Even if it is your intention to have your new kitten meet most of their toilet needs while outside, it is still worth litter training for instances when he or she cannot go outside. Litter training is an important disciplinary tool, which when used effectively can help save a house and its furnishings from being damaged by unsavoury mess.
The amount of time you will need to dedicate to litter training depends on your kittens lifestyle before they came to live with you. They may have already been through the fundamentals of litter training; it is important to check whether this is the case with the existing owner. Or, they may be completely new to the entire process. However, it is safe for all to assume that most kittens will have seen their mother use her litter tray during their early life; so the process is not completely alien to them.
Litter training is about remaining consistent. Most kittens will have very obvious behaviour signs when they need to go to the toilet; look out for scratching at flooring, sniffing, and sometimes miaowing as they search for a place to ‘go’. When this occurs, simply pick the kitten up and place them gently inside the litter tray.
To further reinforce this, you can put your kitten into the tray a half hour or so after they have eaten. Kittens have fast digestive systems, and it’s likely that around this time they will be needing to ‘go’ anyway. Intervene, and show them the best place to go. In time, the message will sink in and your involvement will no longer be necessary.
