bought covered litterbox... how to train?

[sirrahved]

I got a really nice litter box for the bedroom (should have one anyhow, occasionally they get shut in there) and I'm wondering how to train them to it? We thought we should leave the cover off first, and then after they've used it to put the cover on. Is this the right way to go?

[DogLover9501]

This might sound dumb lol but what is a covered litter box?

[DogLover9501]

Ahhhh nevermind! I think I know now Sorry

[jazzcat]

When I brought Jazz home as a kitten I used a covered box for her in the guest room where I was keeping her until she was healthy. Once I let her out in the house with Ripley he went in the guest room and ran right to her litter box. He'd never seen a covered one before but he went right in and used it, no training needed. He thought it was really neat.

The funny thing was that he is so big he could hardly turn around in it and he would have to step half way out to use. It was hysterical.

Anyway, you may not have to train them to use it. They may instantly love the privacy and just automatically use it.

Good luck.

[emily_the_spoiled]

I have three covered litter boxes (out of four) and the cats just "took" to them without any problems. What I did was a couple of days without the lid (i.e. plain old litter box), and then about a week without the door of the litter box. I decided not to use the door portion because the Tanner (my youngest) was attacking Emily (my only female) as she was coming out of the box. It got pretty nasty between them for awhile, but letting her see who was waiting for her solved the problem.

Good luck and you are going to enjoy the covered boxes!!

Cheryl

[RedHedd]

Good tips here -- yes, start with the cover off to get them used to it; then put the cover on. I decided not to put the door on Mitzi's as it scares her - each cat is different, so experiment and see what works. Mitzi now likes to sleep on top of her covered litter box the little minx!

[Cinder & Smoke]

With the Covered Litterbox COVER...

While you're *cleaning* the BOX!!!



Boots, da Kat, "inherited" a standard height (~2" deep) litter pan...

And he became quite *adept* at excavating HUGE quantities of
litter "over the side" and ALL over the bathroom!

Enter: the *NEW* & *Improved* SUPER-DEEP (10-12") HIGH-side Box!
(WITH *Lid*)

Big enough for a small Mountain Lion...

To "break him in" - the Cover was left OFF for a few days...
He seemed to enjoy the *hop* required to jump over
entrance doorway; and could *dig* & *shovel* to his heart's content.
KAT & Dad were *happie*!

Week 2...
The Cover went ON...

said da Kat!! WHUT'Z DIS!!??

I *helped* him in IN...
He spent 15 minutes *exploring* his new Cave!
All seemed well... He *USED* it!

But it was a pain in MY butt to remove the cover to "scoop" ...
The cover stayed in service for about 10 days until the
next scheduled "Cleaning Day" arrived...

Without much thought;
I removed the Cover and set it on the floor,
and disappeared to the basement to dump & wash the BOX part...

I returned, bearing the washed BOX with fresh litter, to find ~

Da Kat... *INSIDE* the COVER (on the floor) ~
DIGGING, for all he was worth, on the lenolium floor...

Out he came;
delivered a Head-Bumpie and a Leg Rub ;
and wandered out of the bathroom...

I set the BOX down in its customary place,
and then picked up the COVER...

To discover that ~
da KAT had left a LARGE *DEPOSIT* - UNDER the Cover -
ON the Floor!!

Memo to Self:
Take the Cover **WITH** the Box next time!!

"Self" forgot that lesson 10 days later...
And we had a Repeat of the pooh on the floor...

It was Mutually Decided that the COVER...
Was not really necessary...
It sits, unused, in the basement.



/s/ Phred

[sirrahbed]

Sounds like you have good advice here. Whenever I have had covered boxes - the cats just knew what they were for but a few days of uncovered sounds good. So sorry to hear about the peeing!! That is SO aggravating! We went through it also and it is so hard to find the culprit. We were blaming the wrong cat for years until I caught the one doing it!! By that time, the entire house of carpeting was ruined - even baseboards had to be ripped out. But, you are on the right track and with two cats - should be easier. Do you suppose Marsh could have a UTI? Hope you figure it out Devon. Separating the two for awhile may be the ticket. VERY frustrating.

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke


I returned, bearing the washed BOX with fresh litter, to find ~

Da Kat... *INSIDE* the COVER (on the floor) ~
DIGGING, for all he was worth, on the lenolium floor...

Out he came;
delivered a Head-Bumpie and a Leg Rub ;
and wandered out of the bathroom...

I set the BOX down in its customary place,
and then picked up the COVER...

To discover that ~
da KAT had left a LARGE *DEPOSIT* - UNDER the Cover -
ON the Floor!!

OMGOSH! TOO funny Phred!!

[NoahsMommy]

Our fuzzies investigated the covered boxes as soon as we brought them home, no training needed.

[catmandu]

I bought covered litter boxes, but my Cats got a little tubbyAnd three of them are outside so that the Strays can get out of the Canadian Cold , at least for a while!