At first, it is desirable to be with the cat nearby to help her navigate freely in the new space. If this is not possible, the space must be limited in a certain way and provide all the conditions for food, water access, and of course, put the tray.

But in any case, the first day is the most important in the formation of further addiction. It will be much easier to accustom a cat to a tray if you put it immediately in a tray so that it gets used to it. After each awakening and feeding, it is also necessary to put her on the tray, further forming the emptying reflex at certain hours. After following all the actions on the first day, carefully controlling the situation, you can develop tactics for the following days. The very behavior of the kitten may suggest that he already needs to go to the toilet: he begins to scrub the floor and sniff places. It is important not to miss these moments: you need to help him find the right place, and the question "how to train a cat to the tray" will gradually excite you less and less.

A very important point in education is affection and praise for the cat's actions. It is worth stroking her, caressing her, saying kind words. And, calling her by name. Cats are very sensitive and remember that some actions can cause a positive reaction from the hostess. Most often, this can be an additional incentive.

To accustom a cat to a tray, you need to remember that these are very clean pets. They are very squeamish. They may not go to the same tray again, so it will be good if the place is cleaned and washed in a timely manner. Of course, this is not the best option for those situations when the cat is alone for a long time, and you cannot physically avoid the cleanliness problem.

If, nevertheless, the moment was missed, and the kitten managed to go to the wrong place, you should immediately draw his attention to this omission. Otherwise, then scolding does not make sense, he will simply forget about what happened. It is necessary to remove the result of his mistake with paper and take it to the tray, thereby showing where he should cope. It is not difficult to accustom a cat to a tray, the main thing is to spend a little time and patience on it.

The places that the kitten has marked under the toilet should be thoroughly washed and treated with specific substances. This can be lemon juice, vinegar diluted in water, or special products offered in a variety of pet stores.

If the cat has chosen the same place for the toilet, it is worth putting smelly objects for a while (a rag with a strong smell of perfume, cloves of garlic and onions, perfume soap).

If you periodically monitor the behavior of the pet, the cleanliness of the tray, then it will not be difficult to accustom the cat to the tray. Observation will help determine whether the cat likes the place and is comfortable there, whether there are annoying smells from the freshener or the smell of household products. All this can cause the cat to refuse to go to the tray in the place you have set. The use of filler plays an important role. It is worth observing whether the cat likes it or presents an inconvenience.

In the article I will tell you how to train a cat to a tray and analyze the main problems that arise during the training stage.

Taming a kitten to the tray is comparable to the troubles that arise with small children. Despite the complexity of the process, the result will not keep you waiting.

Adult cats are more difficult to teach to go to the tray:

1. Homeless. A street animal taken into a family already has personal experience and developed habits for visiting latrines.
2. Moving. New housing with unusual smells provokes defecation in the wrong place.

Do not panic and scold your pet. This behavior will have no effect. Remember the main thing: you can accustom to the tray at any age. It's not easy, but it's possible. Breathe deeply and be patient.

Any change in the usual environment is a stressful situation that can provoke a delay in the process of urination.

How to toilet train an adult cat

When training an adult animal, follow these guidelines:

1. Limit free space in the apartment. Do not give the cat a lot of freedom. Unfamiliar smells will trigger instincts to mark territory.
2. Take advantage of a full stomach that kicks off bowel movements or a bladder. Feed your pet and put him in the toilet after 20-30 minutes. Also suitable time after a long sleep.
3. Show an example. Gently scratch the litter in the tray with a cat's paw or demonstrate the action with your own fingers.
4. Use verbal and material rewards. Praise and pet the cat if the desired action is successfully completed. Give out a rewarding treat.
5. Do not remove excrement immediately after a bowel movement. Leave time for the animal to consolidate the olfactory connection.
6. In case of failure, put the tray in the wrong place. Once you get used to it, start slowly moving it towards the toilet.
7. Carefully remove marks in the wrong places. To eliminate unpleasant odors, use a solution of vinegar, vodka and ordinary water (equal proportions). Special aerosol sprays (api-san, antigadin, nature's miracle) or ammonia.
8. Use the napkin trick. If the pet has made a puddle, soak a dry, odorless cloth in the urine and place it in the tray. A familiar scent will help your cat adjust to the new location.
9. Seek help citrus. The skins of oranges and tangerines cause rejection in the cat family and discourage the desire for need on their favorite sofa.
10. Play clean. Cats are real cleaners, strictly separating the feeding and toilet areas. The feeder and drinker, put in place of the puddle, will clearly show the inviolability of the territory.

