My new cat is only 6 weeks old, but ever since she was born, she has lived with several other cats and has always used the litter box. So it seems that she would naturally continue to use it.
So we have had her for a couple of days now, and she has used the litter box once. I know she isn't afraid or nervous because she started running around and exploring the place since we first brought her home. And she is defintely not sick or anything. Help.
2007-10-05 05:12:49 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
When you first bring a kitten home you are supposed to keep them confined to a small space big enough to play & have their litter box in (say, your bathroom is perfect). Kittens often get caught up exploring and may not know how to 'find' their litter box mid-play
I adopted a kitten from the SPCA and he was kept in my bathroom with his litterbox & toys for no less than 2 weeks. Once i was sure he had the idea mastered, i would let him out WHEN I WAS HOME to supervise. My cat has NEVER, and i repeat never had an accident or gone elsewhere.
If you ever MOVE the litterbox, you need to show them where (picking them up, and placing them in the box) every hour so they realize it has moved.
I am currently fostering four 3 month old kittens i just found, and i have them in an oversized jumbo dog crate with their litter box. It keeps them safe when i'm not home, encourages the proper use of the litterbox, and they feel safer too!
Remember a kitten is like a baby, you wouldnt keep a baby unsupervised would you?
Good Luck
2007-10-05 05:27:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Every one else has given you good advice on this. So I'll just add that kittens are like little kids, sometimes they are just too 'busy' to go use the litter box. Chante Bby has best advice, that really does work. Also take her to litter box after she eats,and every so often through out the day, especially after a hard period of play, and after she wakes up from nap or sleeping. Even though she doesn't seem nervous, a new home is a big adjustment for her, so it may take a while to learn a new routine.
2007-10-05 05:37:27 · answer #2 · answered by conicat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excellent ideas from everybody but let me add that I would keep her in a small room for a few days. This reminds her where her box is. It sound slike you got her, showed her where her litter box is and she has full run of the house. At 6 weeks old shes not keen on remembering where to go when shes playing in a huge jungle gym. I would also keep her food and water right next to the box. It will encourage her to keep coming back to where her litter box is and use it after she eats. At this age raising kittens I keep the top off th eitter box and make sure its a baby litter box. Some times they are discouraged by the size of the box. Good luck!
2007-10-05 05:29:20 · answer #3 · answered by Boxer Lover 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Other people have already talked to you about what to do with the Feline Pine, and much of the advice is good. Instead, I'm going to address the pooping problem on the areas your cat has already marked and will want to go back to. We have 8 cats. 6 Were trapped feral and tamed inside. NONE of them have improper litter problems because we have followed the advice that I am passing along to you. At the bottom of this posting you will find a book reference. It is the best I've seen on handling kitty problems. First of all, where are you putting the cat's food and water? The first rule of kitty elimination is that cats hate to eat where they "go" and they hate to "go" where they eat. If you have the food and water next to the litter box, you have committed the most common mistake that cat owners commit, which is the single biggest cause of kittys going elsewhere. A kitty would rather risk going somewhere else than risk contaminating their food, so your best bet is to move the food and water either to the opposite side of the room from the litter box, or, even better, to a different room altogether from the litter box. Then make sure you have at least 2 - 3 inches of litter in that litter box and that you keep it scooped and clean. Kittys also hate not enough litter, and they hate dirty toilets. You wouldn't like going in a dirty, smelly toilet. Neither do they. Your next step is to get a cleaner that has a chemical in it that breaks down the enzyme that causes an odor from the feces and urine that you may not be able to smell - but your cat can - and clean the spot where kitty has been "doing it" with it thoroughly. Such a cleaner is available at most pet stores, and will help the kitty not to be attracted to that spot. Petco and Pet Smart have "Out" odor remover and "Nature's Miracle". I haven't tried Nature's Miracle but have heard a lot about it. You might ask the employees for their recommendation. Then remember the first rule of kitty elimination again: Cats hate to eat where they "go" and hate to "go" where they eat. Your kitty needs to be reprogrammed with positive reinforcement for proper elimination behavior. You do this by getting small bowls of food and putting them on top of any and all spots where your kitty has been "going" (as long as those spots are NOT by the litter box!). In this case you should keep those bowls consistently filled with a dry "kibble" cat food for the next few weeks. This will communicate to the kitty that this is a happy, secure place (which cats associate with food) and not a place for improper elimination. (This may seem messy and inconvenient, but it works!!!) After a few weeks, you should be able to remove the bowls and the kitty will may longer be attracted to those spots for improper elimination. Keep in mind that these tricks WILL NOT WORK if you have not made sure that the food and water is far away from the litter in the first place. We have 8 cats, have had up to 11 - at ages all the way up to 19 years old, all are indoor kittys, and this method has worked like a charm. All respect litter box rules. One last note: Kittys seldom respond to punishment. They are unable to associate punishment with behavior - especially if it is after the fact. They do, however, respond to positive reinforcement.
2016-05-17 04:26:52 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recently got a kitten that was like this too, turns out our litter box was just too big, we gave her, her own and she used it, after a week or two she started using the other cats box
2007-10-05 05:15:25 · answer #5 · answered by Zenkai 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I used a shoe box in front of the litter box opening to make it easier for my cats (when they were kittens) to climb in. I took it away when they were about 10 weeks old and bigger. Your kitten might just be too small to climb in without assistance.
2007-10-05 05:16:53 · answer #6 · answered by sleepingliv 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not unusual for a cat, especially a young one, to dislike using the "family" litter box.
Keep the box scooped frequently.
It may be necessary to give her a box of her own
2007-10-05 05:18:10 · answer #7 · answered by dwhelper 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might be cuz she has to get use of the litter your using compared to what she is use too. just put her in once and awhile..its a cats instinct to use the liter box especially a kitten.. give it time she will use it..
2007-10-05 05:16:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i got 2 cats they just got use to it after a wile you could wait a bit longer then the cat can go and do its stuff outside or lock it in the b-room for a little wile or you could just every 20Min's or so keep pulling it back he her litter box until it learns.
it will learn.
2007-10-05 05:46:34 · answer #9 · answered by Hi Everyone 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat just used his litterbox without much help from me. All I did was take him to the litterbox after he ate and he just learned that thats where he went to the bathroom.
Hope This Helps!
2007-10-05 05:34:40 · answer #10 · answered by ilovehorses 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