Most cat owners, especially first-timers,in this case, the problem of how to train a kitten to use a litter box is affected. Sometimes you have to solve this problem by settling an adult animal in your home, but most often you have to teach kittens the basics of hygiene. Note that the methods and rules for solving such a delicate problem are universal and are suitable for large and small cats. But we suggest you start solving the problem with an unusual way - to look at it through the eyes of the cat itself. What initially seemed unpredictable and difficult to you may turn out to be simple and logical.
Choose a place for the toilet
It is a widely known fact that absolutely everythingCats are incredibly clean. That is why sometimes it seems that they just out of spite start doing “dirty” things in places other than where they are supposed to. Here we will dwell on the first question – who does it and where exactly is it supposed to be? Of course, it is supposed to be done by us – the owners. At the same time, the cat’s own opinion is not taken into account. In the question of how to train a cat to use a litter box, the main rule is the safety and privacy of the place where we put this litter box. The most secluded room is the toilet, but it may not be safe enough. A cat can be frightened by anything – a loud howl of sewer pipes, someone flushing water on the next floor, a rattling washing machine, objects falling from the upper shelves. In the end, your treasure may just climb into the toilet or an open pack of washing powder out of curiosity. In addition, do not forget that the toilet should be available around the clock at the first request of the cat, otherwise expect “surprises”.
Choose a convenient and hygienic tray
Do not give it to your pet under any circumstances.enamel or metal tray. It is absolutely not suitable for cats. Firstly, with intensive attempts of the animal to bury its fragrant excrements from an innate sense of cleanliness, or from supposed enemies, the tray will rumble and frighten the animal. Secondly, the metal oxidizes over time and begins to emit a smell that is extremely unpleasant for the cat's nose. Cardboard and wooden trays are also unacceptable - they are not hygienic, absorb odors well and are not washed out. How to train a kitten to use the toilet? Very simple - choose the right tray for him. Give preference to the plastic option. In such a tray, you can pour special filler for cats, or insert a grate on which the animal likes to sharpen its claws. The height of the vessel should be from 7 to 20 cm, depending on the size of the animal. Currently, in the pet store you can find many special devices that are very convenient for the life of a cat. For example, a completely closed toilet with an entrance hole. As for the other sizes of the tray, this is a matter of individual taste, which, according to a well-known proverb, is not disputed. Some small cats like toilets the size of a football field, and some large cats prefer toilets of modest dimensions. If you guess your pet's favorite size, then the question of how to train a cat to use a tray may disappear by itself. However, over time, when the kitten grows up, a small tray may be too small for it. Therefore, when buying a tray for a baby, do not exclude the possible need to quickly replace it.
Choose a filler for cat litter
You can pour sand into your pet's toilet,shredded paper, pressed sawdust. But it is best to use a special absorbent filler for the cat toilet. There are many fillers on the market. They are synthetic, wood and mineral. What filler to use to fill the tray of your pet is an ambiguous question. As a rule, cheap fillers are not of good quality, and instead of helping, they will bring you additional worries. A tray with an expensive clumping synthetic filler does not need to be washed after each trip of your kitten to the toilet, but only remove excrement and replace the filler that has stuck together in a lump. Wood fillers retain odors well, but such filler will always leave sawdust near the tray stuck to the cat's paws. Mineral fillers stick to the paws less, but they also retain odor worse. It is very important to choose a filler that your pet likes, otherwise you will have to train the kitten to use a tray without filler. The animal may simply refuse to use the toilet with filler for its intended purpose. In this case, it is best to use a special plastic grate. You need to show the kitten how to scratch its paws on the grate, thus imitating burying all its business.
Preserve the natural odor of the tray
Your excessive desire for sterility maycompletely kill any desire of the cat to visit the place designated for the toilet. Never wash the cat's dish with chemical detergents, powders or bleach - not only are they mortally dangerous for the cat's health, the animal will avoid any chemical smell three miles away. As the cat was trained to use the litter box, so it will be weaned quickly. The smell of detergents is pleasant only to people, but animals absolutely do not like them. In such a "smelly" toilet, the cat will never poop or pee. It is not its own enemy. A brush and running tap water are the ideal means for cleaning up cat waste. You don't need to invent anything else. The main thing is to wash regularly, preferably after each visit of your pet. The filler also needs to be changed regularly, according to the attached instructions. Cats are clean creatures, and they demand the same from people.
We make hygienic procedures pleasant
Don't even think about how to trainkitten to the toilet quickly. Just help him take care of himself. Little kittens are often helpless and very often carry traces of their life activity on their muzzle and pants, especially babies of long-haired breeds. The zeal with which we try to wash the cat's muzzle after eating is quite justified, and will not be able to destroy the instinct of hunger. The cat will never stop wanting to eat. But our attempts to wash the cat's pants after the toilet, especially with soap, can lead to sad consequences. And instead of somehow accustoming the baby to the tray, you wean him off the toilet once and for all. The animal will not forgive you for torturing yourself with washing, especially if it did its business in the right place. The cat will definitely choose other secluded places in the apartment so as not to subject itself to such an unpleasant and humiliating procedure anymore. In order to train a kitten to use a litter box, you need to be patient and wait 20-30 minutes if there is a need for water procedures. In extreme cases, gently wipe under the tail with a soft cloth, while saying something affectionately to the cat (beautiful, clever, good).
