LITTER TRAINING

Cats are by nature very clean animals. House training is generally very easily accomplished if you follow a few recommendations.

1. For the first few days your kitten should be confined to a small room or the bathroom (where you plan to keep the litter pan in the future). Its bed, food and water dishes should also be placed in the room. This quiet space will be appreciated by the new kitten, and the confinement will greatly assist house training. After several days, the kitten should be using its litter pan regularly and can be let out of the room to independently explore its new home.

2. It is generally recommended that you select a litter which does not have any deodorant, particularly during house training. Place about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of litter in the pan. Clean the litter box frequently - if it becomes too dirty your kitten may stop using it and soil elsewhere in the house.

3. Dump or scoop out the soiled litter, wash the pan with water and replace the litter. The pan should be made of a material which is easily cleaned but never wash it with soap. If the pan smells of soap residue or deodorants, your kitten will be discouraged from using it.

4. Place the pan in a quiet private location which is not in a blind alley, like a closet. It seems that cats like to toilet in a spot they can escape from in many directions. If you have a large multi story house, it is advisable to have litter pans in separate areas of the house. If you have more than one cat, it is advisable to have one more litter box than the number of cats in the household, placed at various locations throughout the home.

5. If your kitten soils outside the litter pan be sure not to punish him/her, even if you catch your kitten in the act. Cats that are punished only become fearful of the owner and besides, discipline will not correct the problem.

If a trained cat has an accident in the house, check to see if the pan has been cleaned properly and that the bowel movement and urine are normal.

If your kitten is not house trained within a few days or the bowel movements are not normal, contact our office. If at any time after the kitten is trained it should have an accident outside the litter pan, please contact our office.