It is necessary to stimulate kittens until they are about 3.5 - 4 weeks old (Refer Stimulating Newborns to Potty). At this stage, they can be slowly introduced to kitten food or solid foods - boiled fish or chicken. It may come as second nature to kittens to know where to litter. If they do, that's great! However, most kittens do not.

First, let the kitten inspect the sand. Place them in it and let them get to know their surroundings. Do not move the litter box after it is placed, to avoid confusion. Do this right after they wake up from a nap or after eating, or if they show signs of discomfort or squatting in a corner, or sniffing certain areas. It helps to stimulate their end gently with a tissue to help them potty. Once it is done in the litter box, they will know where it should be done.

It is very important to know that this takes time and there may be accidents. Do not punish them for it - they are still getting used to doing things on their own. Whenever you see them using it, it helps to praise them or give them a treat as a reward for good behaviour, so they continue doing so.

However if this still doesn’t work, here’s a last resort which has helped some kittens. Take a bit of sand from places you know other cats have been, and sprinkle it in the litter box. Avoid putting litter in it to avoid contamination. Take normal sand, add the sand that other cats have used on top of it, and place the kitten in it. Smelling another cat's scent makes them  want to mark the area, or helps them know that they can defecate there.

A litter box and a scoop can be purchased at K-9, Daraz, or Cat Litter Sri Lanka. Cat litter is more beneficial compared to normal sand, if the kitten is to be a house cat, as it has no odour and is very easy to clean. 100% biodegradable and flushable soya litter can be purchased at Cat Litter Sri Lanka.

It is very important to clean the litter box. Urine will clump up the litter, same goes for the area surrounding faeces. This should be scooped and flushed on a regular basis, daily.

If the above do not work, seek help from a vet. Do a check up if the kitten has not passed any urine or faeces in a period of time.

Photo by  Pedro Candeias from Unsplash.