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Litter Box Behavior :: Cat-Training Basics
by
Karen Leigh Davis
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Litter Box BehaviorCats have an instinctive desire to bury their waste, an instinct that is reinforced by watching their mothers and littermates do so. By the time you bring your kitten home, it should already have this behavior down fairly well.
However, a kitten separated from its mother and littermates at too young an age might not have this behavior down pat, which is a good reason for not taking a kitten home too early.
The feline habit burying of waste in a litter box is a key reason why cats are such easy companion animals to keep in the home. No midnight walks in the rain! Nevertheless, you will need to show your new kitten or adult cat just where the litter box is located in your home, perhaps even placing the kitten in the box and encouraging her to paw at the litter. Adult cats will likely have this mastered, but kittens may need some initial encouragement at first. If necessary, actually dig into the litter yourself (make sure it’s clean, of course!) with the kitten in the box, watching. It shouldn’t take long for the little one to get the idea. Quietly praise your cat when it begins to use the box properly, but then respectfully leave it alone to do its business.
Litter Box RulesTo help ensure that your cat uses the litter box regularly, follow these general rules: Keep the box clean. A dirty litter box is one of the most common reasons for a cat’s refusal to use it. Remember, cats are very clean animals, so you should scoop out waste from the box every day. If two cats use the same box, you may need to clean it out more often. At least once each week, completely change the litter in each box, and wash the box with mild non-scented soap and water before refilling it with clean litter.
Don’t move the box. Cats are creatures of habit and may become upset or confused if you move the box. Doing so suddenly could actually induce the cat to have accidents. If you must move the litter box, purchase a second box, fill it with the same brand of litter, then place it in the new location, while still keeping the old box right where it is. Bring the cat to the new box and encourage her to use it, then leave the rest to the cat. If the cat seems to get the idea and uses both boxes, try removing the old box after two weeks.
Place the box in a quiet location. Select a low-traffic area in the home where the cat will not be disturbed by humans or other animals walking by. You expect a reasonable amount of privacy, and so does your cat.
Make sure the box is accessible to the cat. A common mistake is placing the litter box in an area of the home that is too out of the way for the cat. An older cat in particular that must negotiate lots of stairs to get to his litter box may choose a convenient location more to his liking.
Keep dogs away from the box. If you have a cat-friendly dog in the home, you may have to locate the litter box outside of the dog’s domain, perhaps on top of a piece of furniture. Or, you could prop open the door to the room just enough to allow access to the cat but not the dog (assuming the dog is larger). This is a matter of respect.
Plus, many dogs have an objectionable tendency to eat the feces from the litter box.
Don’t place the box too close to food dishes or sleeping area. Cats will not eliminate near where they eat or sleep. Do you blame them? If you have placed the litter box too close to either of these places, you may be asking for trouble.
Stick with the same brand of litter. Cats get used to the texture and odor and often develop strong preferences for one type of litter over another. Changing suddenly can result in the animal’s refusing to use the box at all, or choosing to use your flowerpots, closet, or dirty laundry instead. If you must change the brand, do so gradually by mixing the new brand with the old, taking three to four weeks to complete the changeover.
Inappropriate Elimination BehaviorsOne of the most common behavioral problems that crops up occasionally with some cats is urinating
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