Pet Care
Kitten Housetraining
The most important part of housetraining a kitten is to get him off to a good start. Obtaining a kitten that is already housetrained will adapt more easily and quickly to his new home.
Find out what type of litter the previous owners used and use the same type at first, introducing a new brand later on, if needed. Plastic litter boxes are the easiest and most practical to clean and use. It should be small enough for the little kitten to easily get into and out of. It should be located somewhere that is quiet to provide privacy. Keep the box somewhere that allows for easy access; near the sleep quarters. Scented litter can be a deterrent at first. If you already have other cats at home, provide a separate box for the new kitten. Some kittens may have accidents and use the soil in houseplants; keep these out of reach or cover the soil with rocks.
Keep your kitten within eyesight at all times. If he stops playing and being sniffing around, carry him to his box. Praise any litter box scratching and sniffing and give him a lot praise after he eliminates. He should be restricted to small, cat-proofed room when you are unable to supervise him.
A clean litter box is important. Many cats will not use an unclean box and it can never be too clean. Scoop the box at least once a day and more often if you have the time. The entire box should be scrubbed down at least once a week, being sure to rinse out all of the odor of the soap.
Avoid any changes in litter type, brand, box, or box location once the kitten has adjusted. If you need to change the type of litter, place the box with new litter in a new location but do not remove the old litter until he becomes adjusted to the new.
Never allow anything unpleasant to happen while a kitten is in a litter box. Do not scold him or give him medicine here. Do not place the box near a noisy washing machine, radiator, or furnace. Use a baby gate or kitty door to keep children and dogs away from the litter box.
If a mistake happens, you must identify why and correct the behavior right away. A cat who eliminates outside of his box will be more apt to continue this behavior. House soiling can be caused by several things including a change in litter brand, scented litter, litter deodorizers, unclean litter box, a change in litter box location, kitten was frightened in or near the box, or the kitten has medical problems. If an area is soiled make sure the area has been thoroughly cleaned with a commercial odor neutralizer. Many cats will not soil an area near their food and water. An upside down plastic carpet runner, double sided sticky tape, or adverse odor applied to the area can help deter a cat from soiling particular areas in the house. Never punish a cat or kitten fro making a mess outside of the litter box. This will make things worse and cause other problems such as fear of the owner, especially if you swat him or rub his nose in the mess. Continued mistakes warrant a visit to the veterinarian to be sure that no medical problems exist. Bladder disease, diarrhea, and constipation can irritate a kitten causing him to go outside of the box.
Spraying may occur as the kitten gets older in order to mark his territory. This is done typically on vertical surfaces. Neutering will eliminate some spraying behavior but even some cats that are neutered will still spray. Veterinary advice should be sought after if this occurs.
Kittens are creatures of habit. Stick with the same location and type of litter once you find out what the cat likes.
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