Means for training a kitten to a litter box

Kittens born at home, at the age of 3-4 weeks, learn to use the toilet using their mother's example. Over time, they develop a habit and, getting to the new owners, the pets know that it is necessary to defecate in the tray prepared for them. But if the animal was taken from the street, or came to you at a fairly early age, then you will have to teach it to the toilet yourself.

The modern market offers several types of cat trays. They vary in size, functionality and design. By type, toilets are divided into open and closed. In the first case, the product is a square or rectangular tray with sides along the perimeter. Some models have a removable mesh that prevents the pet from spreading the litter across the floor.

When talking about closed toilets, we mean that the structure consists of a bottom and a lid, resembling a small house... This type of litter box is more acceptable for most cats, it allows them privacy and also prevents litter from spilling out. But unlike an open design, a closed one needs to be washed much more often, since pets may find it too dirty and do not want to defecate in it.

For kittens, choose a large open litter box with low sides. At first, it is better not to use a retaining net, as the baby instinctively needs to rummage through the filler. Once he gets used to the toilet, the mesh can be installed.

When choosing a place for a tray, be sure to consider that it should be easily accessible and secluded. Also, there should be no bowls for water and pet food nearby. Quite often, the owners put a potty for the kitten in the toilet room, but for the baby it is not very convenient. While it is small, the tray must be positioned so that it is visible and can be quickly and easily reached.

To make your cat happy to go to the litter box, you need to choose a good litter for it. It should not have a pronounced odor, lumps or dust - for animals, such characteristics will be unpleasant and repulsive. In pet stores, you can purchase the following types of filler:

• woody;
• mineral;
• corn;
• silica gel;
• paper.

For small kittens, the first time it is best to use sawdust or paper, and when the baby develops a habit, you can try a fine mineral filler, reminiscent of sand. This option will be pleasant for the pet and convenient for the owner. When wet, the granules hold the liquid in one place and change color. Therefore, the tray can be partially cleaned by removing only the dirty litter.

Training a kitten to the litter box occurs gradually, and this process can take 1-2 weeks, so do not think that from the first day the baby will stop shitting in places that are not intended for the toilet. The owners should show attentiveness and patience to the pet, because it is not easy for him either.

The first step is to acquaint the cat with the prepared tray so that he looks around, gets used to the smell of the filler. As a rule, animals become interested in a new object, and they do not even mind lying down or playing in it. It is recommended to clearly show him that it is possible to "dig" in the filler, but this must be done with your fingers, and not with the paws of the animal. From the first time, it is unlikely that the pet uses the tray for its intended purpose, since it does not yet know what it is for.

You need to constantly monitor the kitten, periodically put him on the pot, especially if he began to behave strangely, as if he was looking for something or rushing about... Similar actions should be performed 30 minutes after eating. After the first successful results, do not rush to clean the litter box - the smell of the remains of feces will attract the baby, and the next time, most likely, the pet goes to the toilet in the same place.

After each successful visit to the litter box, the kitten needs to be praised, but you shouldn't scold for “mistakes”. The places where the baby shit should be thoroughly washed with detergents. If this is repeated several times, then put bowls of food and water in that place - cats will not shit where they eat.

To simplify the task of the owners will help a special tool for training a kitten to the tray called Smart Spray. Its scent attracts animals and signals that it is possible to defecate in the area. The agent is sprayed onto a piece of paper, which is placed in a tray, or the filler is sprayed directly onto it. After that, you need to bring your pet to the tray so that he gets acquainted with his toilet.

There are also means to protect places that are not designed for a toilet. Mostly they are also available in the form of a spray, but they have a repulsive odor. With this tool, you need to spray the places where the kitten crap. It can be applied not only to the floor, but also to surrounding objects, such as a sofa, wall, cabinet, curtains, and so on.

For information on how to properly train a kitten to the litter box, see the next video.