Many fear litter box training. Some potentially good cat parents choose to not get a cat, because they’re afraid that keeping an animal indoors will be too much work. They also worry about odors, accidents and other bad things they’ve over heard in conversations about felines.
With the new style of tools and equipment available this does not have to be the case. Innovation has produced some amazing technology that can further simplify the daily tasks associated with feline care. Note: The hidden cat box to the right is available below along with some other great solutions.
Owning a cat can be very rewarding. Watching your pet play, purr, and curl up in your lap can be a tremendous source of happiness. Some even believe there are health benefits for humans like lowering blood pressure and reducing depression? Potty training cats doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Keeping the box and house tidy can be streamlined for efficiency.
The very first step to take is to choose the right equipment. You will need one or two litter boxes. Do not buy a box based on the size of your kitten. Try to go as big as you can for the space you have.
Choose one that is deep enough to hold more then a couple of inches of litter. Any cat will tell you that digging in the box is fun and the deeper they can bury the waste the safer they may feel. You want plenty of room for the cat to turn around and move about when they are full grown. The next step in litter box training is to choose the right litter. Cats can be meticulous about the litter if it feels funny to their paws.
My cats do not like certain smells like baby powder or heavy pine odors. You may have to go through a couple of brands before you find just the right one. When you have the right stuff stick with it. Felines do not like changes in there environment. Consider clumping litters or deodorizing types for easier cleanup. Keep in mind some heavily perfumed litters can turn off your feline friend.
There are a few other items you will need when potty training cats. Must have items such as a good quality scoop and optional items like a mat to catch any stray litter particles. The specially designed litter mats do a good job of knocking off the tiny particles that can stick to kitty’s paws.
This little mat can reduce the frequency of vacuuming in the cats bathroom area and prevents tracking it through the home. Should you get a cover for the box? Some cats like the privacy and some will hate the claustrophobic feel.
If you choose a box with a cover make sure kitty doesn’t have any trouble coming or going and consider doing without a cover for the litter box training period and adding the cover down the road. You also have the option of using litter box liners. These are especially helpful if you choose to use non-clumping litter. As far as actually potty training your cat there are just a few pointers to follow.
How Long Will it Take to Litter Train
Most cats will pick up very easily on the function of the litter box because it is an important part of instinctual habits. They bury waste material to avoid being tracked by predators. Both clumping litter and traditional kinds are very similar to environments they would seek out and use outdoors.
However, if your kitten has an accident elsewhere make sure you clean up all traces of it. Use special cat urine cleaning supplies for pet stains to erase any scent so that the cat will not think this is where he is to go. During the training process, anytime that you have to be away from the cat make sure to confine him to a smaller space. If he has food, water, a bed, and a clean litter box he will soon learn to use the litter.
Most cats will not willingly soil anything near his food and water. So make sure that his food and water are far away from the box. One thing to know is that cats like things clean just as much as people do.
Eventually a dirty litter box can cause even a well trained feline to go elsewhere. Make sure that you clean any clumps from the box regularly and change out the litter completely every few weeks. Some recommend changing out the boxes twice a year as well.
Once you have established a routine spot for your cat to go comfortably try not to move this around too much. Chances are if you keep the box in one place and keep it clean you and your cat will have a healthy relationship in the going to the bathroom area of the partnership. Bookmark this litter box training page. Share with a friend having problems.
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