Cat - House Training: Using the Litter Tray

Do I need to train my new kitten to use a litter tray?

Most kittens do not need to be actively trained to use a litter tray with an appropriate and appealing substrate. At about 30-36 days of age kittens leave the nest and their movement stimulates them to toilet. Provided that they find a suitable loose substrate in which to dig a hole to bury their faeces and urine the process of litter training will begin. If the queen is litter trained well, then her trips to the tray will encourage the kittens to investigate the location and may improve the rate of training, but evidence suggests that they do not actually learn appropriate toileting behaviour by observing their mother’s behaviour.

Is there anything that I need to do to aid this process?

Initially it is important that your kitten be confined to a small area with an appropriate sized litter tray which offers a suitable substrate (litter). As long as the litter is the only loose substrate available, and especially if it is the same type of substrate as that used in its previous home, very little effort should be required to litter tray train your kitten. One other indoor area that might appeal to a number of cats is the soil around houseplants so it is important to ensure that your kitten is prevented from getting into houseplants, except when you are around to supervise. Kittens will need to eliminate after they eat, after they wake up and after play. At those times make sure that your kitten has access to the litter tray and if you are in the vicinity when he uses the tray you can praise him for elimination as long as you can do so without startling him, which he may find aversive. Your kitten does not need to be confined continuously, but should be supervised when not confined and brought back frequently to the appropriate elimination location, to prevent accidents.

What type of litter material should I use?

There are many types of litter materials available today. These include fine ‘clumping’ litters, wood pellet types, recycled newspapers and many others. Some have materials added to control odour. The type you choose is up to you but in general the finer the substrate the more acceptable it will be for your kitten. Since your kitten will start eliminating first by following the cues of the queen, continuing with the same litter as used in the first home is helpful. The ideal litter allows your kitten to manipulate it with his paws, to dig an indentation and to rake over the deposits with ease. It can be very confusing for some cats if the litter is perfumed and there is no need for this provided that you clean the tray effectively and regularly enough.

What size and type of litter tray should I buy?

Initially, the size of the litter tray should be determined by the size of your kitten or cat. A very small kitten may need a tray with shorter sides for easier access. As your kitten grows, a larger tray will be more appropriate and an adult cat should be able to squat and turn round comfortably within the tray. Some owners and cats prefer litter trays with covers on them, you need to be sure that your cat can negotiate the opening by stepping into it and that he is not too large to fit through it. The depth of the tray is important for adult cats as it needs to be deep enough to offer enough litter to be able to adequately cover toilet deposits, especially faeces. Older cats, who may be arthritic, may benefit from shallower trays, or ones with a dip in the side so the cat can get into it easier.

Where should I put the litter tray?

The litter tray should be placed in a location that is easily accessed by your cat, yet out of the way. Try to avoid congested household areas as your cat should have some privacy where he eliminates. Utility rooms are often used but it is worth bearing in mind that the noise from household equipment can be disruptive and aversive to some cats so you need to monitor the usage of the tray to be sure that the location is acceptable to your cat. Also remember that you need to check on the tray and keep it clean so choose a location where you will be reminded to do this on a regular basis. If the tray is hidden away too much some owners forget to clean it often enough. Do not put food and water bowls right next to the litter tray. If there are dogs in the home you need to remember that cat faeces can be very attractive from a canine perspective and the litter tray should be located where your cat can eliminate without being bothered by your dogs!

How often should I clean the litter tray?

One of the most important factors in continued litter tray usage by house cats is cleanliness. Cats are very fastidious animals, and spend time each day making sure their coat, feet and face are clean. One can assume that they would also like a clean place to eliminate and they certainly demonstrate this when they select their own latrine sites out in the garden. The number of cats in the home and litter usage determines the time between litter cleaning but as a general rule faecal material should be removed at least on a daily basis, whether the litter material type is clumping or plain. Clumping materials need to be cleared of urine soiled patches more frequently than other material types and ideally soiled patches should be removed as soon as they are noticed. Manufacturers will provide a guide but each cat is an individual and you should gauge the frequency of cleaning in relation to the usage pattern in your particular home. A similar problem to the dislike of scented litters can arise with the cleansers used to clean litter trays, and so the tray should be rinsed thoroughly after each complete cleaning. In particular do not used ammonia based cleaners, as these are often quite aversive to cats. The whole tray should be cleaned and rinsed on a weekly basis and boiling water can be very effective for this.

How many litter trays do I need in my home?

The number of litter trays needed depends on the number of cats, their social compatibility, the size of the home, the temperament of the cats, and the presence of other pets in the home. When there are multiple cats, multiple trays should be available in different locations, not all side-by-side in one place. Because there can be varied interactions between individuals, multiple trays in multiple locations allow housemates to avoid one another if necessary. Even for only one cat, two trays may be appropriate depending on the layout of the home and the individual preferences of the cat. Some cats prefer one tray for urine and one for faeces. In general, there should be at least one litter tray per cat, and some behaviour advisers advise one more tray than the number of cats in the house. However, the distribution of the trays is perhaps the most important thing to consider.

What if my kitten does not use his litter tray?

Should your kitten begin to eliminate in locations other than his litter tray, first review the steps above. Is the litter tray in an area that is appealing and easily accessed by your kitten? Is there anything in the area that may be a deterrent? Is the litter tray being cleaned often enough? Are there enough litter trays for the number of cats? To determine the most appealing litter for your kitten, offer two or more different litters in the same type of tray, side-by-side and see which one, if any, your kitten/cat uses most frequently. Next, determine the type of litter tray your cat prefers by offering two or more litter tray types side-by-side (each with the preferred type of litter). You can determine your kitten’s preferred location by offering the preferred litter tray with the preferred litter in two or more locations and determining which one, if any, your kitten uses more frequently. If litter tray problems persist, additional guidance and perhaps a behaviour consultation might be required so it is important to mention the problem to your veterinary practice.

Checking that there are no underlying medical reasons for your kitten to avoid the litter tray is also important.