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When you get a new kitten, you want to acclimate them to their new home as quickly as possible. A big part of that process is litter training.
The good news is that litter training a kitten is usually pretty straightforward, with kitties naturally learning how to do it on their own. “Cats are clean creatures by nature and often cover their feces and urine to avoid detection by predators. Most kittens only need to be shown where the litter box is located to encourage use,” says Dr. Wendy Hauser, veterinarian advisor, founder, and president of Peak Veterinary Consulting.
While every kitten will have their own timeline, it usually takes a few weeks to litter train a kitten. Typically, they’ll have it down pat by the time they’re 8 or 12 weeks old—the typical age kittens are ready to be brought home.
To learn more about the best practices for litter training a kitten, we asked the experts. From setting up the litter box to step-by-step training instructions, here’s everything we discovered.
What Age Do Kittens Start Using the Litter Box?
Kittens can typically start litter training once they’re weaned, usually between three and four weeks old. Before that, they’ll need help stimulating their poop from their mother (or a stand-in human parent).
As soon as kittens learn how to poop on their own, they’ll typically go in the litter box one to four times daily. Once they reach adulthood, they’ll likely go between three and five times a day.
While kittens have an instinctive desire to bury their poop and pee, they may also learn how to use a litter box by watching other cats, like their mother. Absent another already-trained cat, pet parents can help guide their kitten to use the litter box (more on this below). And the sooner, the better.
“You should start litter box training as soon as your cat comes home,” recommends Dr. Whitney Miller, chief veterinarian at Petco. “It’s best to have the litter box prepared before their arrival so they can recognize its location as they explore the new home.”
Older kittens and adults
Even if you’re bringing home an older kitten or an adult cat, you’ll want to get them used to the litter box right away. And while it’s never too late to start litter training, an older cat may require some extra help.
“You may need to select different locations for senior cats who have less mobility (e.g., put the litter box on the floor instead of on a shelf or desk) or put out more litter boxes so that they do not have to move as far to get to the nearest one,” says Miller. “You may also want to change the type of litter box to one that is more accessible and doesn’t have as tall of an entry.”
Adene Sanchez via iStock
How To Set Up a Litter Box
The first step to successfully litter training kittens is setting up their litter box. Because every cat has individual preferences, you may need to experiment with different types of litter boxes and kinds of litter before finding the perfect combination for your kitty. Here are some supplies you’ll need to get started:
- An appropriately sized litter box
- Kitten-safe cat litter
- A litter scoop
- Cat-safe cleaning supplies for deep-cleaning the box
- Litter box liners (optional)
- A Litter Genie or trash can to store your kitten’s waste
Choosing a litter box
The best litter box for kittens is one that’s appropriately sized. “The litter box should be large enough that the entire cat’s body can fit in the litter box without any body parts sticking out,” says Karen Reese Heinzig, a certified animal trainer and former animal behavior manager at Operation Kindness Animal Shelter. This usually looks like a litter box 1.5 times your cat’s body length.
From furniture style to automatic, there are different styles of litter boxes to suit every type of cat, even picky kitties.
One quick note on covered litter boxes, however. While these litter boxes help keep messes contained (we see you, sprayers), some experts say they don’t promote natural bathroom behavior. Still, some cats may be just fine using them. If you choose to go this route, do your own research, talk to your vet, and ensure your cat has plenty of room to do their business.
What type of litter?
Until they reach four months, the best litter for kittens will be clay-free and non-clumping. While clay/clumping litter is generally safe for adult cats, curious kittens are constantly nibbling on everything and run the risk of accidentally eating it. If ingested, clay litter can expand in a kitty’s stomach and cause serious blockages.
Where should the litter box go?
To successfully litter box train a kitten, you have to ensure they feel safe and comfortable. That’s why the location of a litter box is so important, with the ideal spot being in a quiet area that’s easy to access. “Your cat should not feel trapped when entering and exiting their litter box,” notes Heinzig. Avoid placing litter boxes in busy, noisy areas with lots of foot traffic or near your kitten’s eating and sleeping areas.
Introduce Your Kitten to the Litter Box
The best and fastest way to litter train a kitten is to place your kitten in the litter box on a regular basis—ideally every two to three hours, always after mealtime. Dr. Sara Ochoa, a veterinarian at Animal Hospital in West Monroe, Louisiana, breaks it down into these four simple steps:
- Place your kitten in the litter box.
- Let them sniff the litter.
- If your kitten doesn’t go potty, use a scooper or your kitten’s paw to gently scratch the litter several times.
