Helping your kitten use the litter box
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
The ASPCA says to give every cat a clean litter box in a quiet spot, scoop it daily, and never scold a cat or drag her to the box. International Cat Care says kittens often learn by copying their mother, and you can set them in the tray after waking and meals.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Set the box up well
The ASPCA says to have one box for each cat plus one extra, in a quiet place that is not cornered and not next to the washer, dryer or food bowls. Use a big box that is easy to climb into, without a lid. VCA adds that a very small kitten may need a low-sided box at first.
The ASPCA suggests unscented, clumping litter with a medium to fine texture, kept shallow, about one to two inches deep. ICatCare says to keep using the litter the kitten had before, at least for the first one to two weeks.
Teaching the habit
ICatCare says you can place a kitten in the tray after it wakes, after it eats, or when it sniffs, scratches or crouches. VCA says to reward a kitten for using the box.
Keep the box away from the food, since cats like those spots to be separate.
Keeping it clean
The ASPCA says to scoop every day. Once a week, wash the box with warm water and unscented soap, and put in fresh litter. Scented cleaners can put a cat off.
If there is an accident, a grown-up should clean it with a cleaner made for pet smells. The ASPCA warns that ammonia can draw a cat back to the same spot.
What not to do
The ASPCA is clear: don't rub a cat's nose in a mess, don't scold her, and don't carry or drag her to the box. These can make things worse.
When to call the vet
The ASPCA says to have a vet check any cat that has litter trouble first. See a vet right away for frequent trips to the box with only a little urine, straining, crying while peeing, or blood in the urine.
For the children
Ages 4-6: Help a grown-up pick a quiet spot for the box and say 'good job' when the kitten uses it. Ages 7-10: Be the scooper with a grown-up, once a day, and wash your hands afterward.
"Accidents happen, and the kitten is not being bad, so we just clean up and keep the box nice."
This is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice, and it doesn’t replace a trainer or a behaviorist who can see your kitten.
Sources
- ASPCA: Litter Box Problems (checked October 29, 2026)
- International Cat Care: Helping your new cat or kitten settle in (checked October 29, 2026)
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Bringing Home Your New Kitten (checked October 29, 2026)