Kitten Accidents: How to Clean Up and Stop Repeat Spots

This guide is about kittens: why a new kitten has accidents, how to set up a small first space and a litter tray they can use, when to put them in the tray, how to clean each spot, and how to stay calm while they learn. It uses what International Cat Care, the Cornell Feline Health Center, Humane World for Animals, the ASPCA and the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) say. For an adult cat that has stopped using the box, see Cat Peeing or Pooping Outside the Litter Box: Cleanup Steps.

Why kittens have accidents

International Cat Care says:

"Kittens will often soil in the house when they're young if they are given immediate access to large areas. Kittens bladder and bowel control are not as developed as an adult cat, so your kitten must have easy access to a clean litter tray at all times."

Source: International Cat Care, Soiling indoors

Start with one room

International Cat Care's settling-in advice says: "Kittens, in particular, should be confined to one room". Its soiling article adds:

"It can help to keep your kitten in one room initially, with increasing periods to explore other areas after a few weeks. Placing more than one litter tray in the home e.g. one in the kitten's original room and one where they spend time the most time with you can help prevent accidents."

For that first room, it says: "Place the litter tray in a discreet corner of the room, with the food bowl on the opposite side and the water bowl away from both the food and litter tray." It also suggests: "Consider using the same litter that was used in your kitten's previous home and feed them the same diet for the first 1-2 weeks, so that at least initially, they will be familiar."

Sources: International Cat Care, Helping your new cat or kitten settle in; International Cat Care, Soiling indoors.

A tray a kitten can use

The Cornell Feline Health Center says: "Larger cats need bigger boxes, and kittens and elderly cats need boxes with low sides."

Humane World for Animals says a good litter box should be:

"Large enough for your cat to turn around comfortably"

"Low enough for easy entry and exit"

"Placed in a quiet, low-traffic, but accessible location away from food and water"

On placement, it also says to "Avoid placing boxes near loud appliances like washers, dryers, or furnaces", and: "Scoop waste daily to maintain a clean, inviting litter box."

Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling; Humane World for Animals, How to Litter Train a Kitten or Cat.

Put your kitten in the tray at the right times

International Cat Care says:

"Cats are very fussy about their toilet habits and kittens usually learn to use a litter tray by copying their mother. If your kitten hasn't discovered the litter tray on its own, you can place them in the tray when they wake up and after meals, or if your kitten is sniffing, scratching, or beginning to crouch and looks as if they're about to go to the toilet!"

Humane World for Animals adds: "Use positive reinforcement to train your cat or dog to eliminate in the proper place."

Sources: International Cat Care, Helping your new cat or kitten settle in; Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors.

Stay calm after an accident

Humane World for Animals' litter training guide says:

"Avoid punishment. Cats aren't acting out of defiance but are trying to meet their needs."

The ASPCA's list of what not to do includes: "Do not rub your cat's nose in urine or feces."

Sources: Humane World for Animals, How to Litter Train a Kitten or Cat; ASPCA, Litter Box Problems.

Clean the spot soon and thoroughly

The Cornell Feline Health Center says:

"Cats will re-soil and spray areas they have marked with their scent, so cleaning cat-soiled items is crucial for breaking the cycle of elimination. Cleaning is most effective when it's done soon after an item was soiled, and odors must be neutralized, not just deodorized, to escape a cat's keen sense of smell."

For a fresh wet spot on carpet or upholstery, Humane World for Animals says:

"Place a thick layer of paper towels on the wet spot and cover that with a thick layer of newspaper. If possible, put newspaper under the soiled area as well. Stand on this padding for about a minute and repeat until the area is barely damp. If possible, put the fresh, urine-soaked paper towel in your pet's designated "bathroom area." Rinse the "accident zone" thoroughly with clean, cool water and blot dry."

For a kitten, the designated bathroom area is the litter tray. Humane World for Animals also says: "Avoid using steam cleaners to clean urine odors from carpet or upholstery." Whatever cleaner you use, the CRI says "you should still pretest any cleaner on a scrap of carpet or in an out-of-the-way area of your carpet."

If the accident lands on bedding, see How to Clean a Pet Bed After an Accident and How to Get Pet Pee Smell Out of Clothes, Bedding and Towels. Kittens bring other messes too: How to Clean Cat Vomit and Hairballs Out of Carpet. For a list of supplies to have ready, see the new puppy and kitten cleanup checklist on petcleanupkit.com.

Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling; Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors; CRI, Cleaning and Maintenance.

Stop repeat spots

Humane World for Animals says:

"Once the area is clean, make it unattractive and/or unavailable to your pet and make the appropriate bathroom area attractive. As long as your pet can smell their personal scent, they may continue to return to the "accident zone.""

It also says: "If you have a black light, use it to identify soiled areas and lightly outline the areas with chalk." And: "The re-training period may take a week or more." More on this: Why Do Dogs and Cats Keep Peeing in the Same Spot? Raising a puppy as well? See Puppy Accidents: Cleanup Steps That Stop Repeat Spots.

Source: Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors

If accidents keep happening

Humane World for Animals says: "If your pet is having regular accidents, have them checked by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes."

Source: Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors

Using P-Cleaner

P-Cleaner is the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Foaming Liquid from Pet Cleanup Kit. The product listing says: "Our rinse-free, water-based formula tackles the toughest stains and odors from urine, feces, vomit, and other organic messes on carpets, rugs, upholstery, and hard surfaces." It also says: "Works on carpets, upholstery, tile, and more.", "No scrubbing necessary" and "Odor-Free & Residue-Free". Test it on a hidden spot first, as the CRI advises above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Still hunting for spots? The full kit includes a black light.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.