How to train a cat to use cat litter

In order to prevent cats from peeing everywhere, we need to train cats to use cat litter, but of course cats are not born with the ability to use cat litter. Some cats are not interested in using cat litter at first. Going to the toilet in the litter box is extremely repulsive. I believe that owners usually spend a lot of time teaching their cats to use cat litter. Here are some practical cat litter training methods to easily make cats obediently use the litter box. bathroom.

1. Method

1. Place the cat litter box in a quiet place. Cats like to go to the bathroom in a quiet place without any hustle and bustle. Placing the litter box out of the way, such as the laundry room, secondary bathroom, or screened-in porch, can produce better training results. If your cat is older, be sure to place the litter box within easy reach. You don’t want your cat to have to climb up and down stairs or furniture to go to the bathroom. The litter box itself should also be comfortable for your cat. Cats generally prefer open litter boxes to closed litter boxes. You can use unscented cat litter (which cats also like) and it won’t create too much dust. The more comfortable the litter box is, the more likely your cat will use it.

2. Put the cat into the litter box shortly after feeding it. Doing this after every feeding will help your cat begin to understand the role of the litter box. Eventually, the cat will automatically go to the litter box to go to the toilet when it has a need.

3. Give the cat a reward after using cat litter.

Every time the cat successfully uses the litter box, give it a small snack as a reward and praise it. Cats, like all animals (including humans), eat praise. This positive reinforcement quickly produces positive results.

4. Don’t punish the cat after it poops.

You cannot train a cat with negative reinforcement. Yelling at it loudly or spanking it will only make it scared. If your cat pooped or peed somewhere else, let him smell the area where he pooped before gently placing him in the litter box.

5. Keep the litter box clean.

If a cat occasionally starts to use a flower pot or carpet as a toilet, it is often because it feels that the hygienic environment of the litter box is not good. Remember to shovel litter every day and clean the litter box a few times a month. Cat litter should also be changed frequently to avoid allowing the smell of cat urine to linger.

6. Choose a cat litter that your cat likes.

Some cats are picky about litter, so it’s a good idea to try a few different litters until you find the one your cat likes best.

2. Precautions

Training kittens is the easiest, but training adult cats is also possible. Buy treats that your cat likes. Be careful not to overfeed snacks. Doing so will make your cat get used to the tasty treats and stop seeing them as rewards. At the same time, it can also make cats gain weight and become overweight, causing serious health problems.

3. The cat won’t use itUsing the litter box may be uncomfortable

If your cat does not use the litter box no matter how hard you train it, the most common reason is that there is something wrong with their physical condition, such as an inflamed urinary tract or bladder infection , intestinal parasites, injuries, etc. These diseases will cause cats to feel pain when defecating, so cats naturally associate the litter box with pain, so they will find other places to defecate that are more comfortable for them. Although the cat's pain will not be solved by going to other places to defecate, it is a very useful signal for the owner. Once you find that the cat no longer uses the litter box, it is best to contact the veterinarian quickly and give the cat a comprehensive physical examination. If the cat not only refuses to use the litter box but also fails to defecate, the owner must take them to the pet hospital immediately, because if the cat cannot defecate normally for more than two days, they are likely to die of acute renal failure. .

Of course, cats not using the litter box are not necessarily caused by their own diseases. Inappropriate litter, too small or too dirty litter boxes may cause cats to be dissatisfied, and then they will use it in the litter box. Defecating in other places to protest to the owner. However, as long as the cat does not use the litter box, the owner must find out the real reason behind it as soon as possible to avoid the cat dying from acute renal failure.