How do you keep kittens from peeing outside of the litter box?

Question

They pee on the floor, my blankets, clothes, rugs.

Answer 1

Hi Crystal...I hope I can provide some helpful suggestions to get your kitty to improve his potty habits. Because questions can limit the ability the learn as well as share all the necessary details to determine the problematic causes and to provide solutions I will try to assume any possibilities to consider likely reasons as well as some helpful retraining ideas.

My first concern would be to determine if there's a likely chance that a medical reason is the cause for the inappropriate soiling. A veterinarian can take a urine sample to see if your kittens could have a urinary tract infection (UTI)/bladder infection, which isn't uncommon. I strongly encourage by having this test done soon because if left untreated it could develop into a kidney infection which is very painful and at times could cause lifetime problems with inappropriate soiling habits. Therefore, the sooner he's treated it may stop the inappropriate soiling habit as well.

But for now in order to control the inappropriate soiling and retrain your kitty it is best to isolate them into a small room with their litter box (food and water as well) until they consistently uses the box. Please don't fret by keeping them in this small room for awhile (such as a bathroom). As long as you provide them with food, water, fun toys and attention they will not become bored or neglected.

While they are confined to the small room it's imperative to remove the urine odour stains with a urine neutralizer product such as Nature's Miracle (PetSmart or Petco). If any hint of the odour remains a cat will continue to mark this area to cover it up repeatedly especially male cats. Ideally these areas will need to be soaked deeply and thoroughly in order to remove all of the urine scent as animals can smell even the slightest lingering odours which humans cannot detect. This product is considered to be environmentally friendly and effective if used as instructed.

As a feline trainer I have found that any time a cat has an accident it is best to not scold or punish a cat in any manner. The reason is that they will associate that whenever they need to go potty they will be punished for the act that nature intended rather than understanding it is WHERE they are going potty that is bad. Cats are unable to separate these two ideas so it's best to quietly clean up the accident and reward the kitty with favourite food treats whenever you catch them using their litter box. This way they learn that the box is a fun place because they'll be rewarded with yummy treats. This method can also be applied to train cats to scratch appropriate places versus bad places...whenever they scratch somewhere you do not want touched pick them up quietly and place them to the scratch post/toy and reward with food treats.

Finally, I didn't see any information in regards to your kitty's age and wondered if they have been spayed/neutered? At 12 weeks they are at the minimum age which can safely be altered. Male cats "at the earliest" (average being much later) can begin feeling the hormonal urge to spray at 5/6 months and females go into heat. So if they are not altered just yet and is over 5/6 months old this could also be a possibility.

Aside from the above suggestions there are also products such as Feliway to help calm stressed felines, which sometimes may or may not work. Dietary needs can also play a small role. These additional ideas however don't control the inappropriate soiling effectively as well as isolation into a small space and having a UTI exam. They are only supplemental in nature.

It's wonderful that you are trying to learn how to best resolve the inappropriate soiling quickly. I hope you will take into consideration some of the above suggestions.

Answer 2

Start the kittens out in a small room with a large litter box that is easy for them to climb in and out of. When you hang out with the kittens try to catch them in the process of going to the bathroom and then put them in the cat box. Don't punish the kitten for not going in the litter box, it won't do any good.

If the small room doesn't work, you can try keeping them in a large crate for a few days, but only a few days. Make sure to keep the litter box clean, and clean it out 2-3 times a day if you must. It won't take them long to figure it out.

Also make sure to keep your clothes and towels off the floor. Just so you know cats are attracted to peeing on those bathroom mats with the backing on them that prevents them from sliding around. So you might as well throw those out the door. If you have areas on the carpet that have been soiled by the kittens, make sure to use Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution on those spots. Pour it on the spot but don't dry it up, let it dry on it's own. This will help prevent the kittens from coming back to that same spot over and over again.

Answer 3

Keep putting the kittens in the litterbox. They usually master the skill in a few days. Clean the box frequently. You may need to have a second box. Have one that they can easily get in and out of. You may also need to try a different litter. Be prepared for messes for a little while. They would be better confined to a small area like a bathroom for a while - it's easier to clean, and I think it helps make them feel more secure. When I was fostering a mother cat and her kittens, I kept them in my spare bathroom until I knew they were litter trained - that was just a few days. I was able to let momma cat out for breaks when I was home. After the kids were litter trained they moved to a bedroom and lived there happily until they were ready to be adopted.

Answer 4

All kittens do not know how to use a litter box automatically. Sometimes the mother cat will teach them, others seem to just know how. Put them in a room that doesn't have carpet and put the litter box in there with them. Place each kitten in the box and help them dig with their front feet and see if they get the idea. Don't just let them have free run of the house or they will never learn to use a litter box.

Answer 5

Is their mother box-trained? Ordinarily, she'll do the job for you. If not, take to heart the prime kitty-box rule: a box for each cat and a spare just in case.
Never rub their noses in either the urine or the catbox! Especially if you only find the 'error'. Remember that cats are creatures of the Now, and that kind of minatory behavior just confuses them.
If you catch them at the evil deed, pick them up by the scruff of the neck-- just a few inches!--give them a gentle shake and deposit them in the actual litterbox. This works with all but the most stubborn of them.
You might also try, while they are young, restricting their area of possible offense by keeping them in just one room, properly supplied with litterboxes, till they get the hang of it. Probably, they are not registering a complaint, but just don't know what you expect of them, particularly if the mother is not providing them instruction.

Answer 6

Clean the litter box daily. (Never put the kitten's face into fecal matter as a form of deterrant.) In multiple-cat homes, some cats will demand to have their own litter box, so you may need more than one box to keep everyone happy. Some cats also prefer to have the box "hidden" from view (by a box or curtain) so they can have privacy when they evacuate.

Answer 7

They need to be confined to a small space,( like a bathroom which is easier to clean up) until they become "literbox compliant".

Do this immediately and get all this soft stuff washed really well.

It would help to have more information on the kittens -- their age, did they come in your house from an outdoor environment etc.

You might try www.littlebigcat.com. Dr. Jean Hovfe has about four articles on cats and litterbox issues. I have not read them and I am sure she covers kitten training in one of her articles.

Answer 8

Throw (well, not THROW, but you know what I mean...lol) your kitten in the litter box at any random moment. The scent from the sand is designed to signal to the cat that that's the potty for them. I just got a kitten a month ago and it only took him two days to master the potty box. I wonder what's taking yours so long?

Answer 9

You need to do the following:

1)Clean the litter box more often- cats are by nature very clean animals and as such, they have the instinct to bury their poo and to keep pee it in one place.

2)If the box is clean, rub their noses in it as punishment but ONLY when you've caught them doing it immediately.

3)Make sure the kittens get fixed, otherwise they might be marking territority for other male cats

Answer 10

I have this same problem right now...stupid cats. We've tried putting paper under the litterbox, surrounding it with plastic, even having multiple litterboxes in one spot. My bathroom is now The Desert of Litter.