Choosing a litter box is an important decision when it comes to getting a kitten. There are many options to choose from, depending on what you're looking for with a kitten litter box. Additionally, it’s important to know whether your kitten has been exposed to a litter box prior to you bringing them home. Doing your research and knowing what to expect can make training kittens to use litter boxes easier on both you and your cat.
How does a kitten litter box work?
The litter box that you choose for your kitten will not be much different than a regular litter box. It may be beneficial to use a litter box that you know your kitten can grow into and enjoy into adulthood. It’s also helpful to find a litter box that has easy accessibility for your kitten. A good example of this would be the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, which offers easy accessibility with its optional ramp accessory, can be used with multiple cats, and has no maximum weight limit.
Things to look for in a kitten litter box
There are several things you should consider when choosing a litter box that your kitten will enjoy for years to come. Let’s discuss some of these factors below.
Convenience
It can be time-consuming and inconvenient to choose a non-automatic litter box. They require a lot of time and maintenance, not to mention the smell that typically lingers. Instead, it may be beneficial to try upgrading to a litter box that can handle messes on its own and still allow your cat to grow with it.
There are automatic litter boxes available that clean your cat's waste after they are done with their business and deposit it into a discreet drawer. Not only does this help with time management, but it also helps to keep odors at bay.
Size and shape
It can be important to choose a litter box that is comfortable, which can help make litter box training a kitten much easier on you. Instead of finding a litter box that looks nice or fits into a particular place in your home, you should instead base your litter box decision on what will be easier for your cat to use.
Matching the size of the litter box to the size of your kitten or cat can help encourage your cat to use it instead of your floor. It’s also helpful to choose a shape that is easy for your cat to climb in and out of. If your cat isn’t comfortable getting into the litter box, they may be more likely to have accidents outside of the litter box.
Material
These days there are plenty of litter box options on the market, including varied shapes, sizes, and materials. When choosing a litter box, you’ll want to consider a material that is durable and will last many years. Some cats may kick or scratch after using the litter box, and you’ll need a litter box that can take a beating.
Another factor to consider when choosing the right material for your kitten's litter box is choosing a box that is non-porous. This can help keep your cat's urine from soaking into the litter box. If the material you choose is easily scratchable, that can allow your cat’s urine to soak into it and make it difficult to clean and eliminate odors.
Safety features
Make sure that you are reading the safety features of a potential litter box and choose very carefully. Many litter boxes, including automatic ones, may not have certain options available for kittens or underweight cats. If your litter box comes with a weight limit, you may need to make sure they have other safety options available. A good feature of the Litter-Robot 3 Connect is that you can switch to the semi-automatic setting, which is safe for kittens and cats under 5 pounds. Read more on that below!
Type of litter
It’s also important to note that some litter boxes may require that you use a certain litter. That being said, you’ll want to make sure that your kitten is comfortable with the litter that you choose. If your kitten does not appear to like the type of litter you have to use, whether due to the smell or material of the litter, you may need to reconsider the litter box in your home.
4 tips on using your kitten litter box
There are steps you can take to help ease your kitten into using their litter box. Training your kitten to use their litter box can take time and patience. These tips can make training your kitten easier on both you and your cat.
Give them privacy
Some cats can be very picky about where their litter box is located. If the litter box is in an area that your cat is uncomfortable with, they may be less likely to use the litter box and more likely to have accidents somewhere more private in your home. Privacy is very important to many cats and keeping the litter box in a low traffic area can encourage them to use their litter box instead of your floor.
Introduce your kitten to their litter box right away
When you first bring your kitten home, you should take them to their litter box right away. Place your kitten in their litter box and give them time to smell and inspect their litter box. Once they appear comfortable with it, you shouldn’t move it from that location. Unless, of course, they are having accidents in another area of the home—then you can try to move the litter box to that area and encourage them to use the litter box instead.
Use treats or toys to encourage your kitten
When you see your kitten using their litter box, you can reward them with a small treat. Giving them a treat or some wet food can encourage them to continue using their litter box. Once your kitten is routinely using their litter box, you may have to slowly cut back the treats or food as a reward in order to keep them healthy.
