Cat Litter Tray Training

We would normally advice that you have one litter tray per cat ideally and an extra if you have the space. Some cats can guard the trays and prevent the other from using them if they are together. To reduce this it’s probably best to have them in different locations around the home. The general rule is the more cats you have the more litter trays you will need and you may need to make some adjustments in your home to suit the cats.

There a various litter trays on the market some open others covered. We recommend that you use a covered litter tray as this will reduce any accidents and litter from the tray being kicked out onto the floor. But their paws do usually end up with some litter on them so it can’t be prevented completely and can leave marks or track as they exit the tray. Put the litter tray on an old or easily cleaned mat will help,

Cats are at their most vulnerable when they are using the litter tray and may not like being viewed. You can always turn the litter tray towards a wall this should help. Never place the litter tray where you cats eat, these area should be separate.

Corner trays are becoming increasingly popular – however this may suit us, but does not always suit the cat. If your cat is seen half in and half out of his tray then the chances are that the tray is too small for him. He should have enough room to move around. Many cats circle before they go to the toilet and if your cat has insufficient room to perform this manoeuvre it may be one reason why his is not using the tray.

Cats will let you know in their own way so if your cat seems to have a toileting problem or spraying don’t punish them it may be a sign of stress, as is toileting on beds, furniture, or not using a litter tray.

Incontinence is common in the feline world and can affect all of us as we age so additional trays are advisable so is making sure they are close to the sleeping area, lower trays may also be an option. Puppy training pads can be used where the elderly cat attempts to use the tray but invariably stands on the edge of the tray thus depositing urine and faeces outside the tray instead of inside.

Keep the litter trays clean as some cats will not use a tray twice so if they have already had a wee in it they may not use it again this can lead to them choosing to use the floor instead. Providing an extra tray may be the answer to this and don’t use any strong cleaning agents, check with your vet or pet store who will advice you what is available.