How to Litter Train a Kitten: Step-by-Step Guide

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Most kittens learn to use a litter box quickly, because digging and burying waste comes naturally to cats. Your job is to make the right spot easy to find, comfortable to use and clean. This page covers when to start, what to buy, where to put the box, a simple step-by-step routine and what to do when a kitten has accidents.

The short version: from about 4 weeks old, give your kitten a small, low-sided box with a non-clumping litter, put it in a quiet spot away from food, place the kitten in it after meals and naps, reward it right after it uses the box, and never punish accidents.

How we wrote this: the advice on this page comes from PetMD (written and reviewed by veterinarians), the BC SPCA, the PDSA and the ASPCA, each linked where it is used. We have not tested these products ourselves. If your kitten strains in the box, cries while going or passes little or no urine, see a vet right away.

Kitten litter training at a glance

Step	What to do	Source
When to start	Around 4 weeks old, or the day an older kitten comes home	PetMD
Box	Small and low-sided at first, about 1.5 times the cat’s length as it grows	PetMD, BC SPCA
Litter	Non-clumping for kittens under 8 to 10 weeks, fine and unscented	PetMD, ASPCA
Where	Quiet, easy to reach, away from food and water	BC SPCA, PDSA
Routine	Place the kitten in the box after meals, drinks and naps	PetMD, BC SPCA
Reward	A treat or praise right after it uses the box	PetMD, PDSA
How many boxes	One per cat plus one extra	ASPCA, BC SPCA

When to start litter training a kitten

According to PetMD, a mother cat stimulates her kittens to go to the toilet and cleans up after them for the first few weeks, so very young kittens do not need a box. You can start litter training at around 4 weeks of age, which is when kittens start weaning. If you adopt an older kitten or an adult cat, start the day you bring it home.

The PDSA notes that very young kittens that were not taught by their mother may not understand what the tray is for at first. That is normal, and it is the reason for the routine below.

What you need

PetMD lists a kitten-friendly litter, a low-sided box, a scoop, a waste pail and a litter mat as the basic kit. Here is how that maps to products in our catalog.

• A small, low-sided box to start. A full-size box can be too big and intimidating for a small kitten. PetMD quotes veterinarian Sally J. Foote recommending a tray of about 13 by 9 inches for kittens. Most boxes in our catalog are adult-sized, so start with a shallow tray and move up as your kitten grows.
• A full-size box for later. The BC SPCA rule of thumb is a box one and a half times the length of your cat, and bigger if you are not sure. An open box such as the IRIS USA High Sided Litter Box suits a grown kitten that kicks litter. Its walls are almost 12 inches tall, so it is not a first box for a tiny kitten.
• Non-clumping litter. PetMD advises non-clumping litter for kittens younger than 8 to 10 weeks that are just learning, and switching to clumping later if you prefer. Feline Pine Original is a non-clumping pine pellet litter with no added fragrance. Our guide to the types of cat litter compares the options.
• A scoop and a pail. A metal scoop such as the DuraScoop Jumbo and a sealed pail such as the Litter Genie make frequent scooping quicker.
• A litter mat. Kittens track a lot of litter while they learn. A mat such as the Gorilla Grip coiled mesh mat catches it outside the box.
• An enzymatic cleaner for accidents. The ASPCA and PetMD both recommend one, since it is designed to neutralize pet odors.

Where to put the litter box

The BC SPCA says to put the box in a convenient, quiet area where no one can surprise or scare the cat, and to keep it away from food. The PDSA adds that cats do not want their toilet near their food and water. Other tips from PetMD and the ASPCA:

• Do not hide it in a cupboard or tight corner. Cats like to see what is coming and have a way out, so a box that feels like a trap can put them off.
• Keep some light. PetMD suggests a night-light if the room is fully dark.
• Avoid noisy spots. The ASPCA lists next to the washer and dryer and busy walkways as places cats avoid.
• Keep it close. In a bigger home, put a box on every floor so a kitten never has far to go.
• Start small. When a new kitten arrives, the BC SPCA suggests setting it up in one small room with its litter box, food and water (kept apart) for the first few days, so the box is always near.

