How to Train Your Cat to Use the Toilet

Most cats are taught by their mothers to use a litter box, but newly adopted stray cats often don't have this knowledge. Even well-trained cats may occasionally 'forget' and relieve themselves in unwanted places. This could happen due to illness or simply because they prefer doing so. Whether you're teaching a newly adopted cat to use the litter box or re-training one, the following tips will help you establish this good habit.

Opt for a larger litter box. One common reason cats avoid using the litter box is that it's too small. This is especially important if your cat is still growing; a box that fits perfectly now may soon feel cramped. When buying a litter box, choose a larger size. This will make the cat feel more comfortable and spacious, thinking there’s plenty of room for both waste and urine.

• If your cat is young or elderly, consider a box with low sides to make it easier for them to get in and out.

Choose between an open or covered litter box. Both types have their own pros and cons. Some cats prefer one over the other, while others may feel differently. You can try both options to see which one your cat prefers.

• The biggest advantage of a covered litter box is the privacy it provides, which many cats enjoy. It also prevents dogs from eating the litter, which can be a concern in some households.
• However, a covered box can trap odors inside, making it less pleasant for your cat to use.
• Large cats may find it difficult to turn around or dig properly inside a covered box.

Get at least two litter boxes. If you have enough space at home, it’s a good idea to buy two or three litter boxes. This is especially important if you have multiple cats or are training a kitten to use the box. Some experts recommend having one litter box per cat, plus one extra for backup, placed around the house.

Find the right location for the litter box. Cats have a natural instinct to bury their waste, but if they can’t access the litter box, they’ll find another spot to go. Choosing the right location can prevent this issue, but there are a few things to consider when placing the litter box.

• The location should be easily accessible. Cats don’t want to have to walk far when they urgently need to relieve themselves. Choose a spot where they can reach the box quickly when needed.
• Don’t place the litter box near their food and water. Cats tend to consider their eating area as their personal space, so they naturally avoid doing their business near it. Putting the litter box too close to their eating area may make them uncomfortable and lead them to eliminate outside the box.
• Provide a quiet space for the litter box. Most cats prefer to relieve themselves in quiet, secluded areas. If you place the box in a noisy or busy area like a laundry room or a family room, your cat may refuse to use it. Try to place the box in a calm, low-traffic area that is still easy to find.

Choose the right type of litter. Cats generally prefer granular litter as it’s comfortable to walk on and easy to cover their waste with. It also makes cleaning the litter box much easier.

• Some cats prefer unscented litter. The Humane Society advises against using scented or deodorized litter as it may cause allergic reactions or irritation in cats.

Use the right amount of litter. If you add too much litter, it can create a messy situation, as the litter might spill outside after the cat digs to cover its waste. On the other hand, if there’s not enough litter, your cat might feel like it can’t bury its waste properly and will go outside the box. Also, having too little litter can cause odors, making cleaning more difficult.

• Some experts recommend filling the box with about 5 cm of litter. Others suggest a depth of 10 cm to allow your cat to dig and cover waste more freely.
• Start with 5 cm, and if your cat seems uncomfortable, you can increase it to 10 cm.

Keep the litter box clean. If you have a kitten or a cat that’s still learning to use the litter box, it’s okay to leave a small amount of waste in the box for the first few weeks as a reminder. However, once your cat is trained, the box should be cleaned regularly. In fact, leaving waste behind is one of the most common reasons cats start going outside the box.

• It's important to clean the litter box daily. Some experts recommend cleaning it every two days to ensure it stays fresh.
• Wash the box once a week with warm water and a mild soap. Avoid using strong cleaning chemicals, as residue can remain on the box and create unpleasant odors that may deter your cat from using it.
• After washing and drying the litter box, refill it with fresh litter to the appropriate level (between 5 and 10 cm, depending on your cat’s preference).

Understand your cat’s schedule. Cats usually go to the bathroom after a nap, playing, or running around, or right after a meal. Knowing your cat’s natural bathroom routine will help you identify when it’s time for them to use the litter box, allowing you to guide them there instead of letting them go on your couch.

Play near the litter box. Since cats often feel the urge to relieve themselves after playing or running around, you can encourage them by playing near the litter box. This will help trigger the need to use it, and you can guide them there (or place them in the box).

• If the litter box is in a room with a window, be sure to close the door and stay in the room with your cat. Bring some toys and let them play until they feel the urge to use the litter box.