Take off your shoes during training. Unpleasant foot odor can attract a cat.

It is equally important to properly equip the place of the cat litter box and choose the necessary attributes.

How to choose a place in the apartment

Choosing the perfect location is the key to success:

1. Keep toilet access open. If you want to close the door because of an unpleasant smell, then make a special door for your pet for free access.
2. Avoid open areas. The animal is vulnerable during a bowel movement, so it chooses secluded corners hidden from prying eyes.
3. Keep clean. The mustachioed picky is sensitive to its appearance and will refuse unsanitary conditions.
4. Isolate noise factors. The sound of a washing machine or a loud drain can scare a cat that is preparing for a responsible task.

Never resort to violence. A cat that has passed the tray during the absence of the owner will not understand the instructive tirade upon return.

Doing so will encourage your pet to seek out more secluded nooks and crannies throughout the home.

Which tray and filler to choose for a kitten

A rich selection of trays allows you to cater to the tastes of any animal. When buying a future toilet, it is important to choose the option that suits a particular cat.

Pay attention to:

1. Dimensions. The large tray will provide free room for maneuvers.
2. Height. High sides minimize the impact area when buried, but are not suitable for kittens due to the difficulty of climbing.
3. The presence of a grid. It allows you to hide the filler and eliminate the dirt arising from it.
4. Unusual and multifunctional options. The toilet house is a modern design solution that creates a safe space for the cat.
5. Fallback option. Some cats prefer to separate their litter boxes according to need. It is also important to take into account the rest of the mustachioed tenants. Trays should be one more than animals.

The main disadvantages of toilet houses are the high price, large dimensions and difficulties in cleaning them.

• woody;
• paper,
• silica gel;
• mineral,
• corn.

When accustoming a street cat to a tray, use ordinary sand or earth. The animal will quickly draw an analogy with familiar conditions. For such purposes, a mineral or wood filler is suitable.

When choosing a filler, avoid:

1. dust that provokes allergic reactions;
2. adding perfumes that knock down cat marks;
3. clumping variants that can cause constipation in kittens if swallowed.

Do not use detergent when cleaning the tray. Rinse it under cold water, removing dirt with a toothbrush or melamine sponge.

Problems that arise in the process of accustoming

In some cases, when the pet stubbornly continues to walk past the tray, you should seriously think about the reason for this behavior:

1. The period of sexual hunting. Males actively mark their territory, trying to attract females. During estrus, the same rule applies to female representatives.
2. Health problems that interfere with normal urination: disorders of the urinary system (ICD, cystitis); sore joints in an elderly cat; rickets in kittens, which prevents climbing over high sides; neurological diseases causing urinary incontinence.
3. stressful situations. Any discomfort that affects the psychological level is fraught with unpleasant surprises. Moving, the appearance of new animals, repairs or the birth of a child are situations that are difficult for cats to perceive.
4. A cat from the street, used to shitting everywhere, it will be hard to get used to the tray.

It should be noted that all stories about cats shitting because of revenge on their owners are myths. Animals are deprived of such feelings as a thirst for revenge or resentment.

In conclusion, I will note a few tips:

1. Spay your pet if you do not plan to breed the breed. This will not only save him from many dangerous diseases, but also eliminate sexual hunting.
2. Do not use hormonal drugs. Such an attempt to get rid of cat marks will result in serious health problems.
3. For the period of repair work or other uncomfortable situations, use special soothing preparations. A diffuser with Feliway brand pheromones and stop-stress drops based on natural components are considered safe.
4. Don't be afraid to seek help from a veterinarian. If the pet is categorically against the tray, then take him to the reception. Perhaps the point is not in his stubbornness, but in the presence of an inflammatory process.

Treat animals with understanding and respect. The efforts you put in will definitely be successful.

I often hear from people that a street cat cannot be taken home. Firstly, it can be difficult to accustom a kitten to a tray, and an adult is generally impossible! Secondly, the street will always ask and rush into the street.
Perhaps he will remember the street for a while. But if you do not live in a studio apartment with a bunch of cats and feed the cat well, then there is no point in running outside - there is food, there is territory. Of course, it is also worth considering the features of character: affectionate - stroke, playful - play and you will be happy.
Of course, happiness is impossible if the animal "shits" where it wants.
Given: a one-year-old cat who has lived on the street since birth. I often saw him in the yard, including doing toilet chores, so when I taught him, I took into account his habits already known to me.
In addition, the cat had a broken pelvis, and after the operation, he wore a collar for 3 weeks, which made it much more difficult for him to get into the potty, take toilet positions, and sniff the tray.
On the street, the cat, for most of the year, relieved himself of small need, climbing onto the sow thistle "bush", apparently he liked this method because his paws are always dry. For other needs, he used sand.
Try number one
I brought home sand from places he knew and put it in a tray that my cats used to use, but it was lying around for a long time as a spare (of course it was washed). But the cat chose another place. I soaked a piece of cloth in his urine and put it in the tray. The next day, the rag was pulled out of the tray by the cat and wet things were done on it, and a whole stream flowed away from the rag :(
Second try
Since the cat needed to restrict its movements, a cage was built for the cat. The cat has moved into the cage. The cage contained: a stove bench, a bowl, a tray, and there was still some space left. I put disposable diapers on the floor of the cage.
I decided that I made a mistake by offering the cat an old someone else's tray and bought a new one, and with low sides to make it easier for him to climb. At the bottom of the tray she put a piece of diaper with the smell of his urine, and poured filler on top (wood and clay mixed). The cat again did not appreciate it and chose one of the corners of the cage as a toilet.
Third try
The cat had an operation and the first day I was almost all the time next to him, sleeping next to the cage. And the next few days rarely departed from him. Therefore, I had the opportunity to constantly monitor his behavior. The cat turned out to be a rare lively one and very soon began to get up, walk around and always went to do his business in the corner of the cage that he had chosen. I moved the tray there, he began to dig in another corner. In principle, it is easy to predict when the cat is going to the toilet, because during the day periods of activity are replaced by sleep. I caught the cat when he started to dig and put him in the tray. This usually happened in the morning, in the evening and closer to midnight.
Usually, when accustoming, it is advised to use the carrot and stick method, i.e. scold if the cat is caught red-handed and praise when things are done in the tray. At the first attempt to scold the cat, I saw that he was very frightened and then endured for a long time. Therefore, for him, I left only the gingerbread. He starts digging - I put him in a tray - he does business there - I praise and stroke.
Fourth run
Situation with constant supervision did not suit me. I again changed the tray to a larger size + a good grate (Vaka). My cats also go to these. I like these trays not only because of the good size, but also because they have a large distance from the bottom to the grid. At this distance, I pour silica gel, and on top of the grate, then what the kote can dig into. Under the bars, together with the filler, she again put a piece of a diaper with a smell. On top of the grate, I poured wood filler and put a bunch of hay.
The cat liked the hay very much, he furiously rummaged through it, said to me inquiringly: "Mrya-mrya?" I answered him: "Do it, do it" :)
This is how we used to feed in the morning, after a while "Mrya-mrya?" - "Do-do" and the cat did in the tray. In the evening and at night the same story.
At first, the collar greatly interfered with him, but he went to his tray (a couple of times there was embarrassment - the cat was in the tray with its front paws, and the butt was outside). Once the collar was removed, he no longer missed.
When I removed the cage, I left the tray in its original place. The cat turned out to be clean, when the silica gel got dirty, he began to talk too much and showed me his displeasure with his whole appearance, replacing the filler immediately removed the problem. Often cats go to the toilet in a small way, and then immediately in a big way, and so he did not like to go to the freshly described tray. I solved this issue by installing a second tray of the same type. After that, there was not a single slip or discontent. It took me about a month to permanently train the cat, but we need to understand that we were greatly hindered by his injury. Over time, I gradually removed the hay (somewhere else after 2 weeks) and began to pour one handful of wood filler.