Avoiding punishments in the toilet
You already understand that before you traincat to the toilet, you need to choose a safe secluded place that does not cause negative emotions in the animal. That is why it is forbidden to punish a cat in the toilet. Do not lock it there under any circumstances, even if it was completely wrong. No cat will tolerate closed doors in its possessions, especially in the latrine. Do not forget about another psychological feature: cats do not have associative thinking, so all your attempts to punish by poking its nose into excrement will be absolutely useless. After a short time, the cat will forget what it did, but it will certainly remain offended by you. If you caught your pet at the scene of the crime, it is permissible to say in a stern voice "no", pick it up in your arms and quickly carry it to the toilet, not looking at what is pouring out of it along the way, or it has already started to poop. This is how you can quickly train a kitten to use a litter box, and no other way. Put him in the tray and say in a gentle voice, stroking: what a clever boy, what a good boy. Remember once and for all, the toilet is a trusted place for everyone, including your mustachioed creature.
In good time we treat helminthiasis
Most often, cat breeders prefer to think,that their pets do not have worms. However, deworming is the first step that needs to be taken if your cat has started walking around in different corners. Remember this simple truth: there are no cats without worms. No, don’t think that you don’t take good care of your treasure. It’s much simpler. Cats walk on the floor with bare paws, then lick them (the bactericidal properties of cat saliva do not harm helminths). You feed your pet raw meat, and maybe even raw fish (which is more dangerous than anything else). In the summer, flies can fly into your apartment, your cat can walk outside, and other infected animals can come to visit. In addition, you yourself can infect your cat by bringing the source of the disease on your shoes, clothes, or dirty hands. By the way, human worms are also dangerous for cats. Helminthiasis causes various disorders in cats, including problems with stool. The cause of the concerns is easily eliminated - regularly, once every four to five months, carry out anthelmintic measures. It is necessary to give your cat anthelmintic drugs intended specifically for the feline family. In no case should you use anthelmintic drugs intended for people - they cause severe poisoning in cats. Following basic hygiene rules allows you to very quickly solve problems with the toilet outside the tray. In any case, you can exclude worms as a reason for the cat's refusal to use the tray.
Adjusting to cat fads
Some whiskered individuals exhibit a strangeHabit - they do their "little" business directly in the litter box, and sit down next to it to poop. Believe me, this is not a whim, but a genetic memory passed down from ancestors. Almost no one has ever managed to wean a cat off this habit. It is easier to adapt to such a whim. It is useless to punish a cat, however, as well as to put additional litter boxes for it. The cat may well take revenge on you for the offense caused to it in the form of going not to the litter box, but most likely into your shoes or bag, on your bed or on the sofa. Cats are very touchy creatures and remember any harm ever done to them. If you have unfairly scolded a cat, locked it behind the door, forced it to do something against its will - expect surprises. They will not keep you waiting. And if you dare to scold a cat for its pranks, you will only aggravate the situation. It is better to immediately go to peace.
Do not make mistakes
The first mistake is when the owners think thatthe kitten will learn everything on its own. The kitten should be trained to use the litter box from its first steps around the house, because later it will be too late. The baby simply needs your instructions - show it where to go to the toilet, otherwise it will choose the place itself, and you will not wean it from the corner it has chosen for the toilet. The second mistake is that the owners forget that their baby takes everything literally. If the kitten was punished for a puddle, but was not shown where to go, it will think only one thing: I do not want to be punished anymore and will do everything secretly. As a result, you will get piles and puddles in the most unexpected places. If the kitten was torn away from its mother early, then you must help it learn to use its litter box. After eating, take the kitten to its toilet place, sit it down, carefully holding it with one hand, and stroke its tummy with the other. Often, all kittens feel the desire to go to the toilet immediately after eating, which means that you will get the result almost instantly. The kitten's behavior will tell you whether it wants to go to the toilet. When it wants to relieve itself, it starts to lie down on the floor and its eyes become glassy. At this point, it is necessary to quickly move the kitten to the litter box without frightening it. Never yell at the kitten, let alone hit it - you will achieve absolutely nothing with such actions. Of course, we have not indicated all the principles of organizing a cat's toilet. However, if you recognize the cat as an equal member of your family, it will definitely reciprocate and respect you. Remember that your pet's wishes must be respected and you must look at things through its eyes. This is simply necessary for solving many important problems. By applying the basic rules of behavior with a cat, you will be able to easily find a common language with it. You cannot order a cat around, punish or humiliate it, because you can always come to an agreement with it, even if it is still small. The main thing is to have the desire for this. We recommend reading:
