How to Potty Train a Outside Kitten

When you finally decide the stray kitten that has been tugging on your heart strings needs to come into your house, potty training becomes a necessity. Inside kittens learn to use a litter box from watching their mothers and from instinct. Your outside kitten will need to be able to locate the litter box and feel comfortable using it whether he stays inside or goes back and forth outside. Once the kitten uses the litter box regularly, training him to urinate and defecate in the toilet takes only a few further steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Litter box and kitty litter
  • Treats, if necessary
  • Newspaper stack and/or non-slippery boxes
  • Duct or masking tape
  • Flushable litter
  • Metal bowl
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Instructions

  1. Litter Training

    • 1

      Put the litter box in a quiet area that is accessible to your kitten as she comes and goes. Avoid areas around appliances or places where she can be easily interrupted.

    • 2

      Show her where the box is located and place her on it the first time she comes into the house. If she gets out without doing her business, put her back in the box and wait until she scratches around and urinates or defecates.

    • 3

      Praise her and/or give her a treat when she uses the litter box.

    • 4

      Watch her closely, and anytime you see her start to hunt and sniff around inside the house, pick her up and put her on the box. The more often you are able to complete this task successfully, the more quickly she will learn where the box is located and how to use it.

    Toilet Training

    • 5

      Once she uses it comfortably on a regular basis, move your kitten's litter box into the bathroom.

    • 6

      Start shifting the box nearer to the toilet daily to get your kitten to become more accustomed to the smells and noises in the bathroom, and praise her when she uses the box correctly.

    • 7

      Begin gradually elevating the litter box once it is sitting next to the toilet. Placing the box on non-slippery boxes or newspapers will help your cat become more comfortable as his litter box rises. The experts at CatsofAustralia.com recommend not increasing the height more than five centimeters (about 4.5 inches) per day to allow your kitten to make adjustments.

    • 8

      Place the litter box on top of the toilet seat once the two are level, leaving the lid open and secured to the tank with tape (duct or masking tape seems to work best). If your kitten doesn't automatically jump up to use it, you may need to put him in the litter box several times until he uses it correctly. Taping the box to the toilet will keep it from slipping. Keep the litter box on the toilet until your kitten is comfortable using it every time.

    • 9

      Fill a metal bowl with flushable litter and place it in the toilet, making sure it fits snugly on all sides; remove the litter box. You may have to again place your cat on the litter bowl several times before he becomes comfortable and goes on his own.

    • 10

      Begin using less and less litter over time; cleaning the litter bowl on a daily basis and flushing the waste will keep smells to a minimum and keep your kitten comfortably using it.

    • 11

      Fill the bowl gradually with water once you have gotten to the point where there is no more litter inside the bowl. Clean the bowl as often as possible, and slowly adjust the height of the water to about 4 centimeters (3.5 inches). If your kitten stops using the litter bowl inside the toilet, go back to using the flushable litter and repeat the last few steps.

    • 12

      Remove the litter bowl entirely once your kitten is comfortably using it every time he needs to eliminate. She should now be willing to use the toilet every time. You, however, will have to remember to flush it for her regularly.