So what do I recommend:
1. For the first week, limit the cat, for example, to one room (or kitchen, loggia). It is desirable that there is no upholstered furniture in the room, which the cat can choose as a toilet. So it will be easier for the cat to get used to it (especially if there are other animals) and you will clean up less.
2. Take a new tray with a good, stable grate (or without it) and pour in a few handfuls of what you can dig in so that you can actually dig a hole and bury it later. For example, clay filler or not too large wood pellets. If the kote is from the street, then add hay or sand there. Sand is not the best option, because. what you can’t bring from the street with him, but for the first time for accustoming, it’s worth a try. This is a very important step, because a good tray with enough filler can immediately please the cat and you just have to go to step number 7.
3. If the cat has already gone to some place in the room to the toilet, then soak a piece of napkin in his urine, put it in the tray (instead of moistened pieces of napkin, it is quite possible to use a spray-training). Wash the place of embarrassment with vinegar and put the tray in this place.
4. In the morning, after feeding, we watch the cat, catch the moment of searching for the toilet and put it on the potty. While you are away during the day, the cat will most likely sleep, and in the evening you will be able to catch him again.
5. As soon as we see that the kote has done things in the tray, be sure to praise.
6. If the cat is steadily pissing in the tray, but in a big way goes somewhere, then get another tray.
7. If you want to change the filler or remove it altogether, then do it gradually. If you want to change the location of the tray, then gradually move it to the desired location.

Having taken responsibility and brought home a kitten or an adult cat from the street, you need to be prepared for the fact that in addition to establishing contact with an animal that does not trust its new owner, you also need to teach the pet basic skills, for example, accustom to the tray.

This will require a huge supply of patience and time, because street cats have their own established habits, which can be difficult to overcome.

Potty training a street cat

It is necessary to take into account the habits of street cats, namely that they relieve their needs in the ground or sand, and then bury their excrement. Knowing this, you can try to pour sand into a large tray, which may attract the animal. In order for the animal to understand what the sand tray is intended for, scraps of newspaper or toilet paper soaked in cat urine should be placed on top of the sand. You can try to put hay in the box, some street cats go to the toilet at first only for hay.

Places that the animal considers the most suitable for peeing needs to be treated with repellent sprays or washed thoroughly with an odor neutralizing agent so that the pet cannot smell its urine. In case of failure, you can put a bowl of food in the marked places or spray the place with valerian, cats do not like to spoil where they eat.

After eating or sleeping, you can try to close the cat in a room where there is a tray, usually such a place is a toilet, or in another confined space, such as a cage. The cage should be spacious so that a tray can be placed inside, while the pet could relieve himself calmly, without constraining movements. To litter train a street cat, use a new box with low sides, large enough for the animal to bury the feces in the sand.

It is necessary to monitor the behavior of the pet. If there are signs that indicate the desire of the pet to relieve himself, then you need to immediately pick up the animal and transfer it to the tray.

From the moment when a street cat starts walking in a sand tray, you need to wait a while until the animal takes it into a habit. Then gradually, in small portions, mix the filler into the sand. As a result, the sand needs to be completely replaced with toilet filler, but there is no need to rush. The filler is better to choose woody and odorless. If you plan to accustom a street cat to a tray without filler, then at the first stages of accustoming the filler (special or sand) is poured under the grate and a small amount on the grate, and only then gradually removed, reduce the amount of filler, getting rid of it completely.

If the pet began to go to the tray only “in a small way”, then it is advisable to purchase another box. Usually, meowing pets start doing their “big” things in another box.

Gradually, the litter box should be moved to another place towards a permanent toilet. The animal should not notice a strong difference in the change in the position of the tray.

It can take a month or more to train a street cat to use the litter box. The main thing is to be patient and praise the pet for the correct behavior. Some animals quickly understand what is required of them if there is already a house-trained cat in the house.

Cats are naturally very clean. But a small kitten, especially if it is separated from its mother, will not always be able to learn to relieve itself in the “right place”. Learn how to potty train a kitten as quickly as possible. After all, if you do not engage in raising a pet, unexpected "surprises" can wait for the owners in a variety of places.

Does age matter?

