Q&A for How to Litter Train a Cat

Cats are amazingly clean creatures and most learn to use a tray by copying their mothers. When provided with the right tray, a familiar cat litter, and a nice quiet spot, most cats will start using the tray and not need training to do so.

Yes, you can train a cat to relieve themself in a human toilet. However, this is controversial and most cat behaviorists are against the idea because things can all too easily go wrong and stress the cat. If the cat becomes fearful of the toilet, they then will start to mess in the house...which no one wants.

Set up a litter tray in a quiet corner of the room where Kitty won't be disturbed. Don't use clumping cat litter. Start by popping some Kitty poop into the tray, to mark it as a toilet. Kitty will need to toilet on waking and shortly after eating, so pop them in the tray at these times. When they happen to use the tray, praise them softly.

It is a rare kitten that needs to be litter trained in the same way that puppies need to be potty trained. Most learn to use a tray at a very young age by copying their mother. This is a reflection of the cat's natural instinct to toilet in specific latrine areas in the wild. Provide a suitable latrine, and the cat will use it.