Here are the best litter for kittens training we’ll be covering:
- Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Kitten Attract Kitten Training Litter
- Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Paper Cat Litter
- Fresh News Recycled Paper Cat Litter
- Small Pet Select-Recycled Pelleted Paper Cat Litter
- Special mention: Fresh Step Litter Box Attractant Powder to Aid in Training
For first time cat-owners, the prospect of owning a kitten can be a bit daunting. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made when you bring a kitten home, including what litter you’re going to use.
Not all cat litter is made equal. Especially when it comes to kittens, you’ll need to choose a kitty litter that is safe.
Kittens often explore using their mouths, and might end up eating some of their litter. Therefore, your kitten’s litter must be “kitten safe”, so that they don’t accidentally consume anything toxic or dangerous. You also shouldn’t use any litters that contain fragrances, or harsh chemicals.
It’s also important not to let your kitten use any litter that clumps. These clumping litters are made of clay materials that naturally absorb the moisture in your cat’s urine to form clumps. While it’s no big deal to use a clumping litter for an adult cat, it can harm kittens if they end up ingesting any of the clumping material.
Clumping litters should only be used by kittens that are 3 months old, and are fully litter box trained. Instead of using clumping litter, a good option for kittens is a pellet-based litter!
Our recommendation for the best litter for kittens training
Gentle on paws: Your kitten’s paws will not be as tough as an adult cat’s. Look for litters that will be soft enough for your kitten to walk on comfortably.
Safe if Ingested: As mentioned above, you’ll need to choose a litter that doesn’t have any toxic or harsh chemicals. Clumping litters are also not suitable for kittens
No Fragrance: Fragrances can be treated like the harsh chemicals: potentially harmful for your kitten if ingested.
Attractant Litters: If you’re having trouble getting your kitten to use the litter box, you can try a litter with an attractant. These attractants are safe for your kitten, and can entice them to do their business in the box!
Now that you have some idea of what type of litters are appropriate for cats, here are our pick for the top 5 kitten litters available for purchase! Anyone of these products could be the best litter for kittens training, as long as you keep their specific needs in mind when making your purchase.
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Kitten Attract Litter
First up on our list is this great litter product from Dr. Elsey’s. This is a clumping litter, but it forms hard clumps that your kitten won’t be able to break off and ingest. It’s also all natural, 99.5% dust free, and features superior odor control.
Another reason this litter is great for kittens is the size of its granules. Their size and texture has been formulated specifically for the tenderness of kitten paws.
If you’re having a tough time getting your kitten to use a litter box, this is a great option to check out. It contains a kitten-specific natural herbal attractant to help entice your kitten to go in their box.
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat litter also utilizes a multi-cat formula, so it can be used by homes with multiple cats or kittens with no issue! Try it out to train your kitten to use the litter box without any issue.
Purina Yesterday’s News Odor Control Paper Cat Litter
One of the nice things about this product is it comes in a variety of sizes. You can try out a small bag and, if your kitten loves it, you can come back for a bigger one!
This Purina product also comes in three different formulas: original, soft texture, and clumping. While the clumping formula probably wouldn’t be the best for your kitten, the soft texture is great on their sensitive paws, unscented, non-toxic, and 99.7% dust free.
Purina’s Yesterday’s News litter is an effective odor controller, and its paper-based formula absorbs 3 times the moisture than clay litters. It’s also made entirely from recycled paper, so you can feel good about your purchase when buying this litter for your kitty.
Additionally, this litter is #1 U.S. veterinarian recommended eco-friendly cat litter, and the #1 U.S. veterinarian recommended litter for cats following surgery!
Fresh News Recycled paper Multi-Cat Litter
From Fresh News, this cat litter also comes in multiple sizes: a 12 pound pack or a 25 pound option. It’s made from 100% recycled paper, and a baking soda formula that helps to trap and neutralize odors.
If you decide to purchase the larger pack, you can utilize the resealable bag in the pack to help maintain its freshness longer. This product is also low tracking, meaning it’s unlikely to get stuck to your kitten’s paws and tracked all over your home, and completely dust free.
The soft pellets in this litter retain their form, which allows them to absorb 3 times as much liquid as any clay formula. Plus, with the baking soda in this product, you can rest assured that the odors from your cats box won’t escape into your house.
And, if you live in a home with multiple cats or kittens, Fresh News also has a multi-cat formula available!