How to litter train a kitten, step by step

1. Show your kitten the box. Let it sniff the box and the litter, then gently place it inside. PetMD notes that many kittens start pawing at the litter, or use it, right away.
2. Use the box at the right times. Place your kitten in the box after it eats, drinks or wakes up from a nap, until it starts going on its own. The BC SPCA gives the same advice: after meals and naps until it gets the idea.
3. Reward it straight away. Give a favorite treat or praise as soon as your kitten steps out of the box after using it. PetMD stresses that the reward has to come right away, so the kitten links it to using the box.
4. Keep an eye on your kitten. The PDSA suggests watching your kitten and placing it in or near the tray when it looks like it needs to go. It may take a few tries before it grasps the idea.
5. Keep the box very clean. PetMD suggests scooping after every use while your kitten is learning, so it never finds a dirty box. Once your kitten uses the box reliably, scooping once a day is enough. Our guide to how often to change cat litter covers full changes and washing.
6. Be patient. It can take a few tries before a kitten gets the idea. The PDSA says to keep trying and never tell it off.

How deep should the litter be?

Sources differ a little. The ASPCA says most cats like a shallow bed of one to two inches rather than three to four. PetMD suggests two to three inches so a kitten has room to dig. Start at the shallow end, top up after scooping, and watch how your kitten digs.

What to do about accidents

Every source agrees on one rule: never punish a kitten for going outside the box. The PDSA explains that a cat will not understand why you are telling it off, and the stress can make the problem worse. Instead:

• Clean the spot straight away with an enzymatic cleaner. The PDSA says quick cleanup helps stop a cat going in the same place again.
• If your kitten keeps going in the same place, the ASPCA and PDSA suggest putting a litter box there, or placing its food bowl or bed on that spot instead.
• Check the setup. PetMD suggests making sure the box is easy to reach, in a quiet spot, not hidden in a corner and not guarded by another cat.
• Try a different litter or box. The ASPCA suggests putting two boxes side by side with different litters and seeing which one your kitten picks. Some cats prefer covered boxes and some open ones, so the PDSA suggests trying both.
• Scoop more often and replace all the litter more often.

When to call the vet

Accidents during training are normal, but some signs are not. PetMD says a vet can check for intestinal parasites, urinary tract infections and other medical problems. These are rare in kittens but should not be overlooked. The PDSA advises seeing a vet straight away if a cat strains to go, seems uncomfortable or has not been going as normal, and says a male cat straining to pass urine can be a real emergency.

See your vet if your kitten:

• strains in the box or passes little or no urine
• is vocal or seems uncomfortable when trying to pee
• has not been going as normal
• was using the box well and suddenly stops

More than one cat

The ASPCA recommends one litter box for each cat plus one extra, so two cats need three boxes. PetMD adds that boxes placed side by side work like one big box, so spread them around the home. Our best litter box for multiple cats page covers sizes and layouts.

FAQ

At what age can you litter train a kitten?

From around 4 weeks old, when kittens start weaning, according to PetMD. Before that, the mother cat helps them go and cleans up after them.

How long does it take to litter train a kitten?

It varies. PetMD notes that some kittens start pawing at the litter, or use it, the first time they are placed in the box. Others need a few tries. Keep up the routine of placing your kitten in the box after meals and naps, and reward every success.

Should kittens use clumping litter?

PetMD advises non-clumping litter for kittens under 8 to 10 weeks that are just learning. After that, you can switch to a clumping litter if you prefer.

Should I put my kitten in the litter box at night?

Make sure your kitten can always reach a box, including at night. The BC SPCA suggests keeping a new cat in one small room with its litter box for the first few days, so the box is always nearby.

Why does my kitten pee outside the litter box?

Common reasons are a box that is dirty, hard to reach, too big or in a noisy spot, a litter it does not like, or stress. Medical problems are rare in kittens but possible, so if fixing the setup does not help, or your kitten seems unwell, see your vet.