My Blog Entry
Litter training a kitten
If the kitten stays with its Mom long enough, (an absolute minimum of 8 weeks and preferably 12 weeks) it should be very simple. Kittens taken from their mothers too soon often develop nursing behavior on themselves, other cats, humans, or fabric, and these habits will often continue throughout adulthood. They also need this time to learn proper cat behavior from their mother cat, including use of the litter box, socializing with humans and other cats. Try to imagine how a human would have turned out if he or she were taken away from their parents as toddlers, and didn't have the proper role model to learn from. So, usually when a kitten has been observing their mother using the litter box, they will usually copy her which also helps the other kittens learn.
After the kitten has left his mother and he comes home with you for the first time, feed him wet food, (which is what's best for him especially before he's a year old). About thirty minutes after he‘s done eating, place him in the box. If putting him in the box doesn‘t prompt him to use it, then stir the litter with your hands while he’s watching. Never restrain him in the box; you should always let the kitten jump out if he wants to.
Kittens will often have accidents, and the best thing to do is to pick up the feces and put it in the litter box. This will help him understand that the litter box belongs to him and that is where he should go. If you see him sniffing around or looking like he needs to go, then immediately put him in the box. Also one of the most important tips to prevent him from going in the same spot is to thoroughly clean it. I added stain and odor removing tips below. Never yell at or scold the kitten for accidents, as you wouldn't scold a potty training toddler for an accident. Punishment does not help a cat's behavior. All it does is make your cat fear and resent you.
Each day about a half an hour after mealtime and playtime, put him in the box as you did the first time. Cats are creatures of habit, so teach them the routine and you should have no problem.
Odor removing tips:
Remember, a cat's sense of smell is fourteen times stronger than that of a human. This is why it is so important for you to thoroughly clean the urine spots. Even if you can’t smell it, your cat probably still smells the urine in the carpet, and this can make them want to “re-mark” that spot over and over.
To remove the smell of urine from just about anything, first clean it with some sort of soap or kitchen cleaner. Then clean it with lemon juice. If you don't like the smell of lemon juice follow it up with a little bit of vanilla extract. One of the most effective formulas I've found for removing ANY odor was from Popular Science Magazine. Mix 1 quart of Hydrogen Peroxide, with 1/4 cup of Baking Soda, and one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Saturate the affected area, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and the smell is gone. This is non-toxic and safe for your animals and children, and those with allergies. This is especially helpful for removing skunk odor from your outdoor animals. As always, test a small portion of fabric for color fastness, before treating a large area.
What Won’t Work… There are many home remedies for treating pet stains and odors, and let me stress that most of them are not too bad as far as removing odors for humans’ noses. Vinegar, ammonia, baking soda, laundry detergents, lemon juice, fabric softeners, and commercial strength pet stain removers are all great for removing the odors that humans can smell. However; you will need more to remove the odor for your cat's nose. An enzymatic cleaner is the best answer, but it is slow and may take more than one application, (Nature’s Miracle is one of them). The Hydrogen Peroxide/Baking Soda combo is fast, but can alter the colors of some fabrics. In the end, you must decide which application is best for your situation.
Even if you clean a pet stain with soap and water certain micro-organisms remain behind and your pet can smell them. Enzymatic Cleaners are designed to completely eliminate the source of the odor by using enzymes to eat away the micro-organisms that cause the odor. The one drawback to these cleaners is that they are slow; it could take several weeks for them to completely eliminate an odor. Enzymantic Cleaners are available at most pet stores, organic/natural/health food stores, and even some hardware stores. You can also ask your vet for suppliers.
**Never steam clean a stain. That will only make the stain worse**
Sources: http://cat.lifetips.com/faq/20121/0/what-is-a-home-formula-for-removing-pet-odors/index.html, http://cat.lifetips.com/faq/4197/0/what-is-the-best-way-to-remove-a-pet-odor/index.html, http://cat.lifetips.com/faq/20119/0/what-can-i-use-to-help-remove-urine-smells/index.html
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