Potty Training a Kitten: Simpler Than You Think
Anyone who has successfully housebroken a dog knows the great difficulties—and the morbid lengths—often involved in the potty training process. Anyone who has ever successfully potty-trained a child is all too familiar with the inevitable accidents and the sheer joy when they mysteriously stop once and for all. Compared to those kinds of housebreaking duties, potty training a kitten is so remarkably simple, it’s almost laughable.
In all seriousness, there are many kittens who are potty trained the instant they are introduced to their appropriate toileting area. Bam. Just like that. Not a single accident inside the house, and your world becomes easy living and odor-free—as long as you stay on top of cleaning the litter box.
Because of these naturally intuitive kittens, cats have developed a reputation for being so simple to housebreak that you barely need to call it “housebreaking.” But, of course, your little fluffball didn’t get the memo before he left his littermates. And for the third morning in a row since his welcome into your home, you wake up to the smell of cat pee—without the slightest clue where the accident took place.
Believe it or not, despite all the fantastic rumors about how easy it is to potty train a kitten, most little bundles of fur require more than just a little help. In fact, they may need “stages” of help more than once in their lives. During the cute and cuddly kitten stage (8 to 21 weeks), you should introduce your new kitten to the litter box almost immediately upon entering the home. He’ll be a cacophony of human emotions: scared, silly, excited, nervous, fatigued, and probably even a little hungry. A stressed-out animal burns a lot of fuel, especially when they’re small.
After introducing him to the home and the litter box, consider offering him a small snack—unless it’s close to dinner time, in which case, go ahead and feed him.
After his snack—assuming he knows the script and decides to eat—show him the litter box again. Encourage him to stay in there for a few moments, long enough for it to be an opportunity but not a punishment. If you’re lucky enough to witness a dribble or spatter, reward him lavishly and praise him like he just won the Powerball.
If he doesn’t follow the plan and decides instead to explore, let him roam for five or ten minutes—then bring him back to the litter box.
When the Litter Box Isn’t Love at First Sight
For some cats, that’s all it takes. From that moment forward, they will dutifully use the litter box, and you can breathe a huge sigh of potty relief.
But of course, this isn’t your cat.
Your cat is the one who steps out of the litter box, walks halfway across the room, and then decides that’s the perfect spot to pee. You will probably gaze at him in confusion—momentarily forgetting that you’re supposed to scoop him up with a sharp hiss, plop him back into the litter box, and follow up with gooey-sweet words of encouragement.
You and your feline, Kato, might need to repeat this process several times during his first few hours in your home. By the eighth attempt, your expression will have shifted from confusion to disbelief to sheer frustration. You may even start to believe you brought home a defective kitty.
And the following two days won’t help. He insists on going everywhere except the litter box. So, you adapt.
Even with your big human hands helping, some kittens are intimidated by the overwhelming size of the litter box—it is, after all, sized for an adult cat. Try placing a cardboard wall halfway back to create a smaller “pee space.” Trim down the edges so your tiny bundle of urinary drama can step in and out without climbing his own personal Mount Everest just to pee. If it were that much work for us, we’d probably only hit the toilet on good days, too.
As your kitten grows, he’ll need a more substantial litter box. But for the first few months, smaller really is better.
Many first-time cat owners are under the impression that kittens (and cats) don’t respond to praise or the word “no.” While they may not be as eager to please as dogs, cats do respond to rewards and owner-driven correction. Sometimes, a sharp hiss is all it takes. But just like with dogs, timing is everything. You must catch your kitten in the act—otherwise, it’s too late. Even a moment after the incident is considered ineffective.
If you hiss or correct your kitten too late, he’ll just assume you randomly go around hissing at people—which, as far as he’s concerned, is a pretty unattractive and unpredictable trait.
Whatever you do to help improve your kitten’s bathroom behavior, never smack, hit, or physically punish him. He doesn’t understand violence—and, let’s be honest—you’re smarter than your fists.
Most kittens figure it out within a week or two. However, around the time they reach sexual maturity, they may forget what they previously learned and require a refresher course. In many ways, sexually mature kittens are like teenage boys: full of attitude, in need of reminders, and not quite as housebroken as you’d hope. A quick castration visit to the vet not only prevents unwanted kittens from contributing to the overpopulation problem—it also helps mellow out their mood.
Afterward, cats usually return to the sweet, social, well-behaved kitties we were just starting to get used to.
Last but certainly not least, when potty training a kitten, you, the human, must stay in control and remain consistent. Frustration is the biggest threat to consistency. If you’re serious about teaching your new companion where the bathroom is, you’ll need to keep emotions in check and stay focused.
Once you and your kitten reach litter box enlightenment, you’ll join the ranks of proud pet parents who brag about how their cat was housebroken in an hour—with just one glorious trip to the litter box under your fabulously patient supervision.
