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By
about 8 weeks of age, a kitten should have enough
muscular and bladder control to use a litter box. If a
kitten is raised with her mother, she will learn about
using a litter box through observation and imitation,
usually starting when she is about 1 month old.
In most
cases, when you take a kitten home, the only thing
necessary to do will be to show her the litter box. You
should place the kitten in the litter box and gently run
her paws through the litter so she can become accustomed
to the texture. Then, you should step back and let the
kitten find her way out of the box.
For
about the first week, you should take the new kitten to
the litter box as soon as she wakes up (both in the
morning and after a catnap), as well as after she eats
or engages in a lengthy play period. The kitten will
quickly get the idea about what’s supposed to take place
in the box.
It is
recommended that you start off with a small open litter
box with low sides. These models are less intimidating
for a kitten than covered boxes, plus they’re easier for
a tiny pet to enter and exit.
You
should make sure to clean the litter box daily, and to
locate it in a quiet area where the kitten feels secure.
This area should not be located near the kitten’s food.
If you have a multi-story house, a box should be located
on each level.
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