My boyfriend rescued a kitten who is female and seems to be under a year. She is very content and active, but doesn't seem to understand the litter box we have for her. Does anyone have any tips for training her and for finding a family for her?
2006-12-30 15:45:58 · 10 answers · asked by Lost 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
YOu gently put her on the litter box after she eats, after she drinks, first thing in the morning, last thing at night, gently take her front paw and have it scratch the litter. It can take a lot of patience but if you are always very gentle and consistent and if seh stays indoors all the time she will get used to it. She may only be used to going outside to do her business so keep her inside for a couple of weeks to train her and always be consistent and very gentle. You do not want any negative feelings in her for the box!
Can't you and your boyfriend keep the poor little thing?
Find some people in your neighborhood who love cats and ask around for cat lovers and tell them you have a nice cat but first make sure she uses the box.
2006-12-30 15:49:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Place the litter box in a clean, relatively quiet and accessible location. Keep it away from high-traffic areas and be sure your cat has access to it any time she needs it. Be sure to keep the litter box out of reach of children as well as the other animals in the household.
Show kitty where it is. Place her in the box and let her sniff. Some people have found it useful to rake their fingers through the litter to show their cat what they want her to do.
If you have more than one cat, consider a separate litter box for each. Cats generally don't like to eliminate in the same place as other cats.
Keep the litter box clean. Scoop out soiled litter daily, and change the entire box every week, putting in fresh litter. You can wash out the box with a solution of water and vinegar to help reduce the odor, and then add a little baking soda to the litter itself. An inch and a half of fresh litter is usuall plenty.
Don't place her litter box near her food and water. Cats don't like to eliminate where they eat.
Clean any accidents immediately. If kitty does have an accident, clean the area right away with a half and half solution of white vinegar and water. This will help to eliminate the odor and hopefully prevent kitty from returning to that spot.
Never punish your cat for having an accident. Do not strike her or rub her nose in the mess; instead, firmly say "No!", then place her in her litter box and praise her there.
If she's not using it some tips are...
Her litter is too dirty. This is the most common reason. Clean out her litter more often and see if this helps.
Stress. Perhaps your feline is anxious about a move, new furniture or carpeting, a new person or animal in the house ...
She is attracted to a previously soiled location.
If your cat keeps returning to one spot, it may be a spot where another pet previously soiled. Make this spot less attractive to your pet by:
Put her food bowl there.
Neutralize odour to rid the area of any smell.
Cover the area with a plastic sheet. This will make it unpleasant to your kitty and discourage her from eliminating there.
Your kitty may not like her brand of litter. Cats can be finicky; if you have recently changed the type of litter used, change it back. If not, experiment with other brands until you find one that kitty likes.
Your cat may not know where her litter box is. Especially common with young kittens or after a move. Place the litter box in a clean, accessible, and relatively quiet location and show your cat where it is. You may want to put the box on the same floor as the cat to begin with.
2006-12-30 15:49:32 · answer #2 · answered by Katrina 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
with my cats i just set them in the box and made sure they knew where it was and they would seek it out. the litter is most like dirt and thats where cats love to go because they like to cover their messes. too you may want to try taking a little dry dirt and sprinkling it on top of the litter for a few days in case your kitty is used to that it will get her used to both scents and might encourage her to go easier.
2006-12-30 15:47:57 · answer #3 · answered by ?! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i used to carry my kittens to the litter box and hold their paw and scratch the litter just to let them have a 'feel' of the cat sand. it comes to them naturally to use the litter box.
2006-12-30 16:18:46 · answer #4 · answered by click 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
keep showing kitty where litter is usually they go right to it w/o any problems so you may wanna take to vet and see if its a health issue
2006-12-30 15:52:29 · answer #5 · answered by Leveler 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Move her poop and papertowels soaked in her pee to the litter box. Put her in it frequently. Praise her with treats when she uses it.
2006-12-30 15:47:44 · answer #6 · answered by Bored Enough To Be Here 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's weird. It usually comes natural to cats.
2006-12-30 15:47:49 · answer #7 · answered by addict for dramatic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You take it to its litter box and shove its nose in it. Make sure it knoows were it is!!!!!!!
2006-12-30 15:57:00 · answer #8 · answered by softball girl 12 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
put catnip in the litter
2006-12-30 15:47:11 · answer #9 · answered by There you are∫ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hmm we have 5 cats and all weve ever had to do is put them in the litterbox once... and then they know it. what have you done so far?
2006-12-30 15:47:51 · answer #10 · answered by christine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