Instructions
Find out what type of box and litter your cat has been using if it was litter box trained by a previous owner. Continuing to use the litter and box style that the cat is used to is the easiest way to get your pet acclimated to its new bathroom environment.
Place the box in an area that is easily visible and accessible to the cat, but make sure it is in a completely separate area from where the cat eats. Your cat may refuse to use the litter box if the box is too close to its food and water bowls. It is also best to put the box in an area that affords some privacy and is not near an appliance such as a washing machine that can make loud noises that may scare the cat away from successfully using the box.
Take the cat to the litter box at times when the cat is most likely to want to use it, such as after eating, playing or waking up from a nap. If the cat successfully uses the box, be generous with praise and treats so that the cat will understand that using the box is the right thing to do.
Leave behind a small amount of urine or feces when cleaning out the litter box so that the cat will be able to smell it and remember that the box is its designated bathroom area. Once the cat has begun using the litter box consistently, you can stop doing this and clean the box thoroughly.
Change the cat litter in the box on a weekly basis if you use non-clumping litter. For clumping litter, change it anytime you notice that the litter still smells even after all of the waste has been scooped out. Keeping the litter box clean is important because a cat will often refuse to use a very dirty box.
How to Train a Cat to Find the Litter Box
If you've just added a new cat to your family, one of the most important things you can do is teach your new pet to find and use its litter box. Failure to do so will result in a lot of cleanup of stains and unpleasant odors around the house as the cat goes to the bathroom wherever it pleases. A cat's natural instinct is to dig and cover its waste, so a litter box is a place where the cat will naturally want to go for this purpose.