We had a problem with one of our cats pooping around the litter box, but not in it. In fact, she really liked the bathroom rug. Our vet recommended we lay down foil in the places she was pooping, because they don't like the feel of foil on their paws. Well, we covered the entire space where she was going except for the litter box and a small path to it. It worked like a charm. Kept at it for a while, then slowly started removing the foil. If she started back to her little habit, we put the foil right back. This took a while, but Ms. Kitty finally got the message!
I have a large number of pet cats at our house. I have six adult cats and 14 kittens at the moment, and they are getting ready to be adopted. My adult cats use these huge plastic tubs filled with cedar shavings or pine shavings as litter boxes. However, when they are babies, I always use the normal kind of litter.
My cat had kittens and I need to know at what age do you start litter training an feeding regular food?
Darlene from PA
MamaCat will usually litter train her kittens as soon as they are ready. Until then, she will clean up after them. Depending on the size of the litter (a large litter means start a little early) you can start to offer soft easily digestible foods in small amounts at about 5 weeks
I wouldn't start regular food at least until they're 4-6 weeks old. Preferable the later, the better, in my opinion. As they get older, put food out for the mother. If they are ready to eat it, you'll notice them attempting to get at any food she leaves. That's when I start soaking dry food for the kittens.
I bought one of those small litter pans at Wal-marts when I had kittens, and put it in the room with them after they started walking around. They all tried to climb in and scratched around before actually using it. Some went on their own, others I had to put in the box a few times, but they all trained really fast. Just make sure the sides of the box aren't too high so they can get into it while they're small.
Cats instinctively know to use the litter box. I've never had to litter train one. There should be one litter box per cat. Some people say two litter boxes per cat, but that may be a bit much for you right now.. lol
Mama cat will teach her kittens how to use a litter SO LONG AS THERE IS ONE AVAILABLE! I got a kitten once where the mother's litter box was in a basement and her kittens were on the second floor.
YOU CAN START AS SOON AS THEY START VENTURING AWAY FROM MOMMA AND THIER SLEEPING QUARTERS. I'VE PLACED LITTER IN A CARDBOARD TOP OFF AN OFFICE PAPER BOX, BUT YOU COULD CUT ONE DOWN TO ABOUT 2" HIGH. NOT TO HIGH OR THEY WON'T VENTURE IN. THEY WILL TEACH THIERSELVES. HAVE FUN!!!
Our kitten, adopted from Humane Society is about 5 weeks old. We put a litter box in separate room, but she does not seem to have any idea what to do with it. Altho I put her in it frequently and hold her front paws to do some digging.
She also eats very little, and when she does have a bowel movement, usually very loose, she does it in her bed. I have removed the bed.
What to do? No other cats.
Editor's Note: That's very young to be released from the animal shelter. Usually they will not release them until they are at the least 6 weeks old.
Here's a great link about caring for kittens:
www.kitten-rescue.com/
Susan
Keep in mind that kittens are a lot like toddlers who are potty training: sometimes it's just easier to wet the bed than to go find that bathroom.
I have a male neutered cat that is 4 years old and given to me over a year ago. He had no vaccinations when we got him and he had diarreah. We had him on stomach medicine for 10 days and then got his shots.
I would call my vet immediately and explain what is going on. Cats throwing up regularly is a cause for alarm. They can get very sick quickly. If they can't figure it out, ask your vet about food allergies. My trash dump kitty had constant stomach problems, but was only allergic to his food. My own vet didn't figure this out. I changed vets and changed cat food to Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and he got better almost immediately. For kitty or doggie diarrhea, I put them on liquids only for a day -- water and light clear organic chicken broth, which they love. I give them each live active culture yogurt. For some I have to smear on their little mouths or paws to get them to lick it off, because they don't like it. Others would eat it voluntarily.
We have a himilayan with a similar problem. He has polycystic kidney disease and he was peeing out of the box because of a kidney infection.
As for the loose stool, I changed his food until I found one that does not give him loose stool. Then the vet put him on renal food. This returned him to the same problem, so I now mix a little of his old food with the renal food and no more going outside the box!
I have found that if they have active bouts of stomach problems that if you give them rice mixed with hamburger instead of their food, it will help stop the dirrehea and bind them up, usually by the end of the day.
Sarah
My cat started to throw up alot and it was due to not drinking enough. I now have to give him and his sister 1 can of food in the monring and 1 at night. Before I go to bed they get some dry, if they don't eat the canned they can't have the dry as I will wake up to clean up puke.
I have also put a small water bowl in my bathroom for them, they seem to drink out of that bowl the most. He was getting into the tub and demanding me to turn the water on for him but now I don't have too.
My kitten is doing his business on the carpet. He is 3 months old, and I have had him since he was 12 weeks old. When I got him, he was using the litter tray no problem, but I went away and he started messing on the floor. He still uses the litter tray sometimes. I have tried everything and am at the end of my tether. Please help. Thank you.
By Sarah C
My sister just moved in this house with her beautiful long haired cat, Buddy. Buddy poops and pees in his litter box sometimes, and poops and pees in various other areas of the house (and furniture) other times. I keep the litter box cleaned out a couple times a day to no avail. Any suggestions for this smelly, nasty problem?
By Robyn Wae Hunter from Virginia Beach, VA
The kitten has started frequently urinating on anything that is a box, basket, or storage like object. This includes the sofa, washing, ironing, food boxes, handbags, and blankets if they are folded a curtain way.
We thought when get got her we just needed to toilet train her which we spent months trying with no improvement just an increase in the behaviour. We then took her to the vet to see if it was a physical problem only to be told her bladder was fine, it was behavioural and not an uncommon cat problem.
I am also 4 months pregnant and with a sickness condition that is aggravated by this behaviour (resulting in myself being hospitalised). I will not risk my own health, that of my unborn child, and the other cat's health due to a kitten's bad behaviour. Is it better that she be re-homed by an experienced cat owner who has encountered the behaviour and knows how best to manage it?
We re-homed Marley from a tiny kitten when she was flea ridden and in poor health so we are pleased, if nothing else, to have given her a life and a chance to live in our home. We are sad to have come to this, but as stated above, the risk and damage to my home and health is something we can no longer manage. Our other cat has stopped eating and won't come in the house until the smell has gone and I'm worried she is going to run off.
If any one has any last ideas or advise please please help!
By Kymberz
I have had an 8 week old kitten now for almost a week. He used the litter box the first few days and now he uses it and goes on the carpet. He knows he did because when I go to pick him up and take him to the litter box he runs from me. Someone please help I have tried everything.
My cat gave birth last March to three Siamese kittens. They didn't use the litter box at the beginning, but now they use it but also pee on the furniture. I tried taking them to the litter box, but that did not work. They also would pee on a mat or something as they father does, but they also use our furniture. I don't know what to do.
