In general, cats are ready potty training as they have a natural instinct to imitate their mothers. If you get your cat from a breeder, then it is very likely that your cat has been trained to use litter box. However, getting cats somewhere else, such as cats from a place where there is no such things as a litter box, you will have to train them by yourself.
Cats have a natural instinct to leave their waste in open areas. In addition, cats are pretty neat animals as they always bury their waste once they’re done. You can see that all you have to do is providing the open area with the litter box. In general, cat can be trained to use a litter box at about 4 weeks old. For older cats, it is still possible to train but it will take more time. Below are steps you can take:
1. Use an appropriate size litter box according to the size of your cats. Make sure that for kittens, the sides are low enough so that they can enter easily.
2. Filling the box with 2-3 inches of litter. Using too thin of the layer will leave the smell. If cats refuses to use the litter box, it may be because they don’t like the litter type you use. You may have to experiment with different kind of litters that your cat prefers.
3. Place the litter box in a quiet and private area. Some cats will be discouraged to use the litter box if it is placed in the busy area . In addition, cat does not like to eat where they leave waste so you should put it in separate places.
4. Show your cat to the litter box by putting it in gently. Some cat will up the idea right away. It is a good idea to take the cat to the litter box immediately after feeding it. See if the cat is behaving like it is looking for a place to poop, immediately place them into the litter box. You can also show your cat along by taking their paw and scratching it into the litter.
5. Praise your cat when it does use the litter box. Do not scold the cat or make any punishment in case it fails to use the litter as it will make it harder to train your cat.
For a final note, do make sure to keep the litter box clean. Cats are picky animals and may not be happy with the dirty litter box. At this point, you should be able to see that training cats to use a litter box is not that difficult as it may sound. In fact, it is quite easy if you do it the right way. However, you should bear in mind to be patient as it requires time.
