Litter Training a Kitten or Cat: A Step-by-Step Guide

Good news: most cats instinctively dig and bury their waste in loose material, and kittens usually learn by watching their mother. Litter training is mostly about making the right choice easy — and the wrong one unattractive.

Set up the box correctly

Most litter problems are really set-up problems.

• Size: the box should be about 1.5 times your cat's length (nose to base of tail). Most commercial boxes are too small for adult cats; a large storage box with a cut-down entrance works well.
• Sides: low entry for kittens, seniors and cats with arthritis.
• Covered or open: most cats prefer open boxes, which don't trap odors. If you use a covered box, keep it extra clean.
• Number: one box per cat, plus one extra.

Choose the right litter

• Unscented clumping litter with a fine, sand-like texture is preferred by most cats.
• Start with the litter the cat already knows. Change gradually by mixing in the new litter over a week or so.
• Fill to about 5 cm (2 inches) — enough to dig, not so much that it's unstable.

Compare types in our cat litter buying guide.

Location matters

• Quiet, private and easy to reach — not next to a noisy washing machine or in a busy hallway.
• Away from food and water. Cats don't eliminate where they eat.
• Not in a dead end where another pet could ambush them.
• One on each floor in a multi-level home.
• Don't move it once your cat is using it reliably.

Step-by-step training

1. Show the box on arrival. Put your cat or kitten gently into the box when you first arrive in the safe room, and let them sniff and dig.
2. Use it after key moments. Place kittens in the box after meals, after waking up and after play — the times they're most likely to need to go.
3. Reward success. A quiet word or a treat after they use it.
4. Keep it clean. Scoop at least once a day, ideally twice. Many cats refuse a dirty box.
5. Confine a kitten to a smaller area with the box nearby until they're reliable. Tiny kittens can't hold on long enough to cross a big house.

When accidents happen

• Never punish. Rubbing a cat's nose in it or shouting teaches them to fear you and to hide their mess — not to use the box.
• Clean with an enzymatic cleaner. Ammonia-based cleaners smell like urine to cats and attract them back.
• Make the spot less attractive temporarily: put a food bowl there, cover it with foil or place a second litter box on the spot.
• Ask why. Is the box too small, too dirty, in the wrong place? Did something scare the cat while using it?

When to see the vet

Litter box problems are often the first sign of a medical issue. See your vet if your cat:

• strains, goes frequently, or passes only small amounts of urine
• has blood in the urine
• cries while urinating
• suddenly stops using the box after being reliable

For long-standing problems, read spraying and peeing outside the box.