Not sure how to toilet train a kitten? We’ve broken down how to litter train a kitten into three simple steps so that you can spend more time playing with your new little furball and less time stressing about stepping in… mess!
Have you just brought home a tiny little bundle of fur, aka, an itty bitty kitty? First of all, awwwww and please send us a cat-snap! Second, you’ve come to the right place, because one of the first things you’re going to want to do is toilet train them. Luckily, most cats are actually naturals at toilet training, you just need to show them where you want them to do their business.
As any cat owner can attest, kittens are their own special beings, and they can sometimes be kind of hard to read. Some might say they’re aloof, others might say they’re just very discerning, but one thing’s fur sure, cats are very intelligent. They know what they like and what they don’t, and one thing all cats agree on is they like to be clean.
This means, if you follow our three simple steps, kitten toilet training will be a breeze!
Step 1: Get a litter box ASAP!
The best way we know how to toilet train a kitten is to start as soon as you bring them home. It’s actually common for many kittens to already be familiar with using a litter box (depending on how old they were when you got them and where you got them from), so make sure you add getting a litter box to the top of your to-do list.
There’s several different types of litter boxes you can get:
Rimmed litter box tray
Maybe we’re letting the cat out of the bag here, but a basic rimmed litter box tray will do the trick for many of our feline friends, especially for a new kitten. These are inconspicuous, and because of their removable rim, are super easy to change the litter regularly and keep clean. It’s especially important for our little itty bitty kitties to be able to easily walk straight into their litter tray, so litter trays without high walls are purr-fect to start with.
High back cat litter tray
Why would a cat litter tray need a high back, you ask? Basically, the whole point of a litter tray is for your kitty to have somewhere to bury their business. And for some cats, that means um, flinging their litter all over the room. Thanks, but no thanks. A litter tray with a high back can help keep the litter where you want it, but for this reason, it’s generally a good idea to keep litter trays on surfaces without carpet, so that it’s easier to sweep up any mess.
Hooded cat litter tray
If your kitty is super keen on not being seen, get them a hooded cat litter tray, or make sure you put their litter tray somewhere nice and discrete (but remember, when they’re itty-bitty you want to make sure it’s somewhere easy for you to put them whenever you think they need to go).
Regardless of which type of litter box you get, be aware that cats don’t like litter trays that are too small – so if they’re being stubborn and not going in it when they previously used to without drama, consider whether it’s time to size up.
Got multiple cats? (We’re not judging – cat lovers unite!) Some cats think sharing is caring and will use the same litter box, others flat out refuse to, so it might be trial and error for every new furball that joins the fam.
Step 2: Show them where you want them to go, and be consistent
From the very first day you bring your kitten home, show them where you want them to go. Our top tip for how to litter train a kitten is to be consistent. Try and pre-empt when you think they’ll need to go potty, such as when they wake up, and after they’ve eaten/drank, and after playtime. Simply pick them up and pop them in their litter tray. As mentioned, it’s quite likely that they’ll get the hang of it in no time at all (touch wood!)
Step 3: Treat yo’ cat!
Just like training any other animal, it’s important to paw-sitively reinforce any behaviour you want. There’s truly no benefit to punishing behaviour you don’t want, and the same goes for how to litter train a kitten. If they start to associate going potty with scary things like being scolded, next time they’ll go somewhere they consider safer, and it might take you a while to find the source of the smell! Don’t make a big deal out of any accidents your kitty has. Instead, shower them with tasty treats when they do go in their litter box.
Are you making these common kitten toilet training mistakes?
If you’re having trouble working out how to toilet train a kitten, consider these common mistakes:
Are you changing the litter often enough? Cats are very clean, and if their litter box is full, many will go find somewhere else to go that’s more up to their high standards. Give the litter box a deep clean weekly to keep it smelling fresh.
Are you cleaning up any accidents quickly? If your kitty has an accident, make sure you clean it up straight away with an enzymatic cleaning product so that they don't associate the smell in that area as being an alternative litter tray. If they have a #2 accident, the best thing to do is actually put the poop into the litter tray, as having that odour there will help them learn that that’s where it goes.
Is the litter box tray in a nice, quiet place? Don’t pop the kitty litter tray in a high traffic area like next to the back door or in a bathroom that people are always going in and out of (if you can avoid it!) Laundries are generally one of the best places for litter boxes, as your cat doesn’t need to worry about being caught in the act (because as smart as they are, they generally don’t know how to lock the door!). Cats also don’t like their litter box being too close to their food and water bowl – what did we say earlier... cats are smart!
Thanks fur reading! We hope these tips help you feel more confident in how to toilet train a kitten! If you want more fun pet tips, follow along on our Instagram and be sure to tag us in all your cat-naps!