Kittens are the same children. Like any baby, a kitten learns everything gradually from its mother. A mother cat living in an apartment can eventually teach her own by spraying to go to the tray. But when the pet is taken away from the parent, the owners will have to deal with its upbringing.

Age matters. It is best to take a kitten when he is already 3 months old then it will be easier to teach him. By this period, the animal already understands the hierarchy of the surrounding creatures and is ready to obey those whom it considers stronger than itself.

The gender of the kitten is not important, and the kitty and the cat will master the task quickly if they do it right.

Kitten in the house, where to start?

Potty training starts with three main tasks:

• Tray selection.
• Filler selection.
• The choice of the place where the "toilet" will stand.

Let's consider all these points in detail.

How to choose a tray

The opinion that a small kitten needs a small tray is wrong. These animals grow very fast.

It will be more practical to immediately take a container of full size. The stronger the plastic of the product, the better.

Trays can be with or without gratings. The lattice is put on over a filler and allows the pet not to wet paws. The device is convenient, but there is also a minus - obeying its instinct to dig in feces, the kitten will constantly cling to the plastic grate with its claws and may even damage them. The practice of "cat breeders" shows that it is better not to use the grid, but just take a good filler that immediately absorbs moisture.

If the cat experiences pain, it will not be possible to accustom him to the grate.

The shape of the container does not matter (there are oval, square, angular), you can accustom it to anyone. A protective rim that is put on top of the tray will be useful - it will not allow the filler to crumble when your pet is diligently cleaning up after itself.

Important! Picking up a tray for a kitten is necessary even before a new family member appears in the house. If the purchase of an animal occurred unexpectedly, it is worth buying everything you need on the same day.

What kind of filler to take

Cat litters are:

• woody.
• Clay.
• Based on paper and grain waste.
• Mineral.
• Silica gel.

Silica gel filler is considered the highest quality, followed by wood filler. They perfectly absorb moisture and block an unpleasant smell. Mineral and clay, when wet, stain the paws of cats. "Toilets" based on paper and grain waste are also considered good.

It is much easier to accustom a baby to a tray when the container is not empty, and the smell of waste remains in the filler. Do not take deodorized fillers, cats do not like them.

Where to put the tray to quickly train a kitten?

There are two important rules for choosing a place where the pot will stand:

• It should be located away from the area where the animal will eat.
• Nothing should prevent the cat on the way to the tray.

Do not place the container in a closet with hard-to-close doors. The baby may not have enough strength to open such a door and he will do his job anywhere. At least for the first time, it is recommended to find a place on the way to which the "fluffy lump" will not have any barriers.

It is worth choosing an area where it is calm enough for the kitten to feel comfortable during “important things”. If you constantly rearrange the pot, it will be much more difficult to accustom.

The process of accustoming a kitten to a tray

When everything is ready, it's time to start the learning process. This should be done as soon as the kitten appeared in the house. Let him sniff around, get used to it a little and after a while get down to business.

Stage one - getting to know

To accustom a small kitten to a tray, it must first be introduced to the "place". The baby should be carefully planted in a container, let him sniff it. It is worth taking the paw of the animal and digging: so, the pet at the level of instinct can figure out that this is “the very place”.

Stage two - observe and help

From the first time, a small kitten may not understand where to defecate or not remember the place. But by the behavior of the animal you can always understand when it is preparing to relieve itself. The first day you will have to closely monitor your pet. As soon as you notice that the kitten began to fuss, dig in some place (sometimes even just on the bare floor), spin, meow - he is getting ready for the “case”. Quickly transfer it to the tray and do not let it get out of it.

The main rule - you can not use force(beat, push, poke the kitten) and raise your voice. This can cause fear in the animal. Henceforth, he will associate it with the tray and will become afraid to approach him.

If everything went well and the baby did what was needed, stroke him and say kind words. Approval will help train the kitten to go to the tray. Do not immediately remove the stool, let the kitten remember the place by smell.

Stage three - fixing

Even if the cat is already going to the tray, he can still put a "surprise" in a different place. For this, you can already scold your pet, but not much. The “bunch” should be transferred to the filler and the kitten should be transferred to the tray. If it is a puddle, blot it with a napkin and also leave it for a while in the tray.

