Toilet training for the arrival of the new companion animal

After, or even before, the new acquisition has settled in (within a few days), the caregiver contacts his/her veterinarian, and usually asks these first two questions:
1. How do I “potty”-train the new arrival? Actually, this word “training” may be sending a wrong message. Cats usually gravitate instinctively to the litter box (see also below).
2. What do we feed the new member of the family?
Today we shall deal with potty/toilet training.

Toilet training of kittens/ cats/puppies/small house dogs
Usually, kittens/cats are “house” animals. They will decide where in the house they prefer to hang out. These predilection spots may be somewhere close to the ceiling, in the kitchen, on the sofa, or on the computer desk. Well, my first piece of advice is to not allow the kitten/cat to decide which area of the house it wants to occupy most. For example, the kitchen is a no-no. Too much can go wrong – mostly tripping you, God forbid – when you are moving a boiling pot of food or water from the stove to a table.
Similarly, to my Caribbean mind, the bed is no place for the cat, especially if you have even a low-grade allergy to cat hair. This makes one wonder why you chose a cat as your companion animal in the first place, and I really do not know what a low-grade allergy is. Once you start sneezing and develop red, watery eyes, you will feel quite miserable.
Also, it may look cute, and you can tell a good story about your cat’s accompaniment as you work on your computer – until you leave your workstation and cute kitty’s curiosity wipes out your unsaved data.

The rules of thumb are:
1. Keep those areas where you do not want the cat to be defecating and urinating closed off from cat meanderings, and
2. Choose an area for the litterbox where you can see the animal’s preference/ usage.
You will also need to purchase/construct a litterbox or a litter tray. Litterboxes are commercially available, but you can have one made. Also, you can use a flat cardboard box for the kitten/pup. A shallow plastic container would be best.
Please bear in mind that the size must be of such width and length that would allow the animal to turn around when it is fully grown. Cats seem to instinctively turn around their bodies before defecating and urinating.
Also, the depth must be low enough for the animal to easily jump out, but high enough to keep the content (stool, sand, litter) inside the container when the pet scratches after excretion.
Do not keep the litter box covered. The contents of the litterbox must be replaced as you deem necessary (at least weekly). Do not spray the box’s contents with Lysol or an air freshener. What is pleasant to you may be disgusting for a kitten/cat/ puppy/small dog.

Enthusing the kitten/cat/ puppy/small dog to use the litter box
Notwithstanding the investigative instincts of young pets to investigate and then use the litter box, it would help if the caregiver would assist the process by stimulating the kitten/puppy soon after its arrival to use the little box. One practical and successful method to help the pet to use the litterbox is to lift the animal into the box and move the front legs backwards and forwards in a scratching motion – preferably as soon as it is observed that the pet begins to defecate or urinate.
Please note that the kitten or pup should already have been weaned (no longer nursing) and introduced to solid food before it arrives at your home. We will deal with this matter when the discussion of feeding regimes commences.
At 3-4 weeks of age, the kitten/pup should be dewormed and exposed to the litterbox. The caregiver must ensure that the litter is not toxic or in any way dangerous to the young animal. Speak to your vet about the choice of litter. I usually advise against newspaper being used as litter for kittens and puppies. Certain litter products which are used for adult animals are anathema for kittens/pups if ingested or inhaled.
Keep the box that you intend to use (for pups/kittens) in an area which is clean and clear from clutter, and is accessible to them and easy to locate.
Finally, please be patient. Kittens/puppies can be slow learners. No punishment – like rubbing their noses in faeces and/or spanking them.