- Every time that she looks like she's about to crouch or she starts sniffing near a corner (classic signs of oncoming urination or defecation), pick her up and put her in the litter box.
- First thing in the morning, put your kitten in the litter box.
- The most important thing is to keep that litter box clean. Make sure that you clean the litter box every day, and completely change all the litter and wash the box out at least once a week.
- Cats never poop where they eat, so put her food bowl near wherever she had the accident.
- Cats like to use the facilities in private, away from loud noises or other interference such as dogs and toddlers. If the cat is going in hidden places like under the bed, this could mean she feels too vulnerable in her box. Getting a cover from the pet store or making one from a cardboard box may lure the cat back to her original litter box.
- Confine the cat to a small area, like one room instead of the whole house. That way, Fluffy is never far from her litter box and has a lot of time to think about getting familiar with it again. Once the cat is using the box again, slowly let her have access to the rest of the house.
- Make sure you thoroughly clean wherever the cat had the accident. This is necessary not only because you don't want your house smelling like cat pee, but also because the lingering smell of her feces or urine will serve to jog her memory later that this is a toilet area. So get rid of the smell. (Note: don't clean with ammonia, as that will enhance the scent of urine.)
- If you need to change the location of the litter box from one place to another, one technique is to move it a couple of feet at a time, with a few days in between, so the cat gradually gets used to it being elsewhere. If the cat stops using the box, this is your clue to move it more slowly.
SoYouWanna know more? Check out our full-length article SYW have a well-behaved cat?
