Basic Cat Training Tips

Training a cat to use a litter box usually isn’t difficult. Cats are generally clean by nature and have a natural inclination to bury their waste. Use these steps to train your cat to start using a litter box.

Place your cat and a clean litter box, the kind without a cover in a confined area, like a room in your house. Be sure your cat has plenty of food and clean water. If your cat ‘goes’ outside of the box, place the waste in the litter box.

Usually, within a day or two of being confined with the litter box, the cat will begin to use the box regularly. If the cat isn’t using the box within a couple of days, try this. After the cat has eaten, place the cat in the litter box and then just scratch the surface of the litter a bit with your fingertip.

If it’s still a no-go, make sure the box is clean. If it’s ever been used before, clean it with baking soda and fill it with clean litter. You can also try several types of litter, sometimes a cat will be fine with one brand and turn up its nose at another brand. Also make sure that the box is located in a quiet, secluded area.

If nothing seems to work, consult your vet. Occasionally an underlying medical problem can be the cause of a cat’s reluctance to use a litter box.