Kittens and Cats
Litter Training
Unlike human babies, kittens can't be kept
in diapers until they're old enough to control their inner workings.
Kittens are usually relatively easy to train, as they seem to
know instinctively just what the litter box is for.
Cats are generally conscientiously clean animals,
but they have to know where the litter box is, and be able to
get into it and out of it easily.
Most people keep the cat's litter box in the bathroom
or secluded in the basement. Keep im mind, though, that a very
small kitten may have difficulty getting up and down stairs. Two
litter boxes in different areas of the house would be even better
so if they wander they will not be caught short. Cats appear to
prefer to do their business unobserved, so allow them some privacy.
It's not that they're shy - modesty and shame are concepts alien
to cats. It's probably just that they feel vulnerable when caught
perched in the litter box, and cats don't like to feel trapped.
As for the type of litter boxes, a plastic or baked
enamel pan is easy to clean and will not react with the urine.
Be very sure that it is stable and won't shift or tip when the
cat goes in. One disaster like that, and they won't go near the
litter box again!
Always clean it with soap and hot water (probably
about once a week), but take care to avoid strong disinfectant
as the odour can offend some cats. Also, disinfectants containing
coal tar or carbolic derivatives can actually be dangerous to
cats and kittens. You may find that your cat rejects one commercial
cat litter, while another may be more acceptable. You may have
to try several brands before finding a suitable one.
It's a good idea to take the kitten to their litter
box whenever they wake up from a nap, after playing, or has finished
a meal. It is also wise not to let them roam around the house
unobserved until you're convinced they're using their litter box
regularly.
Types of Litter
Clay Litter is the
more traditional kind of kitty litter. It is inexpensive and tends
not to get tracked outside the box. Inconvenience in cleaning
the box is a drawback. With this kind of litter you are not able
to clean it completely without dumping the whole tray. This leads
to an odour over time.
Clumping Litter is
relatively new on the market. It is more expensive than the traditional
clay but has many benefits. You are better able to clean everything
out of the box as the urine forms a clump of litter making removal
quick and easy. On this same token you can better monitor your
cat's urinary output on a daily basis. This type does however
tend to be tracked outside of the litter box, especially in carpeted
rooms.
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