litter box training

[courtney333]

I have a kitten that is about 3 to 4 weeks old. I have hand raised her, and I was wanting some tips on how to get her litter box trained, and when I should start.

[jason]

you dont train this....put the box out and show it to her. in the wild, cats look for a good spot (soil) that is easy to dig....a litter box in a typical house suffices this need.

i have always taken in "forgotten" cats that are around 1 yr old or so....so, im not sure when they start using the box myself.

[Wanda]

Dolly's three kittens are 7 weeks old and are using their box great now, I started trying to "train" them at about 5 weeks, I was having no luck, so I wish Jason had of told me that. Anyway at about 5 1/2 weeks I saw Dolly kind of pushing one in the box (this was after I got them one of their own) then she helped to cover it, then the other two the same. I would guess to make box available at about 5 weeks. I was Dolly's foster mom and after I fed her I would put her in the box and pet her when she did her deed, but I don't think I taught her anything as Jason says I think its instinct. Wanda

[Denise29]

I agree with the other posters. Going to the litter box is instictual for cats.

However, sometimes they need a bit of demonstration. Place your kitty in the litter box and physically take her paw and scrape at the litter, in a digging motion. This should get her in the right direction!

Good luck!