The Litter Box
 
Cats are naturally very clean animals. Not only are they very fastidious about their grooming and cleanliness, but they are also very particular about their litter box activities.

Once trained, cats will generally use their litter box on a regular basis. Cats that exhibit a change in their litter box habits may actually have a serious health problem and a consultation with your veterinarian is advised.

Litter Training
Because cats are so particular about their surroundings and cleanliness, they are relatively easy to litter train. Most kittens are ready to begin litter training at about 3-4 weeks of age. If you are trying to train your cat to use a litter box, keep the following suggestions in mind:

• Keep the litter box in a private, quiet area and ensure that the kitten can easily use the box.

• Move the box near your kitten, or vice versa, when it looks like it is ready to urinate. This will also stimulate the kitten to urinate and defecate.

• Never rub your kitten's nose in its waste if it goes in the wrong spot. This is totally ineffective as a training tool and will make your cat fearful of you.

• Clean all inappropriate waste areas completely. Cats may regard these uncleaned areas as the proper place to urinate in the future.

• You may have to try different types of litter if your kitten seems unreceptive to your first choice.

• Be patient, and observant. You are establishing the habit of a lifetime.


Proper Care
Proper litter box maintenance benefits both you and your cat. Many cats will not use their litter box if it is too dirty or in a busy section of the house. They like their litter to be fresh and clean.  If you have multiple cats, make certain that the box is big enough for all of them to use. Some cats even prefer their own box, so be ready to provide more than one if necessary.