In this article you’re going to learn about how to train your Cat to use the Litter tray
The last thing you want as a Cat parent is to have your whole house smell like a Litter box!
But don’t worry because hopefully, after reading this article you’re going to be able to get some ideas in your head and get your Cat to use the Litter box!
So let’s dive right in!
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You’re probably thinking “Can you even train a Cat to use the Litter box?”
I mean you can train Dogs to do anything but with Cats
They have a mind of their own!
They do what they want which makes us love them even more right?
We have to earn their love Lol
But yes, you can train your Cat to use the litter tray
Will it take time? Maybe.
But it can work
At some point in their life a Cat will not use the litter box for many reasons so it’s important to be a step ahead in the game and tackle this problem before it can even happen!
And this could be a very frustrating and annoying problem all Cat parents face
I should know
I have a Cat myself
And when he decides he wants to wee on the carpet
Or Poo in the kitchen
Related Article – How to stop a cat from pooping on the floor
Then this does really frustrate me
It actually makes me want to tear my hair out!
I’m sure you Cat parents can relate
But
It does not have to be this
I’ll tell you why
Cats can be trained to use the litter box
Yes that’s right!
You can train your Cat to use the litter box
And not come home from a hard days work and see a puddle of urine on your beautiful rug
I am going to show you ways you can train your Cat to use the litter box
The best part?
All Cat parents can do this
Regardless of the breed of your Cat
So let’s dive straight in
How You Can Get Your Cat To Use The Litter Box
Training your Cat to use the litter box should not take too long
Cats using the litter box is second nature to them
So, once you get your Cat to use the litter box
They will get used to it and will use it continuously
There are many factors to consider when training your Cat to use the litter box
Choosing a Litter Box
The first thing you should do buy an appropriate litter box for your Cat
Look
The main thing is, that the litter box is cleaned regularly
Cats are clean animals and they won’t use a litter box that is filthy
Just as us, we wouldn’t use a washroom that is filthy so same goes for your Cat
When choosing a litter box, get one that will be a good size for your Cat
Another thing to consider is,
Privacy for your Cat
Whether getting a open air litter box or a covered one
I believe most Cats are good with a open litter box
Why?
Because they don’t feel trapped
And
It gives them a escape route
It makes them feel more safe
Choosing the right litter
Cats are very fussy so in regards to litter type
You will have to experiment as some Cats love just plain type litter
Others would prefer clumping clay
So the best thing to do is see which one your Cat would prefer.
You’ll be able to tell which litter your Cat would prefer
I would advise in not getting any litter that is scented
Especially when training your Cat
Litter box location
Make sure you place the litter box where your Cat can get some privacy
Don’t look at what is convenient for you
Rather look at what is best for your Cat
The location where you put the litter box should also be safe for your Cat
Don’t put the litter box where your Cat eats and drinks
Also
Avoid putting the litter box near a washing machine or a dishwasher
This will scare them and they will never use the litter box!
Number Of Litter Box
Cats like to pee in one litter box and poo in another
So make sure you have at least 2 litter boxes per cat
If you have multiple Cats then each Cat needs to have 2 litter boxes
Introducing Your Cat To The Litter Box
Now that you have found the perfect spot to place the litter box
You can now introduce your Cat to the litter box
What you do is,
First is to make sure there is enough litter in the box
Then gently place your Cat in the litter box
You can also gently hold your Cats paw and dig with him in the litter
Just so he gets a feel of what it is and can associate the sound of digging in the litter too
It also gives them a general feel of the litter and gives them assurance that it is okay
If your Cat does not seem interested then no need to worry
Even if they run off to another room!
They would have now got mental note of where the litter box is and what it actually is
And you know what?
Your Cat would probably just use it on his own accord
Once he gets some privacy and when the need arises
Creating a Positive Association With The Litter Box
If for any reason your Cat has not used the litter box and you catch him in the act
Then immediately pick him up (gently) and place him in the litter box
Whatever you do
Do NOT shout at your Cat
This will just have a negative impact
And will make it harder for you to train your Cat to use the litter box
Make sure you clean the area where your Cat has spoiled
You wanna get something that will get rid of the smell of Cat urine completely
You can check out my article on best cat urine remover
Throughout the day call your Cat to the litter box
If your Cat has been asleep for a couple of hours then call him to the litter box
Encourage your Cat to jump into the litter box and praise him when he does
This will make your Cat understand that the litter box is great and is a clean place to be
If your Cat has used the litter tray and you see him using it
Then make a big deal out of it
Praise him and pet him
And tell him how good he is because he has used the litter box
This will create the positive association of using the litter box
Within no time your Cat will get used to the litter box and will use it on his own
Maintaining a Clean Litter Box
Once your Cat has started using the litter box
It is now important that you maintain the litter box to a standard your Cat would like
Which basically means
Clean litter box
Make sure the litter box is cleaned everyday
Whilst you are training your Cat, you should scoop up any clumps or solids at least once during the day
Keep the litter box topped up with litter
The general ruling is between 2cm and 4cm of litter
Try not to change the type of litter until your Cat is fully trained
By following the above steps
Most Cats will use the litter box
If your Cat still does not use the litter box after a few weeks
You should take your Cat to the vets to rule out any medical conditions
What Do You Do If Your Cat Stops Using The Litter Box?
If your Cat suddenly stops using the litter box
The first thing you should do is take your Cat to the vet to rule out any medical conditions
Cats won’t suddenly not just use the litter box so it’s important to pay a visit to the vets
Other reasons why your Cat has stopped using the litter
Stress
Have you moved houses or added new furniture?
Or maybe you have adopted a new Cat
Or just Cats coming into your garden?
These can all trigger stress in your Cat which will result in litter box avoidance
So how can you remove this stress from your Cat?
You can check out my article on how to calm a stressed Cat down
Other reasons could include
The litter box has been placed in the wrong location
Not enough litter boxes
The litter box is dirty
I have written a in depth article on how to get your Cat to use the litter box
You can check it out by clicking here
In conclusion
It should not take too long to train your Cat to use the litter box
It is second nature to them
Once they start using the litter box then they will use it on their own
Just follow the above steps and you should be fine
No more cleaning up Cat urine or Cat poo
It does require patience because it’s not a overnight fix!
But hey! Do you want to know a quick way to get your Cat to use the Litter tray?
If the answer is yes then I would recommend checking out this guide called Cat Spraying No More
What Is Cat Spraying No More?
It’s a step by step guide on how you can get your Cat to use Litter box – FAST
You just need to follow the system
The great thing about this is it goes in real depth on why Cats don’t use the Litter box
What’s the cause of this
So instead of looking all over the internet for all the different reasons why your Cat is not using the Litter tray, wouldn’t it be better to have all the information laid out to you in such a way that it’s easy for anyone to understand?
Don’t get me wrong, you can get the information over the Internet
But the question is, are you getting the right information? Maybe you haven’t got ALL the information out there
And what happens sometimes is, one website says to do this and then another website says to do something completely different!
That is why you should check out Cat Spraying No More
I personally bought this myself and trust me, it’s something ALL Cat parents should read
You can find out more by reading my Cat Spraying No More Review