How to transition my cat's litter box from upstairs to basement?

You are correct that moving the litter box is the likely cause of them not using it any longer. I am wondering if anyone has taken them down to the basement to show them where the litter box is now placed. If they haven't been shown where it is, they would go on the carpet. I would take them down to the litter box in the basement, and show them where the litter box has been moved. You will have to clean the carpet with an enzyme cleaner to get the smell of their urine and feces out of it. You can also consider moving the litter box back upstairs in another room, such as the bathroom.

This could be tough if the cats have never used covered boxes before. If you have any of the used litter from the old boxes, put this in the boxes so it has their scent. Make sure to use the same type and brand of cat litter. It may help to leave the boxes uncovered for a few days o allow the cats to get in the habit of using the new boxes, then put the cover on. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Start now with closing the cat door at night and keeping Kitter in with a litter box available. After a few days or a week keep him inside only. That way he will adjust before the stress of moving. Most cats naturally use the litter box but you may want to confine him to a smaller area with the box at night when he's in. Use plain litter without fragrance and clean it daily and fully empty it and scrub it with mild dish washing soap weekly. Cats are fussy and if the box is dirty they can start going out of the box. Also pick up bath mats and laundry so he doesn't start urinating on those. He should be fine, most cats adjust well. Make sure you play with him a lot and he may enjoy a cat tree since he is probably used to more exercise when he's outside. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kitter.

It can be stressful for cats to move into a new home. There are a few simple things you can do to help them litter train in your house. First, have at least 1 litter box per cat plus one; therefore, if you just have the two kittens, I would recommend 3 litter boxes. Second, make sure the litter box is large. The kittens will keep growing, and if it becomes too small, they won't use it. Third, some cats don't like covered litter boxes and some like them. You can try to boxes covered and uncovered, and see what they like best. I would recommend using the same litter that was used at their old home because they are used to the smell and texture. Make sure their litter boxes aren't close to their food and water, cats don't like to use the bathroom near their food source. While you are litter training them in your house, don't let them have free rein of the house when you are gone. Place them in a small room with their litter boxes while you are away from the house, and provide them with water and a place to sleep at the opposite end of the room from the boxes. Make sure you clean the litter box daily. If they continue to have problems going to the bathroom outside the litter box, it may be a health issue, and I'd recommend bringing them into your vet for a health check.

Substrate preference can be very difficult for cats! I would start by moving the pee pads into an empty litter box to get the kittens used to going in and out of it, and then gradually begin to add in a little litter over the pee pads, until they can be transitioned from it to the litter fully. You may also need to try a few litter types, such as paper or corn cob litter, that may be closer in substrate feel to the peed pads and may encourage them to use it. Daily scooping and making sure the other cats aren't bullying the kittens away from the box can also help reduce accidents. I would also keep any area rugs and the like away from the potty areas so they don't confuse the two. You can also use an enzymatic cleaner to help clean up any accidents and break down urine particles that may be encouraging them to keep using the spot.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is often solved by trying a different cat litter and adding another litter box in the household. I think trying this would likely help you very much. He is also absolutely adorable! Good luck!

I love that you have already switched to the unscented litter as that can be a big problem for many cats. Putting the litter box in the shower is a great idea. I would also make sure to clean up the spots he went outside the litterbox using an enzymatic pet stain cleaner to ensure he does not keep smelling urine/feces there and think that it is akin to a litterbox. Other things, like cleaning the litter box often, having multiple litterboxes which are different types of boxes, and trying different types of litter (such as fine-grain litter) may also help you figure out what type of litter Mittens likes. While it certainly sounds like Mittens is having trouble getting used to his new litterbox, it is important to remember that internal diseases (like organ, hormonal, or orthopedic diseases, among other possible causes) can cause Mittens to have a hard time making it into the litterbox so it is important to take Mittens to your vet for evaluation to make sure we are not missing something else that is making it hard for Mittens to make it to the litterbox. I have attached a link to an article with more great suggestions below. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-train-your-cat-to-use-a-litter-box/