Although the principles are the same, there are slight differences between cats and kittens. The box for a kitten should be nearby. Kittens will not go far to potty. If the box is located a distance away, it may decide to potty along the way. It would help to assist the kitten into the box a few times and to familiarize and get acquainted with it. Some tips as to litter box location would include a quiet room in a private area where the kitten doesn’t eat or get scared from loud appliances or machinery. Confining the kitten initially in a room where the litter box is located may be helpful.

Litter box contents

Most cats and kitten are pretty finicky about where they potty. A litter box that is scented with deodorizers or perfumes may prevent the cat from going in the box. If this occurs, bad habits may develop, making it even more difficult to correct. In fact, the liter box contents don’t require anything fancy. The best materials are the inexpensive clay litter available in most pet stores. Several inches of this material in the box will allow your cat to bury their droppings.

Cleanliness

In addition to unscented litter, it’s extremely important to keep the litter box clean. All wet clumps of litter should be disposed of daily. The box itself should be emptied, washed and replenished once a week. Cleansers shouldn’t contain ammonia. If they do the cat or kitten may be discouraged from using the box.

Litter box size and type

The size of the box is dependent on the size of the cat. Kittens may require a smaller box, to be able to get in and out easily. A small box for a cat may prompt it to defecate and urinate outside of the box. Also used litter boxes should be avoided. Lingering scents from its previous owner may discourage potty use.

Rewards and treats

It may be helpful to reward the kitten for using the litter box to reinforce its use. This means that the owner needs to have an idea as to when the kitten needs to potty. Feeding at regular intervals will help in keeping the cat regular. A little exercise before and after the meal will aid in this endeavor. By peeking the kitten’s interest towards the litter box, by scratching it, she will usually be drawn towards it. This will make the cat aware of the box and its cleanliness for potty use. Once the cat uses the box, treats and rewards are in order to reinforce the idea of litter box use.

Kittens and cats are fairly easy to potty train, due to their nature. Attentiveness to cleanliness and some of the above tips will enable the cat to maintain good potty habits. Although it is possible for a trained cat to one day develop a problem, patience, understanding, cooperation and prompt action will be needed to correct any bad habit from becoming permanent.

It is important to use a small litter box so that your tiny kittens can climb in and out of it with ease, which they will start doing as soon as they can walk out of their nest on their own. You use clay litter because your kittens will taste test the litter, and clumpable litters can harm their digestive systems.

Scoop out the solids every day, and change the litter every three days for up to 3 kittens and every other day for more than 3 kittens.
Training Kittens 8 Weeks Old and Older

Most people adopt their kittens around 8 weeks old, and sometimes the kittens aren’t very well litter trained when they arrive. If you are lucky, your kitten will be litter trained, but they will still need a couple of days of adjustment before you can let them roam free in your home and consistently find the litter box.

Again, start with a smaller litter box for younger kittens and use only clay litter until they are about 6 months old. Put the litter box in the part of the house where your kitten will spend her time so that she can find it easily. You don’t want the kitten downstairs playing with the kids in the livingroom and the litter box to be on the second floor. If you do have different levels in your house, it is good to have a litter box on every floor.

When you are not available to keep an eye on your kitten, when you are sleeping or at work for example, confine your kitten in a smaller area with their litter box. Keep their food and water away from the litter box area because kittens will not normally eliminate near their food.

Tips to Avoid Litter Box Problems

Litter Box Do’s

* Have one litter box for every cat in your home, plus one
* Clean any accidents right away with products made to remove the scent of cat urine
* Avoid overcrowding (having too many cats causes extreme stress in cats, and that leads to litter box problems)
* Rule out health issues first if you begin to have litter box problems
* Have your cat spayed or neutered before they reach sexual maturity

Litter Box Don’ts

* Never punish your kitten for accidents
* Don’t use heavily perfumed litters
* Don’t change brands of litter suddenly (introduce new litter into old litter slowly by thirds)

And finally, don’t give up on your cat! If you are having trouble teaching your kitten how to use the litter box, check out Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat products. This line of products is designed to attract your cat to the litter using herbs, and they offer solutions for special needs cats, like pregnant queens or elderly cats that have trouble in the litter box.