My Journey Getting a Stray Cat Litter Box Trained
So, this little stray started hanging around my back porch. Skinny thing. After a few days of putting out food, I decided to let him in, just for a bit, especially when it got cold. Big mistake? Maybe at first. Found a nice little wet spot behind the couch the next morning. Okay, challenge accepted.
First thing, I went out and got the basics. Didn’t get anything fancy. Just a simple, open plastic litter box. Figured a cat new to indoors might freak out with a lid or a door. And some litter. I grabbed the basic clay kind, unscented. Heard smells can put cats off sometimes, especially ones used to just dirt and leaves.
Found a spot for the box. Tucked it into a quiet corner of the laundry room. Out of the way, but easy for the cat to get to. Not near his food or water, obviously. Cats don’t like that.
Then, the introduction. I picked the little guy up gently and put him right in the box. He just stood there, looking confused. So, I took his front paws, real gentle like, and made little digging motions in the litter. He pulled away fast. Okay, maybe too pushy. I decided to just leave him be and let him explore it himself.
Of course, it wasn’t instant success. Found another accident, this time on a rug. This part’s important: You gotta clean that spot like your life depends on it. Soap and water isn’t enough. I used one of those special enzyme cleaners you get at the pet store. It breaks down the smell completely, so the cat doesn’t think “Oh, this is a toilet spot!”. If they can still smell it, they’ll probably go there again.
I started watching him like a hawk. Whenever he looked like he was sniffing around, getting low, looking for a spot to go, I’d quickly but calmly pick him up and put him straight into the litter box. Sometimes he’d just jump out. Sometimes he’d actually go! When he did use the box, even just a little bit, I’d tell him “Good boy!” in a soft voice right after he finished and hopped out. Didn’t make a huge fuss, just some quiet praise.
Trying Different Things
It took a few days. He still had accidents sometimes. I started thinking maybe he didn’t like the litter.
- Cleaned the box constantly. Like, scooped it twice a day. Strays are used to going in a fresh spot outside, maybe a dirty box was turning him off.
- The corner I chose initially? Maybe too dark? I moved the box near the back door for a day, thinking it might smell more like ‘outside’. Didn’t seem to make a difference, so I moved it back to a quiet spot, but maybe a bit more open than the first corner.
- I also tried putting a bit of soil from outside into the litter. Just a sprinkle. Thought maybe the familiar smell would attract him. Hard to say if this worked, but it didn’t hurt.
What really seemed to click was the consistency. Cleaning accidents immediately and thoroughly. Gently moving him to the box if I caught him in the act (or looking like he was about to act). Praising him quietly when he used it. And keeping that box super clean.
After about a week, maybe a bit more, the accidents stopped. He just… started using the box. Every time. It was a huge relief. Now he’s got the hang of it, uses it like he’s been doing it his whole life. Still keep it clean, scoop it daily. That seems key. It wasn’t magic, just persistence and paying attention to what the cat might need.
