Can Kittens Use Hooded Litter Trays? 8 Facts You Should Know 09/2023

A hooded tray can keep them from seeing what to do and watching their mother and siblings, and the box itself has a higher edge that they usually can’t step over.

Hooded litter trays can help prevent messes, give cats and older kittens privacy, and reduce the smell of the litter box, but they shouldn’t be used on young kittens.

At this age, kittens are still small, so it’s best to give them a litter box with a low wall that they can step over.

Litter training is easy because cats and kittens naturally know where to go once they have been shown.

But giving your kittens the right environment is important if you want them to not only learn where to go but also use that space.

Hooded litter boxes are harder for small kittens to reach. If your kittens can’t see each other or their mother, they might not use the box, or they might not even try.

Your kittens might use the litter box outside or go somewhere else if you don’t watch them.

You can teach your kittens to use a hooded litter tray when they are a little older, bigger, and have figured out how to go to the bathroom.

How To Train A Cat To Use A Covered Litter Box

A lot of cats don’t have any trouble using their litter box. The problem usually happens when you put a lid or cover on a litter box.

Covered litter boxes are great for cutting down on bathroom smells, but they can make your cat’s litter box look scary and dark. To get past this fear, you need to teach your cat how to get in and out of the box lid.

For this training, I suggest using a target stick or a clicker and target stick together.

Start by taking off the top of the litter box, leaving only the pan. Use a target to lead your cat to the litter box. Then click and use a spoon to give them a treat. (Click here if your cat doesn’t already know how to target.)
Change your cat’s mind about the litter box so it stops looking at it. Click to get a treat.
Put the lid on the litter box. For now, take off any door flaps that can be taken off. Point your cat in the direction of the litter box. Click to get a treat.
If you can, add the flap and click, and treat your cat as it goes in and out of the box.
After a few trips in and out without the flap, you can add it.
If your litter box has a ramp, you can click on your cat, point to him, and give him a treat.
I think you should have a second litter box with just the pan and the litter in it until your cat is fully trained to use the one with the hood.

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Where to Place Your Hooded Litter Box

This is important. Cats feel vulnerable and defensive when they use the litter box, so they often turn their backs to a wall to avoid being caught off guard.

It might seem like a good idea to put your cat’s litter box in the laundry room or somewhere else more convenient for you, but we can guarantee that he won’t use it when the laundry machine or any other loud device is running.

Your cat will feel safe if you keep his litter box in a quiet, calm area of your home.

Also, make sure that your cat’s food and water are not near the litter box. Cats are very clean. They won’t use a litter box that is close to where they eat or drink.

Taking the Flap Out

You’ve done everything you can think of, but nothing seems to help. When the lid is on, your cat is too scared to use the litter box.

Or he might not know how to open and close the flap door. The flap door just needs to be taken off. To be honest, the flap door on your hooded litter tray doesn’t add much to its value.

If you want your litter box to have a flap door, all you have to do is teach your cat how to use it. Here’s what you do:

Call him over to the litter box and show him for a few seconds how the flap opens and closes.
Put your cat in the litter box in a calm way and see what he does. If he doesn’t come in, just call him and open the door a little bit. If he starts scratching at the door, just let him out the first few times. After he does the job, give him a reward.
Play this game more than once.
Don’t make the cat do anything if he starts to feel scared or stressed. Just pull him out and take the flap off until he is used to the box. Then try it again.

Alternate the Litter Tray with the Litter Box

If you’ve shown your cat the box without the lid and he still won’t use it (maybe he even went to the bathroom outside the box to show how upset he was), you’ll need to be a little more patient. You will have to do the following:

Bring back the old tray so he can use it that day.
The next day, put the new litter box somewhere without the lid for a short time. Several hours, if needed.
Start by adding a day, then another, and so on.
Extend the time until you see that he’s completely used to it and doesn’t need the old one anymore.

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Do cats prefer open or hooded litter boxes?

Some cats like their litter box to be open, while others like it to have a lid.

Their preferences are based on their personality, temperament, and other things, like where they live.

Cats prefer open litter boxes because they are more like what they would use outside.

As part of their natural safety and survival strategies, they need to be able to see what’s going on around them to know if an intruder is coming and if they need to defend themselves.

Even though people know that using the litter box in the spare bathroom is safe, cats just know to do it.

Some cats will like the privacy that a hooded litter box gives them.

Most cats can get used to either one at home with a little time, patience, and creativity. However, some cats may refuse to use a hooded litter box.

Other Things You Can Try

There are several products available to help calm your cat.You can use calming sprays and smells to make your home a better place for your cat. Catnip is another option, which is usually a good idea.

Put some of it in the litter box. It will get his attention, and he will learn to be motivated by something he really likes. It may be the best way to get him to do it without making him feel bad about it.

If your cat usually doesn’t care about catnip, try different kinds. Ours doesn’t care about some but can’t get enough of others.

No matter what you do, try to be calm and patient about it.

Your cat will know if you are worried or upset. Try all of our ideas as if you were playing with him, giving him lots of hugs and compliments along the way.

If you make it fun and good for him, he will get used to his new hooded litter box much faster.

The Cat Used It, But Now He Wont

It can happen, and it usually means one of two things: either something scared him while he was using it, and now he’s afraid to use it again, or you’re not cleaning it often enough.

Keep in mind that this is a closed box and that cats have very good noses.

Final Thoughts

Even if a kitten or cat doesn’t use a hooded litter box, they shouldn’t start using one at such a young age because it is too big and hard to handle.

Once a kitten is old enough, it can learn to use a hooded litter box, but some may not like it because they need to see what’s going on and have survival instincts.

If an older kitten or cat agrees to use one of these hooded litter boxes, they are a great way to keep the house smelling and looking clean.

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Princy Hoang

Co-Founder Dogshint at Dogshint

I’m a dog lover. I’ve had many experiences with dogs and I’d like to share them with you.

I have been working in animal shelter for the past six years and I have been raising the puppies of different breeds. I have had experience in training the puppies in obedience, agility, and other dog sports.

My main objective is to train the puppies to become good family pets. They should be well-behaved and trained to be loving, loyal, and obedient.

Contact me:

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Can Kittens Use Hooded Litter Trays? 8 Facts You Should Know