Advice - litter box placement

[heather]

ok I've brushed up a bit on litter box training but have some circumstantial questions and wanted to ask for some advice. I think I'm making it more difficult than it actually is...

I live in a condo and decided on putting the litterbox in the upstairs spare bedroom. I spend 90% of my time downstairs. I know I'm going to want to spend time with my kitten, Sophie, downstairs. I don't want to cause issues with her litter box training with her box being upstairs and spending most time downstairs.

I've read its not best to give a kitten "full reign" of the house first but my condo is not that big.

Should I confine her to just the upstairs for a while? Then just bring her downstairs to hang out for a while then back upstairs? the other thing is I want to keep her food/water downstairs- should I have it upstairs at first then move it when she goes upstairs on her own to use the litter box?

At 15 weeks old should this be a quicker process since she should already be used to using a litter box?

I guess the whole up/down stairs thing is throwing me off.... thanks everyone!

 

[saintbabby]

I guess the whole up/down stairs thing is throwing me off.... thanks everyone!

maybe you should wait to put it up there until its a little easier for her to climb a flight of stairs. shes probably going to be quite small still, so it might be hard to make the trek upstairs. keep it downstairs where you are for a while so that way you dont have to separate yourself from her because you want her where the litterbox is, but i assume youll still want to be able to sit in front of the tv and pass time with her while shes new. so keep it downstairs for a while. then when she grows maybe you could put it in the new spot, just be sure to show her exactly where you put it, or she may just make her own catbox in a dark corner somewhere!

 

[Brooke]

maybe you should wait to put it up there until its a little easier for her to climb a flight of stairs. shes probably going to be quite small still, so it might be hard to make the trek upstairs. keep it downstairs where you are for a while so that way you dont have to separate yourself from her because you want her where the litterbox is, but i assume youll still want to be able to sit in front of the tv and pass time with her while shes new. so keep it downstairs for a while. then when she grows maybe you could put it in the new spot, just be sure to show her exactly where you put it, or she may just make her own catbox in a dark corner somewhere!

Yep, I agree with saintbabby. Or, consider getting 2 litterboxes for now - 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs. Once she's gotten used to climbing the stairs, you can get rid of the downstairs box - slowly, of course! As for the food dishes, cats generally don't like to have their food near their litter boxes, so I'd find a convenient place downstairs for those since that's where you (and the kitten!) will spend most of your time.

Good luck!

 

[admin]

Our litter box is upstairs and food/water is downstairs. Just show the kitten where the box is upstairs and i dont think you will have a problem.

 

[ilovemysphynx]

Our litter box is upstairs and food/water is downstairs. Just show the kitten where the box is upstairs and i dont think you will have a problem.

Ok so Admin has never actually seen the litter box or the food for that matter
Our litter box is downstairs in the sunroom and the food is in there too ( on the other side of the room) we have A litter box upstairs in the spare room but only because that is where Athena and the babies are, other wise we just have the one in the sunroom because there is A door and the dogs can not get too it!

Maybe I should stop cleaning it so he knows where it is?:Laugh:

 

[heather]

Ok so Admin has never actually seen the litter box or the food for that matter
Our litter box is downstairs in the sunroom and the food is in there too ( on the other side of the room) we have A litter box upstairs in the spare room but only because that is where Athena and the babies are, other wise we just have the one in the sunroom because there is A door and the dogs can not get too it!

Maybe I should stop cleaning it so he knows where it is?:Laugh:

I cracked up when I read this because my bf is going to be the exact same way. I tell him all the time I don't want to have kids with him because I'm afraid he's never going to change a diaper. I also may have said he's kind of like having a kid. Thank god I love him!

 

[heather]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I think I may have to do the two litter boxes-temporarily- the more I think about it. So when I sleep at night (upstairs) I won't worry if I just put a box downstairs.

 

[CoolSphynx]

Ok so Admin has never actually seen the litter box or the food for that matter
Our litter box is downstairs in the sunroom and the food is in there too ( on the other side of the room) we have A litter box upstairs in the spare room but only because that is where Athena and the babies are, other wise we just have the one in the sunroom because there is A door and the dogs can not get too it!

Maybe I should stop cleaning it so he knows where it is?:Laugh:

 

[kalliee129]

Ok so Admin has never actually seen the litter box or the food for that matter
Our litter box is downstairs in the sunroom and the food is in there too ( on the other side of the room) we have A litter box upstairs in the spare room but only because that is where Athena and the babies are, other wise we just have the one in the sunroom because there is A door and the dogs can not get too it!

Maybe I should stop cleaning it so he knows where it is?:Laugh:

you guys crack me up