How to quickly and easily accustom a kitten to a tray in an apartment

Choosing the Right Tray

Most kittens, if born in a house, learn to use the litter box from their mothers at an early age. But sometimes it happens that even a well-trained cat “forgets” about the tray and starts to defecate around the house. A common reason cats walk past the litter box is that it is too small. This is especially important if your kitten is still growing – the first litter box may not be suitable after a few months. Therefore, when choosing the size of a cat litter, as a rule, it is better to play it safe and take the largest size. When the cat feels that he has a lot of space, there will be less chance that he will pass by.

If the kitten is small or older, choose a litter box with low sides so that it can easily get in and out of the litter box.

Both closed and open trays have their advantages and disadvantages. You can try both options and see which one your pet chooses.

The biggest benefit of a closed litter box is the “privacy” that felines value. The downside is that closed litter boxes tend to trap odors inside, which can make the area unattractive to a cat. And if the cat or cat is large, it may be difficult for them to turn around inside the box.

For families with several cats, open trays are definitely needed so that the animals do not push at the entrance.

If your home has enough space for more than one tray, it might be worth getting a second one. Also, when a cat is learning to use a litter box, some experts recommend having at least one extra in the house.

Where to put a tray for a kitten

Prepare a secluded place in the house to install the filler tray. It is best to choose a bathroom or toilet for this purpose. The place should be accessible and convenient so that the cat does not have to look for a long time where to relieve himself. Accordingly, the doors to this room must be constantly open.

The tray must be filled! Cats have a natural instinct to bury their feces, and if this is not possible, the animal may choose other places, such as flower pots. If a kitten or a cat is taken from the street, at first you can fill the tray with earth and leaves – so the pet will immediately understand where to go when needed.

Don’t put the litter box next to where you give your cat food and water! Cats view their feeding area as a “house within a house” and their natural instinct is not to urinate or defecate nearby. If you place the litter box in a noisy, high-traffic area, such as a hallway or hallway, there is a good chance that the cat will not urinate there. Designate a quiet location that is accessible and uncluttered.

Cats generally prefer clumping litter as it is easier to walk on, easier to dig into, and more like earth. It will also make it easier for you to scoop out cat feces from the litter box. Do not use scented fillers, as this can irritate the animal or cause an allergic reaction.

Use the correct amount of filler. When there is too much of it, it will create a mess, as some will inevitably spill out when instilled. But if there is not enough of it, the cat may feel that it cannot bury its waste, which will force it to look elsewhere for its needs. Felinologists who study cats recommend filling the tray with about 5 centimeters of filler.

We teach the kitten to the tray

The kitten needs to be shown the tray – just bring it up and put it in the litter with its paws. In this case, you can slightly rustle in the filler with your palm. Many cats understand such a hint the first time. When you show your cat how to dig and bury waste, it’s important to use your hands. If you grab your pet by the paws and try to dig with them, it may scare him.

If the digging hint was not understood, you should collect liquid and solid waste with a napkin from the place where you find it and put it in the tray. This will be a constant reminder to the cat of where to go when needed – the pet will smell and will associate relief with going to the tray. After the animal has sufficiently learned where to defecate, you should keep the litter box clean. A dirty litter box is one of the most common reasons cats defecate outside of it.

Sweep out solid and lumpy-liquid waste daily and add fresh litter a little at a time. Experts recommend declumping your cat’s litter box twice a day to keep it as clean as possible. Flush the tray completely at least once a week. Use warm water and mild soap rather than harsh chemicals, as these can leave marks and odors that can harm your cat or kitty, or discourage him from using the litter box.

After washing the tray and drying it thoroughly, refill it with clean litter to the desired depth.

If, despite all the measures taken, the animal does not go where it should, you need to approach the issue more carefully. Watch the cat to find out its “schedule”. He usually needs to relieve himself after taking a nap, playing or running, or after eating. Studying the graph will help you determine the approximate “H time” and direct the pet to the tray.

Since many cats pee after playing and running around, you can make this process easier by playing with your pet next to the litter box and then placing it in the litter box. It will take time, but eventually he will understand what you are expecting and learn the right behavior.

Important Points

Never yell at an animal. It is important to remember that it is not trying to create difficulties for you. Perhaps he has health problems, or the tray or its location does not fit, or maybe the filler has such properties that it is inconvenient to use it. If you yell or swear, it will only make the cat afraid of you and will not solve the problem. It is important to remember that animals do not have human logic, and they cannot connect your angry cry with the fact that they went somewhere wrong.

If your cat or cat has pooped on the floor, carpet, or piece of furniture, be sure to thoroughly clean the area with special sprays so that the animal, smelling its excrement in a certain place, does not associate this place with a toilet.

If the kitten continues to urinate in the problem area, try closing the door to keep it out if possible. You can also try leaving unwanted textures on the floor around the problem area, such as aluminum foil.

If the animal continues to urinate outside the litter box, and there is a place that he really likes, try moving the litter box there. This often resolves the issue.

If the cat is still having problems, you might consider using the isolation method. But this should only be done as a last resort. Choose a room in your home where the animal can be safely locked up and where there is enough space. Place the tray at one end of the room, and bedding, food, and water at the other. Leave the animal for a day and watch where it goes to the toilet. Sometimes it takes from a day to a week for the process to get better.

If the pet does its business anywhere

If your new pet does not use a litter box, but you do not find any waste from his life at home, it is better to take the animal to a veterinarian to rule out problems with urination and defecation.

If your long-term cat has gone about its business all over the place, this could be a sign of a urinary tract problem. Some cats with urinary tract infections or blockages tend to urinate on tile, cement, or wood floors as they seek surfaces that are cool to the touch and smooth.

One of the early signs of kidney stones in cats is blood in the urine and frequent attempts to urinate. Other symptoms to look out for include crying while urinating and excessive licking of the genitals.

If your pet shows any of these symptoms, you should take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Urolithiasis is successfully treated in the early stages. To avoid it, make sure that the animal has access to fresh water and be sure to give the pet not only dry, but also canned food with at least 50% moisture.

Expert opinion. Victoria Sazonova, veterinarian:

– Cats naturally like to urinate on the ground or in the sand. If you introduce them to the tray, they will gladly go there, and not on the carpet, if the filler is as close to natural conditions as possible.

There are many types of fillers to choose from and most of them are good. But it’s better to buy one that doesn’t create dust clouds when digging, as dust can irritate cats’ lungs. Do not use clumping litter for very young kittens. If they ingest it, it will stick together in the intestines and can cause serious injury.

Some cats get used to a certain litter and may not recognize a litter box if it doesn’t have their usual litter.

Well, the last thing you need to prepare for accustoming a cat to a tray is a scoop for cleaning waste from the tray and a bedding, which is better to put under the tray so that the garbage does not stain the house.

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