considered herself entitled to sit not in the tray, but next to it. After all, the tray is not clean enough.

But when she had a kitten (its birth and first days are a separate epic, I’ll tell you somehow), she trained him so that this creature never missed the tray in her entire life. At the same time, cats went to the tray without filler, with a grate. So Puza didn’t care, even though “knee-deep” was already in the tray, it didn’t occur to her that “things” could be done elsewhere.

If a kitten appeared in your infancy by chance or a misfortune happened to its mother-cat, so you have to deal with a cat baby, then it makes sense to start accustoming to the tray as soon as the kitten can independently leave the “nest” intended for it - a box, a litter .

A kitten, bought or donated, is accustomed to the tray from the first minutes of life in an apartment, regardless of age - at least a month (and even the toughest breeder will not give up babies before), at least three, at least six months.

How to accustom monthly kittens to a tray?

If the kittens are one month old and you are forced to replace their mother cat, then it's time to accustom them to the tray.

You can simplify training by limiting the scope of movement of kittens. Usually they use a playpen or simply fence off part of the room. The area should be such that it fits a “nest” for sleeping, a tray, bowls of food and water, and there is still some meta to play with.

The physiology of kittens is such that they relieve themselves almost immediately after eating. So let's start learning. We feed the kitten. When he is full, we immediately put him in the tray, lightly dig out the filler with his paw, if the tray is filled with filler (read about which filler is best for kittens) or simply scrape the bottom of the tray. Then you can gently massage the tummy: usually the cat licks the kittens after eating, while stimulating digestion. Most often, the “result” is observed in just a few minutes. If the kitten has done what is expected of him, we praise the baby, help to bury it and let it go, after stroking it.

Do not forcibly keep the kitten in the tray for more than a few minutes. If he doesn't want to, let him run to play. And we will watch. As soon as he calmed down, sat down - we grab him in the tray. If you didn’t have time, and the kitten still made a puddle in the wrong place, it’s absolutely impossible to scold.

We wet the puddle with a napkin, put the napkin in the tray, put the baby there and bury the “bad smell” with his paw. Then we iron and release. We leave the scented napkin in the tray, and carefully wash the “crime scene”. Now you can relax for a couple of hours before the next feeding.

It usually takes a few days for the kittens to understand what is required of them. Although troubles will happen for quite a long time: a kitten in the game, just like a child, can forget and not have time to run to his toilet. But these will be only isolated cases. As soon as you see that the kitten purposefully goes to the tray to do its business, you can relax: mistakes will happen less and less.

How to teach a kitten to the tray, if he still goes to the toilet everywhere?

It also happens like this: they took a kitten without having thought through their possibilities well. As a result, the baby spent the first days in the new house alone: ​​everyone is at work, and in the evening the owners simply have no time, and they don’t have the strength to engage in education. And when they realized it, the kitten was already used to shitting anywhere. Can you help in this situation?

Attempt #1- limited space. It is important that the baby has practically no other opportunity left: either in the tray or in the nest. The cage helps here, no matter how cruel it sounds. It is possible to mitigate the punishment regime only at the moment when the owners have the opportunity to closely deal with the child. At the same time, it is important to adhere to the schedule outlined in the previous section, that is, put in a cage is the time after eating. And release - when he does "deeds".

While the little intruder is languishing in captivity, we carefully wash all the places chosen by him as a toilet. It just doesn't happen that a cat goes to a different place every time. Instinct tells her to choose a few secluded corners that are most convenient for this purpose. It is desirable not only to wash, but also to make these places inaccessible: to put something on them, to put. You can use special sprays for weaning.

Attempt #2- change of place of residence. If the first method did not help (and it, with consistent and patient application, almost always works), all that remains is to transfer the kitten to someone. In a new place, new rules are learned much easier. It is optimal if the house already has an adult cat or a cat that is loyal to other animals. This will make learning even more effective. In some miraculous way, the old-timers will perfectly be able to explain the rules of residence to the newcomer.

How to potty train a kitten

If a kitten came to you from a good breeder or just from a caring owner, he is already accustomed to go to the tray with a certain filler

Your task is to clarify before buying which tray was used in the baby’s “native” home: size, height of the sides (or maybe it was?) - and buy exactly the same. Only the difference in color is insignificant - the colors of a cat are poorly distinguished.

Also find out the name of the filler that the breeder had. You need exactly the same. Subsequently, it will be possible to experiment with the filler and even remove it altogether. However, at the training stage, it is better not to take risks: when faced with a different smell or type of filler, the kitten may be confused and not understand why this item is here.

