How do I get my cat house-trained?

Cats are generally considered to be very clean animals, but they are not naturally house-trained and they must first learn to use the litter tray. Getting cats house-trained requires patience and perseverance on your part. Always remain calm and friendly, otherwise your cat will have negative associations with going to the toilet. But there are a few tricks that can also get your cat doing what you want.

As soon as your little housemate moves in with you, you can start getting it used to its litter tray. You should therefore consider in advance where to place the litter tray in your home. The room you choose and the position in that room are both important. Remember the following: 

• Place the litter tray in a quiet place 
• Avoid draughts 
• Avoid through traffic and spectators 
• Do not close the door to the room, the cat should always have free access. 
• There should be no distractions from other pets, such as dogs. 
• Set up several litter trays. The rule of thumb here is: number of cat and floors in the home plus one. 

Not only the location of the litter tray is important to the cat, but also the kind of litter tray. 

• The first thing to consider is the right size. The cat should have enough space. The litter tray should be about one-and-a-half times the size of the cat. Also take into account that the cat’s tail should not touch the litter tray. 
• Small cats need a litter tray with a low rim or entry so they can get in and out easily. 
• Antistatic material is best 
• A tray without a cover is more attractive to cats as a litter tray. At first glance, litter trays with a cover appear to offer the cat a better sense of security. But if you observe cats urinating in nature, they will look for an open area and avoid hollows etc.  
• The tray should be easy to clean. This is because the litter tray needs to be cleaned regularly, as cats are hygienic animals and prefer a clean place.

How often the litter tray should be cleaned depends on how often the cat uses it and what type of litter tray it is. Outdoor cats are out and about a lot and therefore use the litter tray less often than indoor cats. Litter trays with a grate require more cleaning and should be cleaned two to three times a day. 

Cats like being clean and naturally ensure hygiene when they go to the toilet. If you observe outdoor cats, you will see that they bury their faeces. Cat mothers also teach their little kittens where to go to the toilet. If a new cat comes to your home, it is up to you to get it house-trained. You should start toilet training from day one. The process does not happen overnight, so be patient. Your pet will get used to the litter tray and then use it itself. The following steps can help to get the cat used to the litter tray: 

• After feeding and when it wakes up, put the cat directly on the litter tray
• Praise the cat when it uses the litter tray so that it has positive associations with it 
• Do not clean the toilet immediately so that the cat associates the smell with this place
• Do not let the cat into other rooms until it is house-trained, as it may try to mark its new territory. If it does so, remove the urine with a water-vinegar mixture so that the cat does not keep going there.

It is not only with new cats that you may have to deal with the issue of house-training. Some cats that have actually been house-trained for a long time can suddenly stop using the litter tray and start going to the toilet in other places in the house. What are the reasons for this? 

• Psychological stress: This can have a wide range of causes. You might simply have bought new furniture or have moved house, for example, or there might be a lot of noise (from workmen) or new or constant visitors. 
• Diseases: Especially in winter, urinary tract infections can easily occur. But even at other times of the year, your cat may have illnesses that cause problems in going to the toilet. If this happens, contact your vet. 
• Cat litter tray: But the reason could also be the litter tray itself. It might not be clean enough or be in an unsuitable place, or your cat might have outgrown it. 
• Mourning: The loss or absence of someone your cat loves, another cat or another animal may be the problem.
• Cats in season: Pheromones contained in urine are said to attract mating males. 
• Jealousy: When new animals arrive in the home, cats will mark their presence and either want to make contact or make their territory clear to the competition. 
• Protest: The cat might be protesting against certain living conditions that it does not like or be crying for attention
• New odours: a new detergent, for example 
• Cat litter: Maybe the smell or consistency of new litteris disturbing the cat

Urine contains various scents and pheromones and tells one cat a lot about another. It is even part of their communication. Female cats can use this to let mating males know that they are in season, and males like to mark their territory and warn off any competitors. This is completely natural behaviour, especially in unneutered animals, but it can also happen in neutered cats or kittens. It is not a sign of uncleanliness, but shows that your cat wants to tell you or another cat something. In the wild, this kind of communication is not a problem, but when it happens in the bedroom cupboard or on the living room carpet, it can cause tension between humans and animals.