To prevent the problem from recurring, the places where the pet crap must be thoroughly disinfected.

On average, if everything is done correctly, animals get used to the toilet in 2-3 days.

What not to do:

• beat the kitten
• to be locked in a room as a punishment;
• in punishment to deprive him of food and drink.

Possible difficulties

Cats have a wayward character and not always everything goes well. It happens that all conditions are created for a little bully, but he still behaves outrageously and it is not possible to teach him. Let's look at the most common problems.

Kitten ignores the tray, how to train?

If the kitten does not go to the tray despite the fact that you follow all the recommendations in trying to accustom him, he may be uncomfortable in this place or do not like the litter. Try moving the container to another room or change the contents. See if there are smells nearby that scare away cats (they cannot stand any strong smells, especially citrus).

It is impossible to have automatic air fresheners and other sources of aromas that are pleasant to you, but terrible for cats near the litter box.

Sometimes a kitten crap where small children were pissed (on the carpet, sofa, bed). Don't blame him, he just acts according to his instincts, guided by the smell. In this case, it is necessary to clean the “marked” place well, otherwise it will be much more difficult to potty train.

Aim failure

It also happens that the kitten goes to the toilet past the tray.

There may be several reasons for this:

• The sides of the container are too high and it is difficult for him to climb over them.
• The pet is still very small and poorly oriented within the boundaries of space.
• He understands that this is a toilet and he must walk here, but he does not like the filler.

Analyze which of the reasons seems most likely to you. Perhaps you should change the container, its contents, or just wait until the baby grows up a little and will better understand where the boundaries of his toilet end.

How to toilet train a kitten

What could be better when a cat goes to the toilet by itself? No need to buy fillers, change them, wash the pots. Toilet training a kitten is not an easy process.. While the pet is small, he will not be able to jump to such a height on his own, and there is no point in putting him there by force - you will not achieve anything but fear from the animal.

It is worth starting the process when the cat is 5-6 months old. They do it this way:

• Move the tray to the bathroom and place it next to the toilet.
• When the cat is comfortable and will calmly go to the toilet in a new place, start gradually raising the container. You can put newspapers (magazines, old books) or something else under it. Once a week, increase the height of the container by a few centimeters.
• Having thus brought the container to the level of the toilet, start leaving it, for example, at night, right on top: flip the lid with the toilet seat and place the tray in the space. By this time, your pet should be able to easily climb onto the raised potty.
• When the cat will calmly walk into the container on the toilet, do this: hide the tray for the night, throw a small part of the filler into the toilet. In the morning, you can return the tray and leave it next to you for the day. Do this at night first. When you see that the cat is sitting quietly on the toilet, do not return the tray again.

There are special toilet nozzles for cats. They are sold in pet stores. You can easily remove the device when you go to the toilet and put it on again later. At first, you can pour a little filler into such a nozzle so that the cat is guided by the smell. Also, the nozzle closes the water in the toilet, which can scare the cat.

The most important thing is to do everything right, step by step, without scaring the animal. This will require patience and, perhaps, 1-2 months of time.

Advice! If you brought a kitten into the house, treat him as an equal member of the family. Animals feel the emotions of people, and the more love they receive, the more they obey.

• Pet stores serve special aerosols that discourage cats from pooping in a certain space. They process those areas where the animal often spoils in order to accustom it to one place.
• Ammonia or acetic acid will help neutralize the smell of cat feces.
• Large flower pots filled with earth are an attractive place for cats to urinate. If there are such flowerpots in the house, sprinkle the top layer of earth with small pebbles - this will not harm the flowers, and will protect them from “fertilizers”.
• Keep the container clean, the cat will not go where it is very dirty.
• If the house or apartment is large, it makes sense to put two pots in different parts of the space and accustom to each.

Finally

If everything is done with love and patience, then it is quite possible to quickly accustom a kitten to a tray. The most important thing is to show maximum attention in the first days. Stories that cats shit because of revenge on their owners are myths. Animals are devoid of such feelings as a thirst for revenge or deep resentment. They may go to the wrong places just out of fear or attracted by the smell. Provide your pet with comfortable conditions and he will quickly become accustomed to the tray.