In order to explain the purpose of the tray to the kitten for sure, an experienced breeder will definitely give some used filler with him. It is to be scattered over the surface of the tray to make its smell very familiar.

How to potty train a kitten without litter

The filler often annoys the owners by the fact that it constantly crumbles, the cats spread it on their paws throughout the apartment. In addition, the filler must be constantly bought, which can be expensive. That is why many people have a desire to teach a kitten to go to the tray without filler.

For this, special trays are sold, in which a grate is attached at some distance from the bottom. This will keep your kitten's paws dry.

It is better to use a tray without filler if you have the opportunity to wash the tray often enough: optimally - after each use. Otherwise, the smells throughout the apartment will not be the most pleasant, and the kitten may refuse to use the re-washed tray.

As an option, some owners pour wood filler between the bottom and the grate, which absorbs urine and absorbs odors.

Another nuance of using a tray without filler is that many cats dig so hard that they literally turn the grate, hooking it with their claws. So choose a tray that is heavy enough so that it does not tip over and check that the grate is secure.

And accustoming to a tray without a filler is not difficult at all. The procedure is simple to disgrace. Just for starters, filler is poured into the tray with a grate - a little less than the kitten is used to. And gradually reduce the amount of filler, reducing it to nothing.

However, there is a risk that the kitten will still refuse to go to the tray without filler. Then there is only one way out - to return to the proven version. It is better to regularly sweep the filler around the tray than to clean up "puddles" and "heaps" throughout the apartment.

Many owners face a serious problem when a pet does not want to go to his toilet. When choosing a kitten, it is rather problematic to check this, and the sellers always assure about the good upbringing of the animal. However, at home, everything turns out to be completely different, and you have to raise a pet on your own. How to potty train a kitten? The advice of a veterinarian will help to cope with such a difficult task in a short time.

Where to begin?

Experts advise starting to teach a kitten to go to the tray as early as possible - at 1-1.5 months. The fact is that adult cats are difficult to train, and the chances of success become minimal. It is good if the baby learns to urinate in a special place while still with the cat.

To quickly accustom a pet, you must immediately decide on the place in the house where the tray will stand. It should be a quiet and secluded corner in the room without a lot of people passing through. It is for this reason that the entrance hall is not always a good option for a cat litter box in an apartment where guests constantly visit.

Most often, pet owners choose a toilet or bathroom for cat needs. This choice is quite successful if these rooms are spacious enough. In addition, one should not forget that the pet must have free access to these places.

Choosing a tray

Another important point that will help to accustom a kitten to the toilet is the right choice of tray. It is best to buy immediately large, with high sides. Kittens grow quickly, so after a few months, a small cat litter box will be too small for the pet. At the same time, retraining a baby to a new tray can be a real problem.

Do not be afraid that high sides will prevent a small pet from climbing into the tray. This will not be an obstacle, because the kittens jump very well. Experts advise choosing just such an option, since thanks to the sides, the filler will not scatter throughout the room. If you want to accustom a kitten to a tray without filler, then it is best to buy a special cat litter box with a grill.

A good option is a closed tray (pictured below). The animal feels safe and secluded in it. In addition, scattering of filler outside the toilet is also excluded. The disadvantage is the rather high price in the absence of a guarantee that the baby will want to walk in it.

Which filler is best?

Long gone are the days when pet owners used sand and paper as filler. Modern manufacturers offer an extensive selection of fillers for every taste. If you buy a kitten from a breeder, be sure to ask what company he bought the litter for your pet. Get the same one - and it will be easier for your pet to be accustomed to the tray in a new place.

Some breeders even advise taking a small amount of litter from the old litter box with you to mix it with the new one. As a rule, such an action helps to accustom a kitten to another place without problems in 1 day.

If you took your baby from the street, then you may need to experiment a little. The most common option is wood filler. It perfectly absorbs moisture and unpleasant odors, in addition, it can be disposed of through the sewer. The pet store has the opportunity to choose fillers with sawdust of different sizes.

Cat litter with silica gel is also popular. It is slightly more expensive than wood, but more economical and absorbs odors better. Another advantage is that silica gel does not remain on the paws, so many pet owners opt for it.

Do not buy flavored fillers, their smell can be off-putting. Toilet training your baby will be much more difficult.

Secrets of accustoming

How to actually train a pet to the tray? There are special nuances that will help almost any animal lover cope with this difficult task.

