My new kitten is eating cat litter?

Question

I just got my new kitten today, we settled on calling her Bella. When I have tried to put her in the toilet tray, all she does is eat the litter. I'm quite concerned about his. My other two cats never done this when they were little. What should I do? Would she eat it if I put fresh soil in their instead? Please help as I don't want her to get sick?

Should I just put in fresh soil in the tray instead of litter. My Nan always used soil for her kittens.

Answer 1

Its normal i have 3 kittens and there first time being in the liter box they would eat it but stoped now i think its because its something new and the want to smell,touch,eat it your kitten will stop once it gets to no what it is and knows what its for your kitten shouldnt do it anymore I hope this helped.

Answer 2

Does the kitten know how to use the litter box yet? If not, a good idea is to take hold of their front paws and make them scratch the litter to help them get the idea what its for.
You could try restricting the use of the litter box until just after the kitten has eaten or drank and place her in the box, she will not be hungry so may not feel as tempted to eat the litter and it will get her used to the general idea of what the litter box is for.
What litter are you using? You could try using a different litter, perhaps the wood based as this is made of hard pellets which turn into sawdust when they get wet, they would be very difficult for the kitten to try and eat.
Good luck with the kitten.

Answer 3

Cats are well-known for being fussy eaters, always demanding the freshest, tastiest foods. But occasionally a cat will go to the other extreme and begin snacking in the most unappetizing of places, the litter box.

Eating litter isn't necessarily dangerous, although cats that take more than a small nibble may get obstructions in their intestinal tracts. The real problem isn't the litter lunch itself but the underlying condition that is causing them to take up the habit.

"A cat that suddenly starts eating litter is almost always sick," says Jane Brunt, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Towson, Maryland. For example, cats with anemia, a condition in which the body doesn't have enough red blood cells, will sometimes eat litter. Vets aren't sure why they do it, but it may be nature's way of getting more iron into their systems. Cats with kidney disease or feline leukemia will also eat litter on occasion, she says.

"Cats with poor diets, especially those given vegetarian diets, may crave nutrients," adds Carol A. Tice, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Cary, North Carolina. The clay used to make litter is rich in minerals and may act as a natural supplement. Cats that keep eating litter, however, may actually lose nutrients because the clay will leach out more minerals like iron, zinc, and potassium than it puts back in.

But I also read that kittens will often experiment with eating litter.

Answer 4

I posted exactly the same Q only last week when we got our new kitten. as its a new kitten its just curious and trying to eat anything and everything (including my feet) our kitten stopped doing it the following day as she soon realised that

1: it doesnt taste very nice
2: The food we give her is much nicer

So dont worry too much unless she keeps doing it after a couple of days. keep a close eye on her.

Answer 5

Hi I have 4 kittens and one of them did this, they just like to play in it.

They are just learning. Has it a top. Or have you just got the bottom of the litter tray?

Answer 6

instead of litter what about torn paper? kittens do wee in paper so that might be an idea..

Answer 7

try some grass cat and kittens like to eat grass it helps them to digest their food and it makes them throw up hair balls as well.

Answer 8

feed her in a separate room may be by hand so she'll know that you would never do that

Answer 9

They like to try new stuff...just don't let him eat his own poo...

Answer 10

i think she just like to play in it.