In order to train your cat to do anything, it is important that you establish clear rules as soon as you get them, and are strict with them. If the cat is not corrected every time it pees on the carpet, or scratches the furniture, it can become confused about what it is and isn’t allowed to do. All cats should be trained from a young age. If you have an older cat, it can be much harder to train: the saying ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ can also apply to cats!

When the cat does something that you don’t want it to do, firmly say ‘no’, and correct the cat’s behaviour. For example, if the cat is peeing on the carpet, put it in the litter tray or if the cat is scratching the furniture, put it by the scratching post. If you chase the cat away, it may think that you are trying to play with it (especially if it’s a kitten) which will encourage the behaviour.

Often, the mother will teach its kittens to use a litter tray, but in many cases they don’t learn. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as having a neglectful mother or being taken away from their mother too early. Quite often kittens from farm cats will not be litter trained as they are used to living outside.

Firstly, make sure that the litter tray is placed in an easily accessible, quiet corner of a room. It doesn’t need to be full to the brim with cat litter, but needs just enough for the cat to bury its ‘business’ in. Generally, the cat litter should be changed every day, but this can vary depending on how many cats you have, and whether the cats are allowed outside to do their business.

Begin by frequently placing the cat in the litter tray, especially when it looks like it is about to go to the toilet. (You can usually tell if they start scratching/trying to dig in a corner of the carpet, or if they crouch with their tail up.)

If the cat goes in the wrong place, it is important that you clean the area thoroughly, and don’t rub the cat’s nose in it (!) Cats find their ‘toilet’ through scent, so if they can smell where they have been before, they are likely to go there again.

Tips:

* Many cat owners remove solid waste from the litter tray quickly to prevent odours.
* If the cat doesn’t use the litter tray, it could be that it isn’t clean enough! Cats are very picky about cleanliness.
* Make sure the cat’s litter tray is somewhere private – some cats won’t use the litter tray if they think they’re being watched (!)