Cats may require less care, attention and training than their canine counterparts, but it's still essential that they know what they're allowed to do in the home.
Indeed, one of the issues that many feline owners face is ensuring that their furry friend understands the idea of the litter tray, as no one wants to get back after a long day at work to find that their moggy has had an accident on the living room carpet.
Yet putting a litter box in the house and making certain that your cat knows when to use it are two completely different things, and some felines will take a while to get used to the process.
This is because cats are private animals, and by instinct they look to relieve themselves outdoors in open, unused areas - going to the toilet indoors may seem unnatural to them.
Add to this fact the way in which cats like to be clean and you can understand why not all felines instantly take to their litter trays, but the good news is that there are ways to encourage them to use their boxes.
One thing it's important to remember is that litter trays need to be regularly maintained and placed in a quiet area of the home, as your furry friend is likely to avoid it if it's dirty or located in a busy room.
If you've got more than one feline then it's a good idea to have separate boxes for each of them, while keeping the trays away from cat food and water is another sensible tactic.
Avoiding scented litter can be effective too as this can be very off-putting for some moggies, and if you're trying to train a cat that has previously lived elsewhere then it's useful to find out what litter they have used in the past.
As always with training pets, perseverance is key, and sometimes you may even have to pick up your feline and place them in the litter tray from time to time so as they can work out what they're supposed to be doing.
Written by: Hannah
