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Welcome to our Website |
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VETERINARY M E D I C A L C E N T R E
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■ 168 Victoria Avenue, Remuera, Auckland ■ Phone 529 2091 ■ Fax 529 2086 |
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F E L I N E B E H A V I O U R
Toilet
training Kittens and Cats
Cats
have a quite different social structure from pups and from a practical point
of view the most important aspect to new owners is toilet training. Initially
this obviously involves use of a litter box Training new kittens is similar
to retraining older cats that have broken down in their house training except
that new kittens need to taken to the tray frequently-every hour is not too
much if you have the time. Especially important are the times after waking up
and feeding. If they are already used to one kind of litter try and stick to
that litter especially initially.
We
will cover kittens and cats together.
The
most common reason a cat or kitten will not use its litter box are because
the litter box is dirty - from the cat's viewpoint, not yours. Cats often
react to any type of stress by suddenly urinating or defecating outside the
litter box. The stress may be caused by a new cat in the neighborhood; too
many cats in the house; your going away on vacation or a new piece of
furniture. Urinary tract problems also cause cats to urinate in places other
than the litter box. Any sudden change in well established elimination habits
should be discussed with us as there may be a physical basis behind it.
Prevent
House Soiling
Until your cat is reliably house trained,
she should not have free run of your home. If your kitten/cat continually
makes mistakes, the behavior can simply become a habit. Punishing a cat after
the fact teaches her to be afraid of you. Scolding and then taking them to
their litter box after she has already eliminated teaches her to associate
the litter box with punishment. Basically, punishment doesn't work with cats:
prevention and praise for getting it right are the keys to training.
When you leave the house for any length of time, your cat should be confined to
a single room, preferably one with non-porous floors, such as a kitchen,
bathroom, or garage. Provide your cat with a bowl of water and a warm place
to sleep at one end of the room and a freshly cleaned litter box at the other
end. Until the house soiling has been cured, your cat should have a regular
feeding schedule so she will develop a corresponding elimination schedule.
The
Litter Box
Your cat does not simply need a litter box - she needs a clean litter box with fresh litter. Your cat will be inhibited from using her litter box if it smells of urine. Think about it from the cat's viewpoint. When she soils your dining room carpet, the area is immediately and thoroughly cleaned. By the way be very careful about what you clean. Given the choice between a regularly cleaned place and a litter box that gets changed only once or twice a week, your cat will naturally prefer the carpet.
The
litter box must be cleaned daily at least (more often with 2 cats/kittens).
If you use standard litter it must all be thrown out so we recommend the
clumping litter and we carry a few types. These are great as you only need to
scoop out the solids and the urine forms little “stones” that you scoop out
minimizing waste and smell. Some cats prefer one type over another. Housetraining
Success: Reward for Using the Litter Box
In order to reward your kitten/cat for
eliminating in her litter box, you must be there at the time she eliminates.
You need to have some idea of when your cat urinates and defecates. Most
cats, especially kittens, will eliminate shortly after waking; after eating;
and after exercise.
If you have the time the following regime or something similar it will improve success. It will not be necessary for most cats but when there are problems is well worth a try.
Before feeding your cat, spend ten to fifteen minutes playing with them. Then put down the food, allow her fifteen minutes to eat and then clear up any leftovers. After your cat has eaten, it is time for another gentle play session. Call her to her litter box from a variety of places around your house, especially areas where she has soiled. When your cat gets to the box, scratch the litter to get her interested. Similarly, throughout the day, whenever your cat has been asleep for over two hours, wake her up and call her to the litter box. Encourage your cat to hop into the litter box, praise her when she does so. Even if she does not eliminate, she is learning that the litter box is a great, CLEAN place to be. This is especially important for cats that are now avoiding the litter box because they assume it is always dirty or because they associate it with being punished. If your cat does eliminate, praise her in a gentle voice. Once she has finished, gently stroke her, give her a treat and take the time to tell her how pleased you are with her behaviour.
Remember
the golden rule of training –behaviour rewarded is behaviour repeated!!!
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Disclaimer: This is not advice. Clients should not act solely on the basis of the material contained in this Website. Items herein are general comments only and do not constitute or convey advice per se. We therefore recommend that our formal advice be sought before acting in any of the areas. This Website is a helpful guide to clients and for their private information. |