Is litterbox use instinctive or taught

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TCS - 25 Aug 2003 18:51 GMT

Help settle an argument: is litterbox use instinctive (kitties prefer to
poop in sandy box or where other poopy smells exist) or taught (by
mom-kitty or humans)?

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kaeli - 25 Aug 2003 20:00 GMT

> Help settle an argument: is litterbox use instinctive (kitties prefer to
> poop in sandy box or where other poopy smells exist) or taught (by
> mom-kitty or humans)?

It is taught. Usually by Mama.
Most cats (though not all!) want to cover their droppings by nature -
using the litter box for that purpose is learned.
Outdoor, indoor/outdoor, and previously stray or feral cats will often
prefer your houseplants because they learned to go in dirt.

If you take a feral kitten that has never seen a litter box, it will not
know what it is for unless you put soil in it. Then it sees the soil and
smells it as the familiar potty place and will use it. Gradually mix in
/ increase kitty litter into the soil to re-train.

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Arjun Ray - 25 Aug 2003 21:11 GMT

|> is litterbox use instinctive (kitties prefer to poop in sandy box or
|> where other poopy smells exist) or taught (by mom-kitty or humans)?

| Most cats (though not all!) want to cover their droppings by nature -
| using the litter box for that purpose is learned.

Yes, the correct answer is "both": there is an instinctive preference
for loose absorbent substrates, but they need help to get the right
idea.

| If you take a feral kitten that has never seen a litter box, it will
| not know what it is for unless you put soil in it. Then it sees the
| soil and smells it as the familiar potty place and will use it.

Not quite, although soil can help.

What usually happens is that a feral finds a choice of places to go, and
can't tell the right place from a wrong one. I've had no trouble with
ferals - juveniles or adults - by ensuring that the litterbox is the
only place inside the pen offering the right "feel". Thus, to start, no
thick wads of newspaper, no towels or soft bedding, etc. until they've
"discovered" the litter box. They catch on quickly.

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m. L. Briggs - 25 Aug 2003 21:33 GMT

>Help settle an argument: is litterbox use instinctive (kitties prefer to
>poop in sandy box or where other poopy smells exist) or taught (by
>mom-kitty or humans)?

I feel it is instinctive. A number of years ago I was feeding some
ferals. A couple of the mothers brought several very young kittens.
I filled a pan with litter and put it out and one by one all of the
babies ran and climbed into it. I was truly amazed. I didn't observe
any of the adult cats using it. MLB

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k - 25 Aug 2003 22:34 GMT

Instinctive.
As illustrated by 11 out of 11 baby kittens.

> Help settle an argument: is litterbox use instinctive (kitties prefer to
> poop in sandy box or where other poopy smells exist) or taught (by
> mom-kitty or humans)?

Reply to this Message