1. Take your pet to the tray 15-20 minutes after eating.
2. Make sure your cat litter box is always clean. Kittens are fairly clean creatures and may simply not want to go to a dirty litter box.
3. In some cases, the only way to toilet train a kitten is to buy two litter boxes.
4. If a pet eats litter, it is advisable to buy a special option for kittens. It is absolutely harmless to the stomach of a small animal.
5. Try to carefully monitor the behavior of the kitten. Is the baby acting restless, meowing, looking for a secluded corner, or starting to scratch the floor with his paws? Quickly take your pet to the tray and wait for it to do its thing. Try to repeat this every time until the animal understands where its toilet is.
6. How to train a kitten if you are at work all day? Veterinarians advise you to buy a means for accustoming cats to the toilet at the pet store. This is a special spray that is sprayed into the filler. The procedure is carried out until it is possible to accustom the baby to systematically go to his toilet.
7. In order to wean a kitten from shitting, it is necessary to treat the surfaces marked with it with products that repel the smell for the animal. Orange peels, citrus essential oils, or vinegar will do. You can also purchase a special tool at the pet store. Never use cleaning products with chlorine, as they will only increase the smell.

If the animal went to the toilet past the tray, and quite a lot of time has passed, then there is no point in scolding and even more so beating the baby. The kitten will never understand what he got punished for. The same goes for rewards for doing the right thing. You can scold or praise immediately after the process itself.

At the same time, no veterinarian encourages the use of force or screaming in educational measures. Your tone should be strict and serious, and your voice loud, but not loud. At the end of the "conversation" of the baby, you can lightly click on the nose, so that the pet becomes offended, but not hurt. Believe me, animals are smarter than we think! You just need to teach and educate them correctly.

We told you about how to potty train a kitten. Try to use all our tips, and you no longer have to be upset because of the dirty tricks of your little pet.

You can also watch some secrets of toilet training a pet in the video:

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If a small fluffy lump has appeared in your house, then you are thinking about how to accustom a kitten to a tray. Your main task is to help the baby navigate in a new place. The more attention you pay to the cat during the training process, the faster your new pet will learn to do their "deeds" in a potty.

How to accustom a kitten to a tray: choose a filler

Now pet stores offer a wide range of fillers. These are clay, and wood, and mineral and many others. Practice shows that babies like small filler more than large filler, since by their nature they are very fond of burying their “deeds”. Another important point is the shape of the tray. If you have a very tiny baby (a month and a half), then choose models with low sides so that it is easier for the kitten to understand how to get into the tray.

The use of fillers simplifies the process

1. They absorb odors very well.
2. If there is a filler in the pot, then it is much easier to accustom the cat to the toilet bowl.
3. It is convenient to clean, since you do not need to constantly change the filler, it is enough to throw out the formed lumps.

How to train a kitten to the tray: a plan of action

1. Ask the person who sold (gave) you a kitten what kind of filler he used.

2. First steps. As soon as the baby gets to your house, show him the potty. As a rule, kittens up to five months go to the toilet several times a day! Your task is to keep track of when the baby wants to do his “things”, and immediately put him in the tray.

3. Pot in sight. The tray must be placed in a conspicuous place so that the cat's child can immediately find it. When the kitten gets used to it, then it will be possible to rearrange it in the toilet or in the bathroom. It is best to place the potty in the path of the baby from the resting place to the bowl, so he will very often pass through it. Since kittens are very curious, he will definitely take an interest in this strange thing.

How to train a kitten to the tray: limit the space

If you have a large apartment or house, then for the first time you need to protect a small area for the baby, so he will quickly get used to doing his “things” in a potty.

Blocking "alternative places"

It is necessary to isolate all possible corners and spaces that he can take for a toilet.

How to teach a kitten to the toilet: choose the right filler

If you don’t know what type he is used to, then experiment a little: put two identical trays, but with different fillers. Whichever one he chooses, use it.

Result control is the key to success

To consolidate the result, you need to control the baby several times: how he went to the potty, caress him and say that he is well done. As soon as the kitten understands where his toilet is, you can rearrange the tray to any convenient place.

Helpers

There are various toilet training sprays on the market today. You can use them so that your kitten quickly gets used to the tray. In addition, there is a special filler "Katsan". All cats begin to walk in it, even the most fastidious ones.

Finally

If the baby wrote in the wrong place, then this corner should be washed well with vinegar solution. All these tips will help you figure out how to train a kitten to the tray. Happy learning!