About House Training Cats

"Housetraining a cat" contains an oxymoron---a term that contradicts itself. Most cats look for the litter box first when they explore a new home and kittens just adore you when you plop them in a nice clean litter box after dinner. A cat's natural tendency is to eliminate where she can cover it and cats maintain a separation between dining areas and elimination areas. These habits are hereditary and the intelligent cat owner uses them to his---and his cat's---advantage.

  1. History of

    • The cat has a long and storied history as a companion animal from the royal pets of the Egyptians, worshiped as deities to the humble mousers of colonial America, reviled as the "familiars" of witches. Throughout history, the cat has served humankind to control the population of vermin that tend to flourish around human habitation. If people hadn't considered cats evil agents and slaughtered them by the thousands, the rats that traveled all over Asia and Europe with traders might have been more easily controlled and the Black Plague might not have spread so quickly during the middle ages. Because of the cat's self-sufficiency, he is often considered aloof, a trait that has tended to set him apart as a god or demon through much of history.

    Misconceptions

    • We humans like our pets to adore us and be dependent. Most cats, however, do not need to be trained to use a litter box. Their instincts point them toward one. A cat that won't use a litter box most probably has health problems or, worse, disapproves of your housekeeping habits. Rubbing a cat's nose in an "accident" will not "teach" her to use the box. Force simply does not work with a cat. The only way to bend a cat to your will is to make what you want her to do the least inconvenient option.

    The Facts

    • Arrange your cat's world so it's easy for her to do the right thing. Placing the litter box in a secluded place and keeping it clean should be all it takes to housetrain most cats. Neutering cats makes them less likely to "mark territory." Take your kitten to her box after meals and first thing in the morning. Tell her how good she is when she uses the box and be patient while she scratches litter all over for what seems like forever.

    Risk Factors

    • A cat that refuses to use a litter box is not being willful. Having enough clean litter boxes in out-of-the-way places can eliminate one variable but if the accidents persist, the cat should be checked by your veterinarian for a variety of health problems that may range from minor to fatal. Feline Urinary Syndrome, a disease that was once a fatal infection, now can be treated with medication if caught early, or with surgery if caught in time.

    Expert Insight

    • Cats have been companion animals for thousands of years because they are low-maintenance pets but they acclimate slowly. Give your new cat a chance to explore and settle in. If he looks in closets and extra bathrooms, consider these locations for his box. Kittens, on the other hand, need coddling and positive rewards just like human babies. Give them the best start by giving them a smaller pan with lower sides and clean it daily.