- If your kitten uses the litter box, reward them with lots of praise or a tasty treat.
If your kitten doesn’t use the litter box every time, don’t worry—just keep giving them the opportunity to use it every 20 minutes until they do!
Reward Litter Box Use
Using rewards, like treats, toys, and catnip, to litter train a cat helps create positive associations with the litter box. When choosing treats for your kitten, opt for small, low-calorie ones that are flavorful and high in value, like freeze-dried tuna or chicken.
Keep the treats close to the litter box since you’ll want to reward your kitten as soon as they use it. In the beginning, reward your cat every time they use the box. Over time, once they’ve begun using the box more regularly, you can fade out the treats.
Tips for automatic litter boxes
Self-cleaning litter boxes are convenient for busy cat parents, but they do require a bit more time and training. For starters, you’ll need to give your kitten one or two weeks to get comfortable with the automatic litter box before even turning it on. Other things to consider include:
- Weight. Ensure your kitten meets the weight requirements for the automatic litter box. For example, the popular Litter Robot 4 model requires kittens to be at least 3 pounds to use the fully automatic settings.
- Noise. Because automatic litter boxes use a motor and gears to clean themselves, the mechanical noise can be startling to cats. You’ll want to desensitize your kitten to the noise gradually, creating positive associations with the box by rewarding your cat every time they engage with it.
- Design. Many automatic models are also enclosed. If your cat isn’t used to this, it can require some time (and treats) for your cat to become accustomed. You may also need to make modifications if the model allows, such as removing the cover.
Kunlathida Petchuen via iStock
Troubleshooting Litter Box Problems
A few accidents as your kitten is learning the ropes are perfectly normal. But if your kitten is completely avoiding the litter box and having multiple accidents outside of it daily, it’s time to troubleshoot. Here’s a look at common litter box issues and how to address them.
Too few litter boxes, too far apart
“The most common issue is that the kitten ends up too far away from a litter box and can’t find the box in time,” says Jessica Char, cat behavior consultant and owner of Feline Engineering. “When kittens are young, it is best to keep them confined to a smaller area, such as a spare bedroom or bathroom, when they aren’t supervised. This ensures they can always locate the litter box.”
If your kitten roams freely around your home, ensure they can get to a litter box wherever they are. Depending on the size of your living space, that may mean having litter boxes in different locations.
Lack of supervision
Kittens are curious critters and can easily get distracted and wander away from the litter box. That’s why you’ll want to be close by during the first stages of training. Placing your kitten in the litter box after meals, naps, and playtime, as well as supervising them until they need to go, can help keep your kitty focused and on routine.
Uncleaned accidents
You’ll also want to be close by to quickly clean up any messes that happen outside of the litter box so that the cat isn’t lured back to those spots the next time they need to pee or poop again.
Just take the poop or the paper towel used to clean up the urine and place that in the litter box. “Your cat will associate those smells and then start using the litter box,” explains Dr. Ochoa.
Unclean box or old litter
Most cats don’t like using a dirty litter box. And rightfully so! If you want to avoid aversions to your kitty’s bathroom area, regularly clean their litter box. “Your litter box should be cleaned at least once per day,” recommends Heinzig.
Kitten rejecting the litter box
If your kitten is rejecting the litter box, you may want to consider adding litter attractant products. “This can help encourage cats to use their litter box and reward them without an edible treat,” says Dr. Miller.
Bullying by another cat
“Additionally, in a multi-cat household, it is possible that inter-cat bullying could be the culprit, so keep an eye on how your cats interact,” says Dr. Miller. If you have multiple cats, you’ll need one litter box per cat, plus an extra, all in different areas throughout the home, to prevent conflicts.
Too late to litter train?
Although it’s never too late to litter train a cat, it might take longer or be a more challenging process for older kitties. “Cats can be particular animals, and they may dislike something about the litter box setup as it stands,” says Dr. Miller. Experiment with different types of litter boxes, litter, and locations to find the best one to suit your older cat.
When To Be Concerned
If you’ve troubleshoot common issues and your cat is consistently having accidents after a month, Dr. Miller recommends visiting your vet. Signs and symptoms that a potential medical condition is causing accidents include:
- Spending long periods of time in the litter box
- Straining to urinate (urinary tract infection)
- Straining to poop (constipation)
- Digestive issues
- Scooting on the ground (impacted anal glands)
Stress and anxiety can also play a role in a kitten’s litter aversion. Your vet is a good resource to get to the bottom of what’s worrying your kitty!
