Kittens are clean animals; in the wild, they dig and bury their waste to ensure predators do not track them. After domesticating cats, the same behavior has remained over the years.
You should introduce your kitten to the litter at four weeks. After four weeks, your kittens start eating food to complement their mother’s milk. Today, potty training a kitten is often not a big hustle, but it needs you to have a plan on what to do and how to do it.
How to Introduce Cat Litters to Kittens
Here are seven steps on how to introduce cat litter to kittens:
1. Identify the Items You Need
You will need different supplies to get ready to train your kitten. One of the leading supplies is the litter box. Choosing the right size of litter box is integral to the success of training your kitten. Your litter box should be big enough to accommodate your kitten comfortably.
The best litter box size should be above 13 by 8 inches. If you are not using any measurements, your litter box should be almost twice the length of your kitten. If your kitten has problems with mobility, make sure the height of the box on one side is shorter to allow easy access into the box.
2. Choose the Best Litter for Your Kitten
Kittens have different preferences for the kind of litter they are comfortable sitting on. The litter should be fine and not dusty, as dust can cause respiratory problems or irritate the eyes of your cat.
There are two types of litter: clumping and crystal litter.
A. Clumping Litter
Clumping litter is not advisable for kittens under eight weeks. Kittens can eat their litter out of curiosity. Therefore, you must ensure that the litter is digestible.
Clumping litter is easy to scoop but not healthy for kittens, as it may cause blockages in their digestive systems.
B. Crystal Litter
Most cat owners wonder what cat litter is best for kittens, and the best answer is crystal litter.
First, it is very efficient in controlling bad smells. It is also highly absorbent and not harmful when kittens eat it. Though more expensive, it is the best litter for kittens.
3. Identify the Specific Places That Are the Best Locations for Your Litter Box
You must identify a place in the house that is easily accessible to your kitten.
Additionally, you must put away items such as pot plants to ensure your kitten litter is clear.
The litter box’s location should be as simple as possible so that your kitten can concentrate and not get distracted.
4. Set Up Many Litter Boxes
Kittens are playful, and they will run all over your home due to how active they are by nature. Ensuring you have litter boxes in different places for easy access is essential.
You can have one on every house floor and also in a strategic position on the porch. Having more litter boxes will help your kitten have an easier time and reduce the rate of accidents.
5. Start Practically Training Your Kitten with Utmost Patience
You now have all the necessary items and should start training your kitten. First, you can place your kitten in the litter box for a few minutes to help them familiarize themselves with the smell and the whole feel of a litter box.
Ensure to frequently place your kitten in the litter box whenever you think he might be ready to use it. For example, place it immediately after they wake up and twenty minutes after every meal.
You must be very patient with them, as some cats immediately use their litter box, while others take up to a month.
However, some kittens become too difficult. If your kitten won’t use the litter box after trying everything, you may want to change it.
How Do Cats React to a New Litter Box?
Cats have different personalities, but most of them do not love to experience change. Like humans, change can be inevitable, and it takes time to adopt a new norm. Similarly, cats can feel upset if you change their litter box.
The best way to help your cat finally get used to the new litter box is to place it exactly where the old one was.
You should also keep every other item constant, such as the type of litter. Ensure you clean the new litter as usual so the cat does not associate it with a bad smell.
It would be best to exercise patience when your cat causes accidents outside the litter box. Avoid yelling or hitting your cat, as it will fear you and associate the new litter box with pain. This would even make it harder for you to retrain your cat.
What If My Kitten Doesn’t Like the New Litter?
It is possible for your cat not to be happy about the new litter.
Here are several things to consider if you have chosen a kitten-safe litter:
- Check if the new litter has a smell that the kitten does not like.
- Ensure the new litter has no dust that could be irritating your kitten
- Check out the feel of the new litter. It may be coarse, and your kitten prefers fine crystals.
Homemade Litter Box for Kittens
Kitten owners can make their pets litter boxes of their choosing.
Here are three DIYs that you can try:
1. Use a Cardboard
Cardboard is easy to use when creating a litter box. Ensure it is shallow and big enough for your puppy. Place a plastic bag at the bottom before adding the litter to keep the cardboard dry.
2. Utilize an Oversized Plastic
You can improvise a kitten litter box from a container. Trim it to the height you desire and ensure it has no sharp corners. Smooth its edges using sandpaper to ensure it does not scratch your kitten.
3. Improvise Your Cabinet
In homes with minimal space, you can use one of the bottom drawers as a litter box. It will be an enclosed litter box for your kittens, but you must ensure that they feel safe and do not feel threatened by its enclosure.
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