she's 2 months old and rescued. the family that had her before us fed her table scraps and whatever they had lying around because they couldn't afford kitten food. now she tries to eat off of our plates and digs through our trash cans, even though her bowl is always full. she also jumps onto the kitchen counters and lounges around in her litter box, which makes her smell VERY badly. last but not least, how do i keep her out of my other cat's litter box? she has her own separate box, but she uses both, which pisses off my adult male. and also, she still hasn't been responding to her name, even though we've had her almost a month. help please :[
2007-09-23 11:09:52 · 6 answers · asked by Haley 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Sounds like a handful.
As far as the bad habits you can try squriting her with water when she gets on the counters, in the trash or tries to steal things off of plates. This has worked great for keeping my 3 kitties off the counters. You can also try using a can with a few coins inside and shaking it, some animals hate the loud noise and will retreat, but this might make your other kitty made, the water thing is more of an individual punishment.
Be really careful with the litter box thing, don't punish her for lounging in the box or using the other one or she might just stop using the box all together. I would try positive reinfocement for this one. When she's lounging in the box lure her out and give her a treat when she's up and out of the box.
As far as using the other one, that's tricky, since she's still a kitten you may be able to find a box that isn't easy for her to get into, like a hooded one with a high step up or a top entry box. I made a top entry box for my cats out of a large storage tupperware. I just cut a hole out of half of the lid and the cats can jump up and get down into the box, they seem to like it, it maybe something that the kitten won't dig though.
Worth a shot, it's cheap.
Also, are you feeding her wet food or only dry? If only dry, try some wet food once a day this might get her more interested in her own food and less interested in people food.
As far as the name thing, again just continue with positive reinforcement, say her name when your petting her, playing with her, when you feed her and give her a treat.
A good technique is when she is near you say her name, if she looks at you give her a treat. She'll catch on.
2007-09-23 12:01:05 · answer #1 · answered by Mrs. D 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do you ever feed the kitten wet food? I always teach my foster kittens to come when called, and the best way to do it is to say their name (or just go with the generic 'kitty kitty kitty') as you are putting down the wet food and keep repeating it for about 15-30 seconds as they eat. After a few days, I only feed them every few times I call. After about a week or a week and a half, they come FLYING when I call.
Is it possible to put the adult cat's litter box somewhere that she doesn't have easy access to? I keep my adult cat's litterbox in the basement and the door is kept closed when I have foster kittens. When I'm gone, he usually wants to stay downstairs for the day so I just make sure he has food and water. If I'm home, he stays upstairs and just asks me to go downstairs when he needs to go. Depending on the circumstances, something like that might work.
I agree with Pretty Kitty on the table/counter issue. It's tough to re-program a cat when they've been taught to be that way. Her suggestions are good though - just make the counter/table unappealing to her and she'll hopefully give up jumping. Be sure not to leave food out on the table after dinner and keep things put away on the counters...anything you can do not to encourage it is better than nothing.
2007-09-23 11:39:31 · answer #2 · answered by Peather 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Once they start it's hard to keep them out of your plate. I had one who had to be put in the bedroom while we ate. You can use double sided tape on the counter to make her stop jumping up there. As for the litter box, unless your adult cat runs her off from that box, she will use it. You could try putting her feces in the box that's hers to see if it works. Don't spray her with a bottle. It causes trust issues and you'll have even more issues to deal with. Cats respond to the tone of your voice-not their name. Pet her and talk to her in a soothing voice and use that voice to call her.
2007-09-23 11:18:16 · answer #3 · answered by ♥Pretty♥ ♥Kitty♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lol, When I first got my kitten and always begged for food we used to thump his nose lightly or his ear then he would back off but later on he would swat me back with his paw but when I did that he knew to back off but eventually he didn't beg for the food...
If he or she climbs on the counters spray her with a water bottle they don't like water and she'll get off.
I've had cats that love to lounge in there litter box just keep it scooped and fresh and clean and she shouldn't smell and bother ur other kitties litter box...
About her name? don't worry she'll respond to it just give her some more time she's till a baby!
2007-09-23 14:56:34 · answer #4 · answered by FeshFash 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a good idea is when the kitten is coming forward, call her name and give her a treat. eventually she will get used to it.( the bad thing is you will need to buy a LOT of snacks for the rest of her life)
2007-09-23 12:21:51 · answer #5 · answered by Ann 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like she is a very bad cat and needs some manners...why would u have a separate litter box? sounds like you need to give it up for adoption if it bugs you that much....good luck
2007-09-23 12:54:05 · answer #6 · answered by ♥mLs♥ 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