Small Pet Select-Recycled Pelleted Paper Cat Litter
This Small Pet Select product is another great option for kitten litter made of recycled paper. It’s an environmentally friendly choice, and is totally non-toxic for your kitten’s safety.
Small Pet Select’s litter utilizes an all natural odor blocker instead of baking soda. This could be an imperative detail if you, your cat, or anyone in your home has an aversion to baking soda.
This litter is also completely dust free, and comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not happy with your litter, contact Small Pet Select. They have promised to make it right!
Conveniently, this product also comes in a variety of sizes. You can get the 10 pound bag to see if your kitten enjoys it. Afterward, you can come back for a 20, 25, or even 50 pound bag.
Fresh Step Cat Litter Box Attractant Powder
The last product on our list isn’t exactly a cat litter. However, it can make training your kitten to use the litter box significantly easier.
This litter box attractant powder can be used with any litter, and cats of any age. The all natural, herbal based formula turns any litter into a cat attracting litter, and will help your kitten know exactly where they’re supposed to go.
This product is proudly USA made, and doesn’t contain perfumes, deodorants, or chemicals. Each container is 9 ounces, and can be purchased separately or in packs of 3. Other than making sure you keep this stuff out of your eyes, there’s really no danger or risk of using it in your cat’s litter.
It’s incredibly simple to use, too. Just sprinkle on a generous amount of the attractor additive when adding new litter. Make sure that you’re cleaning your litter box daily, so the old attractant doesn’t get trapped in the litter.
If you’re still having litter training kitten problems, or looking for more information on your kitten’s relationship with their litter (and litter box), keep reading!
Tips for kitten litter training
Sometimes, getting your kitten to use their litter box is no short order. Here are some tips that might just get them going in their box, instead of on the floor:
- Introduce your kitten to their box as soon as you get her. This way, your cat will start to get used to it right away. Make sure you don’t move the box, as this might confuse your kitten.
- Set your kitten in their box after meals and naps. This can also be done if you notice your kitten behaving like she has to go potty. That includes sniffing or crouching in areas where they’ve been known to have accidents
- Reward your kitten when they use their box properly. Use a treat or a toy.
- Make sure not to punish your kitten for any accidents. Your kitten is still learning, punishing your cat can exacerbate any litter box problems.
If your cat is still having trouble getting down with their litter box, there are a couple troubleshooting options you can try. First, experiment with a different type of litter, or perhaps many different types. Sometimes, a cat can be very particular about the texture and smell of their litter.
Your cat might also dislike the box itself. Some cats prefer covered boxes, while others prefer uncovered. They could also be taking issue with the location of their box, so trying a few different locations might help!
What age should you start kitten litter training
Now that you’ve found the best litter for kittens training, you are probably wondering when you should start trying to start training your kitten.
The answer depends! Kittens can start to be litter trained around 4 weeks, around the time they start weaning. However, if you’re adopting a kitten, it’s likely you won’t get them until they’re several weeks older than that. For adopted cats, litter training can start as soon as you bring them home!
When should you stop stimulating your kitten
Mother cats groom their cats on a regular basis to encourage urination and defecation. This process is called stimulating, and it’s incredibly important to a kitten’s health. However, if you’re litter training kitten without mother, you might have to perform this stimulation yourself.
Kittens only need to be stimulated until they’re about 3 weeks old. That being said, this stimulation should occur before and after each feeding in order to promote proper urination and defecation. Between birth and three weeks, your kitten should be going to the bathroom at least once a day.
Where should you place your kitten litter box?
Cats, as we are probably all aware, can be incredibly finicky. They might not want to use their litter box simply because they don’t like the spot you’ve put it.
In order to avoid this conflict, you should put your cat’s litter box in the room they spend most of their time. You’ll also want to ensure that the box is in a low-traffic area away from food and water bowls, and is in a place that your cat can easily access.
Your cat’s personal preferences will also tie into their preferred box placement. Try some spots and see what works for your unique family! Hallways are a great space to try, because they’re open enough that your cat will be able to see any potential threats coming. That being said, if your hallway has heavy foot traffic, it might not be the ideal location.
If you live in a home with multiple cats, you’ll need multiple boxes to deal with all those personalities. And you won’t want to put these boxes right next to each other, either. Going to the bathroom is a vulnerable moment for a cat, and they won’t want to go right in front of another cat’s bathroom.
