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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

How to teach kitten where litter box is

6 replies

TeddiesAreEverywhere · 09/06/2019 20:32

I’m getting a kitten in a couple of weeks, I would like to have the litter box in the bathroom, which is upstairs. When I first bring the kitten home he’s going to be in the living room which is downstairs. So how do I teach him where the litter box is? Should I have it nearby to begin with and gradually move it? Or is there another way? Thanks!

OP posts:

Mrselder · 09/06/2019 20:34

I'd initially keep the litter tray near the kitten. Their bladders are tiny and they will not make it upstairs, nor will they remember where it is. As they get bigger you can move it further and further away from them.

Original poster

TeddiesAreEverywhere · 09/06/2019 21:02

Thanks, that’s what I thought, I’ll keep it near the kitten to begin with.

OP posts:

Dippypippy1980 · 09/06/2019 23:23

When my kitten was very small I had two litter trays, one upstairs and one downstairs. She adjusted brilliantly, only ever had one accident. But she couldn’t have made it upstairs in time😺

I popped her in each litter tray once and after that she knew exactly where to go.

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 10/06/2019 19:57

When ours arrived (kitten from a rescue litter), he came out of the transport box and had a look around (not shy). I gathered him up and put him down in the freshly made litter tray in our guest WC. And that was it, his mother had brought him up well - he new what the place was for and used it.
But there were no stairs for him to climb up.

viccat · 10/06/2019 20:07

By the time you get him home, he should be around 10 weeks old and by then they are pretty good at using the litter tray. However it's recommended a new cat or kitten is kept in one room of the house with all its essential belongings to be able to adjust to the new home without being overwhelmed having access to a whole house immediately.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 10/06/2019 20:08

I carried my kitten out to her litter tray periodically during her first 24 hours with us but I'm pretty sure she got the hang of it immediately - she never went when I took her but found it herself and used it ok. Only problem was she did try to use the rabbit's one once, but I pointed out that her own one didn't contain hay and as far as I know she never made the same mistake again!

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