How do you train a cat to use kitty litter?
Neo asked:
Hello there, my missus and I decided to take a cat we believe is a stray into our home and keep him. We had him nutared and have been loking after him for about a week (although we have had him around for almost 3 weeks now) He is a young cat and its taking time to build up his confidence of humans as he is not the most trusting cat, but we are slowly making progress. We also have another cat who is older and is having a serious problem adjusting to another cat in the house (but thats another problem).
Our main concern right now is that out new cat doesnt know about kitty litter , we have tried to place him in the tray but he begins to panic when we try resulting in a struggle and the cat running to the front door.
When he wants the toilet he scraps at the front door carpet quite severely until we open the door, he then disapears for about a day before returning.
How do you train a youngish cat to use a litter tray?
Thanks for your help in advance.
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Hello there, my missus and I decided to take a cat we believe is a stray into our home and keep him. We had him nutared and have been loking after him for about a week (although we have had him around for almost 3 weeks now) He is a young cat and its taking time to build up his confidence of humans as he is not the most trusting cat, but we are slowly making progress. We also have another cat who is older and is having a serious problem adjusting to another cat in the house (but thats another problem).
Our main concern right now is that out new cat doesnt know about kitty litter , we have tried to place him in the tray but he begins to panic when we try resulting in a struggle and the cat running to the front door.
When he wants the toilet he scraps at the front door carpet quite severely until we open the door, he then disapears for about a day before returning.
How do you train a youngish cat to use a litter tray?
Thanks for your help in advance.
August 28th, 2010 at 8:18 am
We also took in a stray and she never uses the cat litter…she is much older than your cat. Why don’t you get a cat flap fitted and then he can come and go as he pleases. You could keep trying with the cat litter though…just plonk him in the tray and walk away…cats don’t like going to the toilet with someone watching them. Sugar
August 30th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Is there a reason you want him to be an indoor cat? He obviously wants to be outdoors. You can’t ‘train’ a cat to do anything really. They own you, not the other way round!
A cat will instinctively use a litter tray when it is ready. Putting its nose in it won’t make a difference. We had a cat who spent alot of her life outdoors. When she became ill and was housebound, somehow she knew how to use the litter tray. Mermaid
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 am
The litter pan use is natural–all cats will use a facility as they see fit–or they may not–your new cat is FERAL–or wild and will not adapt—so you are fighting a losing battle—and losing the comfort of your older cat who will not share his comfortable pan–they don’t see the pan as we do–to them it is the cave and that is nature–the other cat has invaded home turf and will eventually be savagely attacked–give it up despite your intentions to be of some help to a homeless critter–he will be OK. fire_inur_eyes
September 4th, 2010 at 7:07 am
PUT THEM IN THE KITTY BOX WITH THE LITTER AND TAKE THEIR 2 FRONT PAWS AND JUST MAKE THEM SCRATCH INTO IT, NORMALLY THIS TELLS THEM THAT THIS IS WHERE THEY NEED 2 GO POTTY melimel
September 6th, 2010 at 8:11 am
i would keep doing what your doing,litter trays are a pain if the cat lets you know when he wants to o out make the most of it.maybe put something down to save your carpet from getting scratched though,and as for him disappearing i would take it as a compliment that he comes back each time he obviously want to be with you so stick at it I’m sure you will win in the end omex
September 7th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
First off that was a wonderful thing your family has done for this cat. Please just give it time. No telling what type of life this cat has had before you took it in!!
I would not use the same litter box that your older cat uses. Some cats do not like the smell of other cats. If you do so your older cat will just become more upset with you!! Just give your older cat time it will come around.
I would start out with putting the litter box by the front door. I know you don’t want this thing in plane site. But it won’t be for long. Try placing the cat in it . When the cat does jump out don’t try and hold it in the box that will only make thing worse. Get down on your knees and let the cat watch you scratch around in the litter . You have to teach it to scratch in the box. It will not take long. You will have to take the mess it makes out of the box so you don’t have any smell in the room. After the cat starts to use the box slowly move the box where you want it to be.
Good Luck!!
P.S. You did a great thing!!! Snowhiker
September 10th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
I would gradually get him used to litterpan by keeping him isolted from your other cat. You need two litterpans, one for your older cat to use and one placed in a seperate room with the new cat and keep his food and water in there as well, but be sure to keep the door closed so that he can not escape. this may take some time for him to get the idea that he needs to use a litterpan instead of going outdoors to do his personal needs. I would also suggest that you tape up some plastic to protect your walls and any furniture that happens to need protecting. If none of this works out then I would suggest talking to a vet in case your new kitty has anything wrong with him that is making him avoid using a litterpan. Good Luck! summerslesliem
September 11th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
The theory is that you just put them in after you have fed them when they are likely to go to the toilet so that they get the idea.
The other thing you can do is to scrape up some of the cats urine or faeces and put that in the litter so that it smells of excrement etc and this will encourage the cat to use the litter tray.
If he is happier going outside - why not? At least then you don;t get the litter tray to clean! One of my cats much preferred to go outside in the garden, I thought it was great!
The other thought that I have is that he could not like the litter - strange you may think, but my cats have definite preferences and there are certain types of litter they will not use…. You could try a change see if that helps Lab fan
September 14th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
One thing about cats is, they don’t potty where they sleep eat. It’s going to take some real patience on your parts to train this guy.
I would try isolating him in the bathroom with a litter pan at one end and some food and water at another. Close the door and leave him in there. Best if you do this overnight while you are sleeping. Otherwise you will just get frutrated at his lack of adjustment and clawing at the carpet.
Worse case scenario, put him in a crrier with a litter pan 30 minutes after he has eaten. Let him stay there till he has done his business. Younger cats generally go potty within 30 minutes or so after eating.
He can become a very comfortable indoor cat, but it will take time for his jets to settle down after the neutering and also his wandering tendencies.
Yes, he is going to most likely be a pain where you don’t want one, but you have come this far…so don’t give up now. Remember cats sleep 16-18 hrs a day, so you only have maybe 8 (broken up) to worry about.
If your other guy is a totally indoor cat, you don’t want the other one going in and out. It can bring unwanted deseases and FLEAS (or ticks) into your house.
Be patrient, but be firm in your resolve to keep him inside. The more you give in to him, the less chance of you getting him to adapt.
Good luck….:) Meg R
September 17th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
they should instinktively know or at least my cat did but if they don’t then if u see it look like its about to do its thing then grab it and put it in its litter box Danan l
September 19th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Just persist in showing him where the litter tray is and eventually he’ll come around. Just be thankful he wants to do his business outside and not behing the couch. christineherson
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:34 am
maybe just try putting dirt in there with kitty litter mixed through it maybe that will tech him its the the same thing im just kinda making this up as i go along but thats somethingi would try and if it works gradually reduse the dirt and up the kitty litter. might work
goodluck zolux
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:27 pm
I have 3 cats you need to get another litter tray keep putting him in it and keep it away from the others cat litter tray that should work.My 2 toms dont get on but have established a neutral sort of growling stance now but are very jealous of each other!!!!!! LEOPARDSHAZ