Another option would be to reward your kitten with a new toy. Regardless of what you choose, remaining positive and continuing to praise them will assist with successfully training a kitten to use their litter box.
Do not punish your kitten for accidents
It can be difficult to remain positive if your kitten is not using their litter box. However, you should not punish or scold your kitten if an accident occurs. This can cause stress and anxiety in your kitten, which can lead to more accidents. If you notice your kitten is not using their litter box while you are trying to train them, you may need to investigate further to figure out if something else is going on.
Litter-Robot 3 Connect: The best kitten litter box option
The Litter-Robot 3 Connect is one of the best options when choosing a litter box for kittens. It can be helpful to have the Litter-Robot 3 Connect available when you bring your kitten home to help acclimate your kitten to their new litter box.
Important: The Litter-Robot senses when your cat enters and exits the globe, which triggers the countdown timer and cleaning cycle. Kittens and small cats that weigh less than 5 pounds may not be heavy enough to trigger the cat sensor. Therefore, kittens and small cats that weigh less than 5 pounds can use the Litter-Robot, but not in automatic mode.
Until they weigh enough, we recommend using your Litter-Robot in "semi-automatic" mode to keep your cat safe and relieve you from litter box scooping. For "semi-automatic" mode, leave the Litter-Robot switched off or unplugged. When you see your kitten has used it, wait about 7 minutes for the waste to clump, then turn it on/plug it in. The Litter-Robot will automatically perform a clean cycle (which takes about 2 ½ minutes). Afterward, turn it off/unplug it again. Continue this supervised, semi-automatic mode until your kittens have gained sufficient weight to activate the cat sensor.
Special features
There are many features of the Litter-Robot 3 Connect that make it such a great option for kittens and cats. Some of the special features of the Litter-Robot 3 Connect include:
- Self-cleaning technology: The Litter-Robot 3 Connect recognizes when your cat has used the litter box and sifts the waste into a drawer below the unit once your cat has exited. This ensures that your cat will always have a clean litter box to use.
- Connectivity with the app: This allows you to be notified when your cat has used the litter box and gain insight into their bathroom trends and behaviors. The app will also notify you when the waste drawer is full and needs to be emptied.
- Odor management: The Litter-Robot 3 Connect will separate your cat's waste into a fully enclosed, carbon-filtered drawer once they are finished using the litter box. This helps to significantly reduce odors and keep your house smelling fresh.
- Safety features: Using special sensors, the Litter-Robot 3 Connect will detect when your cat is using the litter box and will inform you via the app or the unit if the unit stops working for any reason.
- Time and money saver: The Litter-Robot 3 Connect has patented sifting technology that removes only the waste, leaving the clean litter for your cat. This can help save money on cat litter—and save you time with no longer having to scoop the litter box.
- Multi-cat households: If you have multiple cats in your household, the Litter-Robot 3 Connect will make a great litter box option for you. With its automatic, self-cleaning technology, it’s a great option if you plan on adding a new kitten to your household.
Choosing the best litter box for your kitten
When deciding to bring a new kitten home, one of the most important decisions can be choosing a litter box that works for both your kitten and your home. Training a kitten to use the litter box can take time and patience, so it’s helpful to choose a litter box that is easy to use, convenient, and durable. Not only does the Litter-Robot 3 Connect help keep odors away, but it also helps save you time and money–making life easier for you and your new kitten! Just remember to leave the Litter-Robot in semi-automatic mode until your kitten weighs 5 pounds.
Not necessarily. However, you want to make sure you choose a litter box that is easy for your kitten to use.
Kitten bathroom habits can vary greatly from one kitten to another. Typically, kittens should urinate every few hours and defecate at least once per day.
It’s possible your kitten does not like their litter or litter box. It’s also possible that the litter box is located in a difficult-to-reach area. Make sure your kitten's litter box is easily accessible and clean. If that doesn’t work, you may need to reach out to your veterinarian for additional assistance.
Cover photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
