Cat Potty Training

Potty training your cat can be a process that involves a significant amount of patience, and the ability to deal with some “accidents” that may occur. However, it is important to be familiar with some of the basics of potty training a cat, as this is a very important part of overall pet care. Teaching your cat to be potty trained can be accomplished in a relatively short time, as long as you have the patience to properly potty train your cat.

Potty training your cat has several advantages, both to your cat’s health, and the overall cleanliness of your home. If a cat is not properly potty trained, they may try to relieve themselves in appropriate areas, such as in household plants. Cats have an instinctual urge to bury their waste, and may try to use the soil surrounding potted plants as a way to cover up their stools. This obviously creates a fair amount of tension between you and your cat, as you may feel frustrated that your cat is “violating” your household environment.

Once your cat is properly potty trained, this will also help to promote good hygiene in your household. If your cat is going to the bathroom in the proper areas, you will be able to maintain a clean and healthy environment in your house. The smell of cat urine is very distinct, and can be detected even in small amounts. Most cat urine smells similar to strong ammonia, and is extremely unsavory to the senses. If you purchase a kitty litter product that contains an odor-absorbing ingredient (such as baking soda) you will notice that you are not able to easily detect the smell of your cat’s urine.

However, potty training your cat is only one part of keeping your house clean and odor-free. As a responsible pet owner, it is your duty to maintain a clean environment where your cat can comfortably go to the bathroom. Even though cleaning your cat’s litter box can often be an undesirable process, it is very important that you clean your cat’s litter on a regular basis. Some cats will refuse to relieve themselves in a dirty litter box, and may stop using the litter box altogether.

If you potty train your cat, you may also save a significant amount on your veterinary bill. Your cat’s stool and urine condition can help you to easily identify if they are experiencing a medical problem, especially if it involves gastrointestinal symptoms. Any changes in the texture, smell and quality of your cat’s stool are always cause for concern, and may actually be indicative of a potentially serious medical condition. If you notice that your cat begins to have constant diarrhea, for example, this could be caused by any number of factors. Certain parasite infections may cause diarrhea, as can viral or bacterial infections. In any case, changes in your cat’s stool should be reason enough for you to schedule your cat to have an appointment with a veterinarian.