Q&A for How to Litter Train a Kitten

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  • Question
    Is it safe to train a one-week old kitten to use the litter tray?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Very young kittens such as this are not able to empty their own bladder and bowel, but hold on and only toilet when stimulated to do so by their mother licking. Also, the kitten is not yet able to walk and is still blind so they won't be able to find their way to the tray and climb in. By all means have a litter tray set up for the kitten to use, so they can discover it as they become mobile, but a one-week old kitten still needs their toileting needs seen to by the mother.
  • Question
    Why is my kitten eating the cat litter?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Kittens tend to investigate things with their mouths and it's not unusual for kittens to eat litter. For this reason, never use clumping cat litter if you have a kitten. The swallowed litter could clump in their stomach and cause a serious blockage.
  • Question
    Why is my kitten meowing at me?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    If the kitten is not hungry and has recently been to the litter box, it may be that she's asking for attention. Try brushing her and playing with her for a few minutes, and she may settle down for a contented sleep.
  • Question
    My kitten doesn't use her litter box and when I try to put her in it she gets scared and runs away. What should I do?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    This sounds like you kitten has accidentally learned to associate the tray with distress and has developed an aversion to using it. Set up another litter box in a different location and use a different substrate so there is nothing that she can link mentally to the other tray. When she poops or pees, place it in this new tray so as to give her the idea its a toilet. Play things low key and never place her in the box and hold her there or she may develop a bad association.
  • Question
    At what age do kittens start using the litter box?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Most kittens follow their mother into the litter box once they are old enough to leave the nest (3 weeks or so). Before this age, the mother usually licks and cleans the kittens so that they don't soil the nest.
  • Question
    How do you train a kitten to go in a litter box?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Most kittens are good at training themselves! Simply provide a litter box with low edges and pop the kitten in after she has eaten. It also helps if she has another cat to copy.
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