Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Choose and gather supplies
Step 2:
Set up the box
Step 3:
Get the cat in the box
Step 4:
Take charge of accidents

2torial #0886:
Learn2 Housebreak a Cat

Start off on the right paw

Both kittens and adult cats are great, cuddly additions to a household, but not all cats come trained to use the litter box. You'll want to address this issue immediately, before your favorite Persian rug is irretrievably marred. Luckily, most kittens pick up the litter idea pretty easily. But where do you begin? And how can you prevent accidents during training? This 2torial answers those questions and provides guidelines on how to acclimate your new little friend to your household.

If you're getting an adult cat, find out from the previous owner if it's already trained to use the litter box. If not, you'll have to do it yourself, and quickly. Adult cats are not as easy to teach as kittens, but luckily the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" doesn't apply to felines. Most kittens are taught by their mothers or litter mates how to cover their waste, so in many cases you'll just be refreshing your cat's memory.

If your cat will be spending a lot of time outside, you can count on it using the great outdoors some of the time. However, you'll still need to train it to use the litter box, and you may have to watch for lapses in training. Fortunately, most kitties know the difference between inside and outside bathrooms.