Found a kitten in my basement won't go in litter box - any suggestions?

Question

We live in an apartment in a huge house - the tenants that lived in the first floor apartment bought a kitten and then kicked it out when it was too much work. My husband and I were so upset when they told us what they did - we've been looking for this kitten for months. Well she showed up yesterday - and we were relieved. We are totally in love with her, but she won't go poo in the litter box and I'm not sure where she's peeing. We have another cat so it's hard to tell who's pee is who's, but she might be peeing in the box. We don't know. We can't keep her if she won't use the box. She's just so used to going wherever she wants outside. She's skinny and needs care and attention and I don't want to dump her in a shelter. I really need some solid advice here.

Answer 1

It is a good idea to constantly put the kitten in the litter box. She really needs to know where it is and learn to associate what it is. Take her paws and push them through the litter as though she was covering up something with litter to help her get a sense of the material. You probably should try and isolate her in a single room for a few days to weeks. You need to know what she is eating/drinking and if she is going in the box. If she is at all sick, you also would not want it passed on to your other cat. The other cat may also stress her out enough at this point that it may stop her from wanting to use the same litter box (i.e. the other cat's territory). Since the kitten has been a stray for awhile, it would be a very wise idea to take it to the vet to get checked out. Another reason it may not want to go in the box is because it has a urinary tract infection. Very common problem and easily fixed with antibiotics. Congratulations on the new edition to the family!

Answer 2

How sweet!!!! We just adopted a calico cat from the shelter yesterday. Cali, her name.

We found a black and white female stray. Abused by people who lived down the street and they finally dumped her. We were so used to having dogs we knew this was going to be a challange. But we knew we would NOT dump her at some shelter or pound.
What I did with Lucky, the stray cat and Cali the new adopted cat was after I fed him I placed him in the box. Letting him know it was there, and it would not hurt him. Since she is used to going wherever she wants this will be a challange. So after she eats, place her in there. If she does use the bathroom in there pat her, and give her a little fish treat. You can buy them for a dollar or so at a store. I put Cali in the bathroom, with food, water, a bed and a litter box. I go in there, and pet her every little bit and she got used to the box. Same with Lucky. Lucky used the litter box after the first week. Cali used it overnight.
Also, I'd report the people who dumped her. You can request your identey to be hidden.
I hoped this helped, and good luck!!!!

Answer 3

I would put her into a small space, a crate would be best, but if you don't have one of those, the bathroom would work too. (Just make sure the toilet lid is closed.)

Put a place for her to sleep and an uncovered litter box with fresh, clean litter in it. Make sure the litter box is cleaned daily.

Visit her often to get her comfortable with you, but let her stay in this small space for at least a week, maybe more.

She will get used to using the litter box and she will feel safe in the smaller space. After a week's time, open the door and gate off a larger area (that includes the original space - don't move the litter box). After being in that larger space for another week, she'll be ready for the run of the house. Just make sure she always has a clean litter box, it greatly increases the chances of her using it if it's clean.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Aww, thats sad! What you could try doing is every...hour or two put her in the litter box. If you other cat is going into the litterbox, take the kitten and make it watch the other cat. If the kitten goes in the litterbox, give her a little cat treat, like a little bit of tuna or a small shred of fish. If the kitten doesn't lock the kitten up in a room with a hard floor for the rest of the day. this is what we do with our shish tzu who wont wait to go outside. Make sure if you lock the kitten up that it wont jump over the barrier you use. It may sound mean to lock the kitten up but she will learn if you force her to.

Answer 5

How previous is that this kitten? The basement isn't the main suitable place for this kitten to be. in case you delivered him into your residing house to be a factor of your loved ones then I advise which you attempt and do this from the commencing up. a bathing room, or maybe your mattress room is a sufficiently small area to enable him come across until eventually now each and every thing. shop a clutter container, nutrition and water, and your kitty interior the bathing room the place he can hear what is going on around the residing house and likewise have touch with you while you're interior the bathing room. you additionally can leave a mattress for him and a few toys for him to play with. enable him out of the bathing room for a while daily a pair cases an afternoon and quickly you and he would be quickly pals. carry him, kiss him, feed him, refer to him and maximum of all be reassuring to him. basically leaving a cat interior the basement with no longer human interplay and basically the radio isn't a sturdy subject and your cat would possibly no longer grow to be very socialized to human beings as he grows.

Answer 6

I found a stray once. what we did was everytime that cat ate we would physically bring it to the box and physically take its paw and make it scratch the litter. After a few weeks, the cat got it!
maybe they should have separate boxes at first? i never had more than one cat at a time so I am not sure how the training would work in that case.

Answer 7

Oh this is such a loving thing for you all to do. I am sure in timne she will catch on, but you are right about her habit since she has been "wild" for a while. Check with some on line sources for cat behavior. Call some vets and just ask. Try putting more than one cat box around and see if she gets the idea to use those, then gradually reduce the number when she is regular.

Answer 8

FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, JUST PUT HER IN A ROOM WITH HER OWN LITTER BOX, FOOD AND WATER. KEEP HER IN THERE WITH THE DOOR CLOSED FOR A FEW DAYS, YOU'LL FIND THAT SHE USES THE LITTER BOX AND LET HER HAVE HER OWN BOX AND YOUR OTHER CAT HER OWN BOX. THEY MAY EVENTUALLY USE EACH OTHER'S. ALSO AS SOON AS YOU CAN, TAKE HER TO THE VET, TELL THEM YOU FOUND HER AND WANT TO HAVE HER CHECKED OUT. SHE NEEDS UPDATED SHOTS AND TO BE CHECKED FOR WORMS (WHICH CAN EASILY BE TREATED IF SHE HAS THEM) SHE'LL GAIN WEIGHT AFTER SHE'S BEEN FED WELL FOR A WEEK OR TWO. POOR THING HASN'T BEEN USED TO EATING WELL, NOT HAVING ANYTHING BUT WHAT SHE CAN FIND ON HER OWN. PLEASE TRY THESE THINGS, I HOPE YOU GET TO KEEP HER . MY OLDEST CAT,LEAH, I RESCUED IN A SIMILAR SITUATION AND SHE IS SO APPRECIATE, SHE IS LOVING AND I KNOW I'VE GAINED HER TRUST. LOVE AND PATIENCE REALLY DOES PAY OFF. THANK YOU FOR RESCUING HER. oh, AND THE BEST LITTER ON THE MARKET IS SCOOP AWAY... TRY IT!

Answer 9

You are going to have to keep her confined to a small area with her food and a litter box until she uses the box. When you meet with success put her in a larger area. She will train to the litter box. Good luck.

Answer 10

If its a kitten, it could just dislike the feel of the litter. It could be to rough - use toilet paper or newspaper torn in shreds. Allow her to see the other cat use the litter box. (This is how kids learn, they watch their parents.)