Do cats know how to use litter boxes from the mothers or how?
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
February 25, 2013 11:08am CST
I was just wondering i- do you think that kittens know how to use the litter box from having seen their mothers or from seeing other cats do it? How do they learn? Or do they just know by instinct? I have had some cats in the past that did not know how to use the litter box.
My 11 year old cat that I have used to be an outside cat but about 5 years ago we turned him into an indoor cat and he started using the letterbox immediately when we put it down. We never trained him and I know for a fact that he did not have access to a litter box for at least the first 6 years we had him - and he was 6 weeks old when we got him. He just used to to the bathroom outside.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
[em]niceday[/em
My 11 year old cat that I have used to be an outside cat but about 5 years ago we turned him into an indoor cat and he started using the letterbox immediately when we put it down. We never trained him and I know for a fact that he did not have access to a litter box for at least the first 6 years we had him - and he was 6 weeks old when we got him. He just used to to the bathroom outside.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
[em]niceday[/em1 person likes this
8 responses
@celticeagle (167015)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Feb 13
Some animals just know. We had one kitten that just knew to go in the litter box and had never been trained or anything. It is odd isn't it. I saw a documentary the other day about cows. They are very smart.
1 person likes this
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
25 Feb 13
Cats are very smart animals. But I think they do learn from their mothers. Or maybe they are born to know that.
1 person likes this
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
26 Feb 13
its kinda neat to think, where do they all learn from even dogs.
1 person likes this
@mzz663 (2772)
• United States
27 Feb 13
I've had cats and kittens that were used to living outside and brought them inside. The easiest way to train them is to put them in a small room, usually a bathroom works good for a few hours. I put the food and water away from the litter-box but don't let them out of the room until they have used it a couple of times. Cats are smart!
I had one that wouldn't go in the litter-box and I picked up his mess with paper towel and dropped in in the litter box, he still wouldn't go in it until I picked him up, set him close to my hands and used the scoop to 'dig' in the box.
It never takes long. I don't think that cats or kittens need another cat to help them figure it out.
1 person likes this
@redredrose (1105)
• United States
25 Feb 13
sometimes i think cats know how to use the litter box from instinct. Tho sometimes i think they learn from the mother as well. Only when hubby and i had cats we had to tech them how to use it and such. I guess every cat is different just like people are different.
1 person likes this
@courtknee525 (3742)
• United States
27 Feb 13
I've always wondered about this too...especially since I have a kitten on the way. I think it may just be a natural instinct to do their business in the sand and they also might learn from their parents.
I know my cousin's friend got a kitten for Christmas and they had to train him to use the litterbox and they were always placing the kitten inside the litterbox. But I think that as long as they know where in the house the litterbox is, they'll find it and use it
1 person likes this
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
26 Feb 13
Although cats are smart, kittens may still need to be trained in using the litter box. Since they are still kittens, they still cannot jump over or get into the box if its too high or the walls are too big for them. You need to still train them or just put then inside it and let them do their thing. Afterwards when they are capable of climbing or jumping into it then the problem is solved. I believe cats are too smart, and even smarter than a dog I think.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
27 Feb 13
I really think that there is something about the litter box that is instinctive to cats. The reason that I believe this to be the case is because of the fact that the first cat that we ever had was a stray when we took him in and he started using the litter box just as soon as we got it. Then there is Callie who was born in a barn. We brought her home and they hadn't ever had a litter box before, they had used potty pads in their pin at my friend's mother's house and she started using the litter box immediately as well.
1 person likes this
