How to Litter Train a Kitten

The good news first: kittens raised with their mother almost always arrive litter trained. Our kittens are litter trained before they go home. What you are really doing is teaching them where the tray is in your house, and keeping the habit reliable through any disruption.

Setting up for success

Location. Put the tray somewhere quiet but easy to reach — not next to their food, not next to a noisy appliance, and not somewhere they have to pass through a busy room to get to. Never move the tray far during the first weeks.

The one-per-cat rule. Provide one tray per cat plus one spare. Multiple trays prevent most problems, particularly in multi-cat homes where one cat may guard a tray.

Tray style. Kittens need a low entry. A covered box can be added later once habits are solid, though some cats never like them.

Litter type. Start with whatever your breeder used — a change of litter at the same time as a change of house is a common cause of accidents. If you want to switch, do it gradually by mixing.

The first days

Show your kitten the tray as soon as you arrive home, then again after every meal, every sleep and every play session. Place them gently in it rather than forcing them. Most kittens get the idea within a day. Praise calmly when they use it.

Keep the tray clean. Cats are fastidious, and a dirty tray is one of the most common reasons a house-trained cat starts going elsewhere.

If accidents happen

Never punish. Rubbing a cat’s nose in it or shouting does not teach them anything except to fear you, and it usually makes the problem worse by making them hide when they need to go.

Clean the spot properly. Use an enzymatic cleaner designed for pet accidents. Standard cleaners do not remove the scent, and a cat will return to a spot that smells like a toilet.

Work out the cause. Ask in order:

• Is the tray clean enough?
• Has anything changed — new food, new pet, new furniture, house guests?
• Is the tray in a spot they now find frightening?
• Have you changed the litter?

Always rule out a medical cause first. A cat straining, producing very little, or going outside the tray when they have been reliable can have a urinary tract problem. This can be serious, especially in males. See your vet promptly.

Common problems and fixes

• Going just outside the tray: often the tray is too small or too covered — try a larger open tray
• Choosing soft surfaces: laundry and beds are attractive when the tray is unclean — improve cleaning and restrict access temporarily
• Two cats, one tray: add trays in different locations
• Older kitten regressing: check for a medical cause and any recent change

Our home preparation guide covers tray placement in the safe room, and more on behaviour is in our kitten behaviour guide.