How do you train a kitten to use the litterbox? also introducing a kitten to our 7 year old dog?

Question

I never really owned a cat before and so me and my husband are going to adopt one today and we don't know anything on how to litterbox train them. could you tell us how? also we have a 7 year old dog a westie and he is very energetic. well he has never really been around other animals before and this kind of worries me. i don't know how he will react to a kitten. i thought it was best to get a kitten because of how it will be young and won't be grown up as to getting used to our dog easier. i am just worried about snoopy. has anyone had this happen before? how did you old pet react to your new one? and what are some things i can do to help them get used to each other? thanks so much

Answer 1

You really don't need any training with a litter box. Make sure when you bring the kitten home you show her the litter box and put her in it as soon at you get home. She/he will begin using the litter box on their own. Keep in mind if you don't clean it often the cat might be the type who goes outside the box due to being dirty. I just got a puppy after 12 years of having a boxer who I had to put down. I also have two cats. I did not introduce them I let them do it on their own. The boxer use to sleep with the cats so they will adapt. It might take a week or two but they will be fine. Don't panic they will get along it just will take time.  

Answer 2

Hmm ... I've never had to "train" a cat to use a litter box ... they just seem to understand.

We've saved two strays as kittens & they both took right to it. We brought them home and isolated them in a "safe" room (think bathroom or kitchen -- something that doesn't have carpeting). We put them in the litter box & they just used it when necessary.

Make sure you keep the kitten separated from the dog in a "safe" room. Your dog will be able to smell the kitten through the bottom of the door and slowly get used to the smell. Then, after maybe a day or two you can let your dog into the room where you're keeping the kitten and let the dog smell around more, etc. After that, just slowly and with supervision bring the kitten out for an hour or so every day to romp around, meet your family, explore the house, play with the dog, etc.

Over the years we've introduced two new cats to our little pride, they have very angry reactions at first -- like hissing at the door between them, etc. but with a slow introduction, they adjust & now all 3 are buddies.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Cats naturally want to bury their waste - which should make it easy on you for training.  

Typically, any cat that you get is old enough to already know what to do, and you just need to show them where the litter box is.  All I have ever done is show them where it is, even if I move it.  I have never had any problems.  You want to be sure to  keep the box clean as cats are clean creatures and some won't go in the box if it is dirty.

As far as the dog is concerned, there are articles that say to introduce them gradually - keep them on opposite sides of a closed door so that they get used to the smell of on another.  I introduced a 12 year old cat to a 2 year old dog in my home a couple years ago - I the cat hadn't seen a dog in probably a decade.  I made it so that he could get in his room as he pleased, but the dog could not.  I think a lot of it will depend on the personality of your dog - mine had been around cats before and knew to leave my kitty alone.  I think most dogs learn pretty fast if they get those little claws in their noses...

Good luck!!  

Answer 4

Most already want to use it. Just place it in the litter box and they will usually sniff and then dig. Just make sure to keep it clean, or they wont continue to use it.

Introducing it to a dog will be interesting. Our cat loved our pug puppy, they always wanted to play together, and when our puppy got ran over- our cat always looked for her and eventually she never came home. I don't know if she ran away looking for her or died of a broken heart.

As soon as they get used to eachothers scents, you will see them get along (or tolerate eachother) better.