Why do my 2 kittens choose the carpet and not the litterbox?

Question

We got these two kittens at the same time they are about 4 months old. And ever since we got them they have been going to the bathroom on the carpet. We have tryied putting the cat box right next to their "favorite" location but they still choose the carpet. And we have to choose the covered cat box cause the dogs will eat the cat poo. as they do now when its on the carpet.

Answer 1

Hi Richina...sometimes kittens need a little help with litter box habits with retraining. A large home/apartment can be overwhelming for a young kitten to make it back to the box in time. Consider confining them into a smaller room with their litter box with food, water, bedding, toys for a short while until they become consistent with using the litter box. The dogs may be also interferring with the ability ot have some privacy so isolating the box in a room away from the dogs also will help with retraining litter box habits. Be sure to clean the box frequently to help encourage them to use it. No one likes to use stinky/dirty bathrooms and this is no different for young kittens.

Answer 2

Some cats will not use the litterbox if they have to share it with another cat; it may help if you get 2 litter boxes.
Also some cats will not use the litter box unless it is very clean; I have two cats, one doesn't seem to mind, and the other one will go outside the box unless it is scooped several times per day, and changed at least once a week.
Also, if cats are under any stress, they tend to do this.
You said you have dogs living in the house also, do they and the cats get along?
Are the cats male? If so, and they are not neutered yet, they will urinate and spray outside the litter box.
When you clean the carpet, blot up as much as you can, clean it really well, and blot some white vinegar on the spots, this neutrailizes the odor that only the cats can smell. If they smell urine, even if you can't, their sense of smell is so much greater than ours, they will go in that spot over and over. Get a product such as odor-ban and apply a diluted solution of it after the vinegar dries.
Another tip: either get bitter orange or bitter lime from the pet store and spray it to the area they are using, or use some fresh citrus rind (any kind). Cats hate the smell of citrus oil and will avoid those areas treated with it.
If your cats are not neutered and are male, I would reccommend getting them fixed, I had one cat that peed and pooped everywhere and he has not done it but 1 time since he was neutered 8 months ago. They can be safely neutered at 5-6 months old.
I wish you success with this problem, I know how frustrating it can be!

Answer 3

First off, my ? for u is this, do u live in a brand new home? If not, then maybe some other animal has gone on the carpet before, cats have VERY good senses, they can pick up on the smallest of things, like other animals that have done those things before. AND, how long have u had them, did u just get them(at 4 mo old) if so, maybe they might have picked up that habit at where they used to live, u never know. It IS a VERY BAD habit and is VERY hard to break. Try putting them in a carrier, large enough for both of them, their food and water, and a small box of litter, and see what happens. Surely by doing that they will get the picture. After a few days of that, then that should break them of the habit. Good Luck.

Answer 4

I know that you are doing what is recommended with the potty box when they go on the carpet. But, something I learned early on when we got our two cats early last year: we had to have two cat boxes or one would go on the floor!! Cats will try to go potty over the other ones spot to outdo them, to mark their ground, etc. So, if there is only one box, then they will compete to see whose box it will end up being.

Plus, these guys are only 4 months old. One of our cats had kittens (4). Three died. The one that lived I potty trained myself. It took him from 1-3 months to be fully trained. Were these two potty trained when you got them? Is the box cleaned daily, or more than once a day since there is only one box for two of them? Do they not like the cat litter? What did you clean the carpet with on the spot where they pottied on the carpet? Our kitten, who is now 5 1/2 months old, got fixed last week and he pottied on the floor only once. I immediately cleaned it up, then sprayed Clorox Clean Up on it, soaking it with that. It has bleach in it. He never pottied on the floor again! I believe it was because his 'area' was very swollen and couldn't tell until right then that he had to go and couldn't make it to the box. Other than that, he has gone in the box--always.

Plus, since you just got these two, they may be very stressed about the change to a new home, being with a strange dog, new people, etc. I would suggest instead of letting them roam around the house freely to lock them up into a room (say the bathroom) with their food, water, and potty box. Go in and play with them often, put them in their box after they eat, drink, play, or sleep so they know to go potty there and not elsewhere. If they are in a small room, they should calm down in a few days. They may have had too many changes, and let loose too early in the new household.

These are just my ideas. I am no expert, but I have learned from my cats and from reading things about cats and kittens. Maybe you could call a vet about it? Maybe they will have ideas. Good luck!

Answer 5

I have a cat of my own and she was horrible at potty training lol. My room was soo bad cause thats where she loved to go. I couldnt handle it anymore and thought why she kept going on my carpet but maybe its your litter your using. Cats LOVE a nice smelling litterbox believe it or not! If they smell it fresh and clean, they will start to go. But they need help, listen you have to MAKE them go in it. Take them to the litter box and put them inside of it. If they get out, put them in again and keep doing it till they go. Trust me it helps out soo much, thats what I did. And also it may be if they arent spade or neautured you know? Cats tend to mark there territory like dogs if they havent been spade or neautured but anyways I hope I helped and goodluck to you.

Answer 6

You cats are reacting to the dogs in the house, maybe they smell something in the carpet. I would purchase pet no spray, which you can buy in the pet dept. at Wal-Mart, which is the cheapest store, if used correctly it works well. We have several cats and two dogs.

Answer 7

I think you should keep these untrained animals outside and you'll save yourself a lot of heartache.

Answer 8

Do they have a mother? If they don't, then i think they're not potty-trained.

Answer 9

show them whos boss