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.

Choose and gather supplies

Try out different types of litter until you find one you like. Various types of litter are available, but you may find that commercial brands that use clay and sand are the best, as opposed to shredded newspapers or other homemade types.

Clay litter: Clay chips are naturally absorbent and don't get tracked onto your floor as much as sand litter does. However, it's necessary to change the entire litter box every few days (how often will depend on the number of cats using it) to get rid of waste and the smell.

Clump litter: Clump litter is favored by many cat owners, but it doesn't absorb odor as well as clay. Clump litter also tends to get tracked on the floor more since it's as fine as sand. On the positive side, it gathers moisture into clumps that you can simply scoop out. This makes cleaning the box easier, and you won't have to change the litter as frequently.

Set up the box

You should set up the box before bringing the cat into your home so you can show it right away where the box is located. First, lay newspaper down on the bottom of the pan. Cover the newspapers with a plastic litter liner, usually found next to litter supplies in stores. The newspaper will absorb any leakage and prevent smells if your cat accidentally tears the plastic box liner with its claws. Now just pour in the litter until the box is about halfway full. Don't overfill the box or the litter will spill out when the cat gets in and out or moves it around.

Keep the box in a quiet, out-of-the-way place and away from the cat's food bowl (you don't like to eat in your bathroom, do you?). Cats dislike noise and stress around their litter. If your cat is uncomfortable around its litter box, it may use the floor or rug instead.

Get the cat in the box

As soon as your cat (kitten or adult) starts to squat on the floor, pick it up and put it in the box. Also watch for any curious sniffing in corners of the room, or scratching at the floor as if it's trying to uncover something. Gently take your cat's paws and scratch at the litter so it knows to cover up its waste. Most cats will get the idea quickly, since covering it up is natural behavior for them.

Try placing your cat in the box in the morning, at night and after meals so it gets the idea that the box is associated with bathroom breaks.

Cleaning the box

Keep your cat's litter box area clean--no one likes a dirty bathroom. Cats will often reject overly dirty areas and go on the floor or carpet instead. Remove feces daily with a litter scooper and dispose of it in plastic bags (sandwich baggies work well). You should change your cat's litter box about once every two to three days (or up to a week if you use clump litter), depending on how many cats you have.

Take charge of accidents

Even the most sanitary cat can have a lapse in judgment. If this happens to yours, remember these guidelines.

• When your cat does have an accident, or doesn't quite remember the litter box idea, don't punish it. You never want to make your cat uncomfortable about using the litter box. Instead, when it goes outside the box, wipe up the mess with a paper towel (always good to have on hand in a cat household) and put the towel in the litter box along with the cat. Take her paws and scrape the litter so she connects her waste with the litter box.
  
  
• Keep your cat in a small, confined room with the litter box for a while if it doesn't seem to get the idea very quickly. Try not to move the location of the box around too much, however, so your cat doesn't get confused about where it is.
  
  
• Be sure to clean stains thoroughly, since some cats may smell former accidents and use the same spot again. Avoid using cleaning agents with ammonia in them, since Kitty may interpret this as urine and reuse the same spot. You can try treating urine-stained carpets with warm water and a small amount of dish soap, and later, after the spot has dried, with an ammonia-free and bleach-free household cleaner.
  
  
• Sometimes cats that have been using the litter box without problem suddenly stop. No, your cat hasn't lost its memory. It could be that the type of litter you buy has a chemical smell, which turns your cat off. Or if you haven't cleaned the box out in a while, it could be too dirty. If you have more than one cat, make sure you remove feces daily so the cats aren't put off by each other's waste. If the problem persists, call your vet. It could be a health-related.

It's not always easy to live happily side by side with a completely different species--be it your spouse or your pet. But by understanding your cat's habits and firmly teaching it what you expect, you'll be sure to have a harmonious relationship.

-end-