Question

My kitten can’t seem to learn to use the litter box. What should I do?

Answer

Most kittens are born with the instinct to use the litter box and will do it without training, but there is the occasional exception. If your kitten just won’t use the box, maybe it’s his way of telling you about a medical problem like a urinary tract infection. A trip to the veterinarian will ensure that your little guy is healthy and that he’s resisting the litter box for some other reason.

If your kitten has a clean bill of health, you can check to see if the box is appropriate for him. Young kittens may be too small to climb over the sides of a full-sized litter box easily. Using an old cake pan as a box may help. Also, since it’s harder for kittens to move around, make sure there is at least one box on every floor of your house--ideally, you should have one in every room your kitty spends time in, until he gets a little older.

Make a point of showing the kitten where the boxes are; set him right inside them so he can dig around in the litter. Often the texture of the litter itself will stimulate cats to relieve themselves in it. If you have the opportunity, you also could have your kitty spend some time with a (kitten-friendly) older cat in your home. Kittens can learn well from example.