Teach your cat what to do. If your cat hasn't learned how to use the litter box from its mother, you will need to guide it. This doesn’t mean you have to go to the box yourself, but rather you should place the cat in the box just before it needs to go and show it how to dig in the litter.

• Use your finger to move the litter around until the cat understands the motion. If the cat uses the box but doesn’t cover the waste, you should use your finger to cover the waste. This step may take some time, but the cat will eventually understand that it should follow this example.
• When demonstrating how to dig and bury the waste, use your finger, not the cat's paw. If you try to grab their paw and “teach” them by physically moving it, the cat may become scared or uncomfortable, which could lead to a negative association with the litter box. Be patient, and trust that your cat will learn to use the litter box properly.

Do not scold your cat. It’s important to remember that your cat is not deliberately misbehaving. The issue may be due to illness or discomfort from the litter or box itself. Scolding only makes the cat fearful of you and does not resolve the problem.

Dispose of waste in the right place. If your cat goes outside the box, instead of simply throwing the waste away, you should pick it up with a tissue and place it in the litter box. This serves as a reminder for the cat, as it will smell the waste and connect the behavior of going to the bathroom with entering the litter box.

Thoroughly clean up any waste outside the box. If your cat uses the bathroom outside the box, on the floor, carpet, or furniture, you must clean the area thoroughly to prevent future accidents. Once the cat detects the scent of waste, it’s likely to return to that spot.

• Use an enzymatic cleaner to clean carpets and furniture. This type of cleaner eliminates odors and reduces the likelihood of your cat using that spot again in the future.
• If the cat continues to go in sensitive areas, keep the door closed so they can't access the room. You can also place deterrents on the floor in these areas, such as aluminum foil or upside-down mats.

Move food and water bowls to the problem area. If your cat keeps using the same spot outside the litter box, you can try moving its food and water bowls to that location. Cats instinctively avoid soiling near their eating and drinking areas, so this should encourage them to stop using that spot as a bathroom.

Temporarily confine your cat. If the issue persists and your cat continues to go outside the litter box, consider confining it. This should be a last resort, to be used only after all other solutions have failed.

• Choose a suitable room where your cat will feel safe. The room should be spacious and have a comfortable temperature—cool in the summer and warm in the winter—depending on how long you plan to keep the cat inside.
• Place the litter box in one corner and the cat's bedding in another corner. The room should be large enough because cats won't eliminate near their food and water.
• If your cat keeps soiling outside the box, try sprinkling some litter on the floor of the room. Cats will naturally associate the scent of litter with bathroom habits over time.

Check if your cat is soiling elsewhere. If your cat is avoiding the litter box, inspect the house to make sure it’s still eliminating somewhere. If the cat hasn’t gone at all, it could be suffering from a partial or full urinary tract blockage. If you notice the cat isn’t urinating at all, take it to the vet immediately.

• If the cat is still urinating but not using the litter box, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Some cats with infections or blockages prefer to relieve themselves on cool, smooth surfaces like tiles, concrete, or wooden floors, as they offer a soothing texture.

Check for blood in your cat's urine. One of the early signs of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), as well as kidney or bladder stones, is blood in the urine along with frequent or strained urination. Other symptoms to watch for include crying out while urinating and excessive licking or grooming of the genital area. If your cat displays these signs, get them checked by a vet as soon as possible. Left untreated, these issues can lead to urinary tract blockages, which are life-threatening.

• In addition to a general exam, the vet will likely perform a urine analysis, urine culture, and possibly an X-ray to determine the cause and location of the problem.
• The vet will prescribe medication to treat kidney stones. If the cat has bladder stones, surgery may be required to remove or break up the stones.
• If your cat is suffering from urinary issues or bladder/kidney stones, it might be due to insufficient water intake. Always ensure your cat has access to fresh water (replace daily). The vet may recommend a wet food diet (canned) consisting of at least 50% of its daily intake.

Observe signs of vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Some cats suffer from inflammation along the digestive tract, which leads to a condition known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Common symptoms of IBD include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and lethargy. Some cats with IBD may also pass blood in their stool. The severity and symptoms may vary depending on which part of the digestive system is affected. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, take them to the vet as soon as possible.

• Veterinarians typically run blood and stool tests to check if the symptoms are related to IBD. They may also perform X-rays and/or ultrasounds to pinpoint the affected area.
• To treat IBD, your vet will likely prescribe corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system's response to the condition. Depending on the severity, antibiotics may also be prescribed.
• Dietary changes are often recommended to help manage IBD. A special diet for cats with IBD typically includes hypoallergenic foods, as well as those rich in fiber and low in fat.