Kitten doesn't cover his poop when he uses the litter tray?

Question

One of my kittens (both male, 9 weeks old) doesn't cover his poop when he uses the litter tray, even though his brother does.
He obviously knows what the litter tray is for, as he never goes to the loo anywhere else, but he seems to get confused when it comes to covering it up - he just moves the litter around rather aimlessly, completely missing the poop (and often treading in it in the process!)
His eyesight seems fine, as he has no trouble with his toys or with jumping off things or chasing his brother around the room. Will he grow out of it/learn the proper routine for loo times? At the moment, either I or his brother end up covering his poop - so will be learn from our example?
Pls help, I'm getting fed up finding little pooey paw prints on my carpet!!

Answer 1

I think your kitten will gro out of the 'non covering up poop' way and will start to cover it up. I have two females at 3 years old and they cover theirs up. We actually know when they are going as they go like clockwork. We can tidy it up straight away. They go straight after eachother so one will go at 9 then other at 9.10.
I know if one of my cats doesnt cover up her poop, the other - her sister - will hiss at her till she does it. Cruel but works.

Give him time, just keep doing what your doing and he will soon learn. Im sure you love him no matter what?

Answer 2

My three kittens would always try to use the litter tray at the same time and would rarely bother to cover the results. However, they would be very persistent in scratching quite pointlessly around the tray for a few minutes, spilling litter all around. In the middle of the night I'd often be woken up by the significant noise they managed to produce. Then came the recognizable smell - three cats at a time - if you can imagine that... And then all the three cuties would try to get into my bed, under the sheets!
They lived with me for a few months and as far as I know only the girl started covering eventually. The boys keep scratching around the litter tray for no apparent purpose whatsoever.
Their mother who still lives with me has always been very strict about all aspects of hygiene. Cats are just different...
Anyway, yours is quite young and it may just take some time before he learns :)

Answer 3

This is not unusual kitten (or cat!) behavior. They have the instinct to cover it up to protect themselves from predators in the wild. Some cats do this better than others - with so many years living as pets, the cat instincts may start to go away.

I would suggest feeding your kitten a food that will lessen the amount of stool and keep it harder. Ask your vet, but Iams has always worked well for me. Then I would be sure to remove the stool from the litter pan as soon as possible and completely change the litter once a day (especially with two using it).

Good luck!

Answer 4

my little almost 9 weeks old kitten sometimes covers it and sometimes not .. depending on the place she scratches .. just watch if he smells the poop and tries to cover it but does not succeed .. then there is no problem he will learn eventually but if he just gets out of the litter without attempting to cover that then you should just help in the process .. when he is done and still in the litter box try to cover the poop maybe then he will know what to do

Answer 5

he's only a kitty he will get better at it, some are a little slower than others, same as children/babies

put newspaper under and around the litter tray for now may help stop poop prints all over the floor

Answer 6

Neither of my cats cover theirs up - and they're both 13! Mind you, they don't rread in it, either. I think it's a personal choice for the cat, as we had a previous one who would try to dig through the bottom of the tray in her efforts to cover it up. It's great that my current two don't, as there isn't the spray of cat litter to wipe up everywhere!
Hopefully, yours will learn not to tread in it. He's only a baby - give him a chance!

Answer 7

my old year old cat has hardly ever covered his poop up.

ive had him since he was 8 weeks old and i was told its because his mum didnt teach him how to used the litter tray.
it could also be that he thinks its too dirty.

if i was you i would move the tray to a part of your house where there is no carpet. then it will be easier for you to clean.

Answer 8

while you're actual desperate, watch them heavily. while they seem to be they're approximately to bypass, grab them and placed them interior the muddle field. in the event that they conflict to get out, do no longer enable them to. additionally, take them to the muddle field a minimum of as quickly as of two times an afternoon, or around the situations you think of they might desire to bypass. and don't pass the muddle field the two. The cats might desire to get used to the comparable spot in case you want them to bypass purely in there. they are going to with any luck understand after a mutually as. If no longer you will possibly desire to communicate on your vet for extra helpful suggestion.

Answer 9

My boyfriends roommate has a cat that never covers his poo after he goes. He is a few years old and the behavior has never been corrected. We will be watching a movie sometimes and then someone will say oooh! I think Merlin just took a poo.

Answer 10

Is your kitten poo runny? Mine doesnt cover it up if it is really loose, then he comes over to me to clean his fuzzy bum off. Then I have to cover it up and spray because its really smelly. It kinda tells me he's been eating something he shouldn't have been. Don't ever feed him Temptations Dentabites with chlorophyll. Everything comes out runny and green.. Yuck. The regular ones are good though.