Adopting a new kitty is an extremely exciting experience. As most kittens are trained by their mothers to use litter boxes and cats already do have an instinctive need to bury their waste, learning to use a litter box when eliminating is usually not a huge concern for cat owners. 

However, some owners are not so lucky and still find themselves running after their kitty, cleaning up as they go potty all around the house. Well, fret not, because we are here to help with this guide!

1. Setting up

To encourage your cats to use the litter box:

• Use enough litter so that your cats can bury their waste properly. This complements their natural instincts and would encourage them to use the litter box more.
• Choose the right type of litter and ensure that the texture is not uncomfortable to step on. If you decide to get a scented litter, make sure that your cat likes the scent of the litter first.
• Have an extra litter box for the number of cats you have – if you have 1 cat, you should have 2 boxes; if you have 2 cats, you should have 3 boxes. This is because some finicky cats prefer to urinate in one box and defecate in another.

Additionally, if you have smaller-sized or senior cats, ensure that the sides of the litter box are not too high for them to cross. If you have a skittish cat, try to place the litter box in an area with less activity. We like to do our business in private and similarly, most of our cats like that too.  

2. Be patient and kind

Avoid punishing or scolding your cat while they are in the litter box at all cost! This would cause them to attach a negative connotation to the box and avoid it even more. Instead, praise and reward them with treats often when they use the box to eliminate. 

If accidents do happen, pick up their waste and place them in the box to show them that that is where the waste is supposed to go. You could also place their food and water near areas where accidents always happen to show them that this spot is not for toileting. 

3. Learn your cat’s schedule

While training a cat to use a litter box is usually easier than house-training a dog, paying extra attention to your feline friend at the beginning of the training would greatly speed up the process. 

Do try and observe your cats’ habits and place them in the box whenever you feel that they might need to go. It could be after meals or naps, and once you’ve done this a few times your fur buddy would be likely to pick up the habit of heading there on its own. 

4. Lead by example

If your furry friend is new to your house, it would definitely help to show them where the litter boxes are as soon as you bring them home. Put them in the box and let them dig around in the sand a little. If your kitty hasn’t learned to bury yet, you could also show them by burying their waste for them using your hands. Just remember to wash your hands thoroughly after!

Note: If you are pregnant, do ask someone else to handle the kitty potty training for you as it is unrecommended for expectant mothers to handle cat waste.

5. Keep the litter box clean

Cats are known to be clean and sometimes even a little fussy, so an unclean litter box would almost definitely result in disdain. Do scoop out the waste daily and clear out the entire litter box once a week to keep the box fresh and inviting to your kitties. 

Create the best litter experience for your cat

Source: @worldsbestcatlitter

Armed with all these tips, we are sure that your kitty would successfully learn to eliminate in the right place. As mentioned above, using the right litter is essential for you to succeed, and one such cat litter that you can consider introducing to your feline friend is World’s Best Cat Litter.

Featuring a quick-clumping formula, World’s Best Cat Litter is good for easy scooping, allowing you to keep your kitty’s litter box clean and mess-free while minimising dust and tracking, so that you and your cat can breathe easy. It is also flushable and septic-safe, which means less hassle for you as you can skip the trip to the trash!

Source: @worldsbestcatlitter

Unlike clay cat litter, World’s Best Cat Litter is also made with a patented process that compresses naturally-absorbant corn into concentrated granules that can trap odour deep inside the litter. Because it is made with corn, it is also lightweight and efficient, allowing you to use less and get more, save money, and give your back a break from carrying heavy litter boxes and packs. 

Made with sustainable materials and no added chemicals, it’s pet, people, and planet-friendly, and you can choose from 4 types of cat litter – whichever suits your kitty’s needs best!

From left to right: Clumping Formula, Multiple Cat Clumping, Lavender Scented Multiple Cat Clumping

Clumping Formula is most suitable for homes with one or two cats, while Multiple Cat Clumping is a powerful litter solution with even more odour control, ideal for households with many cats. If you have more than one cat, Lavender Scented Multiple Cat Clumping allows you to smell the flowers, not the litter box, with a 100% natural dust-free cat litter made with lavender oil for a fresh, floral fragrance.

From left to right: Zero Mess Original, Zero Mess Pine Scented, and Picky Cat

Alternatively, for less mess, Zero Mess Original comes with a special blend of super-absorbent plant fibres that quickly trap liquids in tight clumps, so that you don’t have to chisel and scrape the litter box any more. If you love a subtle, pleasantly natural scent on top of the fast and easy cleanup of Zero Mess Original, Zero Mess Pine Scented has an added blend of real pine ingredients.

Finally, if you’ve tried everything and your cat is still not going into the litter box, try Picky Cat, which features a multiple-cat-strength litter with added natural attractant to ensure that your kitten, newly-adopted cat, elderly cat, or fussy feline head into the box every time. 

To get your hands on World’s Best Cat Litter, @reinbiotech supplies them to a variety of retail stores all around Singapore. Simply contact them here to find out which store’s nearest to you!

All the best with your litter box adventures!

This article was written for Rein Biotech Services Pte Ltd.