Getting concerned : Not peeing/pooping on own

Lucy Belle is already 5 weeks and a few days old and she still can't eliminate on her own without having to be stimulated. She's hand raised since day 4 and is this one reason why she is slow in this area? I've tried placing her in the litter box but all she does is sniff around and climb right out. I usually help her go first thing in the morning, after a meal and in between and just before bedtime.

Normally, when pooping, I have to keep on stimulating her anus to get all the poop out or she will stop. But yesterday, after the first stimulation, she squatted and managed to get it all out on her own, inside the litter box, of course. I thought she's getting the idea. But today, still no action from her after she woke up and morning meal, so once again, I have to help.

What can I do?

I would take her to the vet.

Hi! I have both good and bad news. The good news is, she is now able to go on her own, both pee and poop. The bad news is she is not using her litter box. Instead, she relieved herself on my carpet. She found a spot which she like and surprisingly, it's just behind the front door of my apartment! So, I was thinking of moving the litter box to her preferred location hoping she'll do her business there. It just occurred to me that *If Mohammad can't get to the mountain, let the mountain come to Mohammad*

I'm glad to hear that she is going on her own now.

You can try moving her litter box to see if that works, once she gets into the custom of using it, you should be able to move it back to where it started without a problem.

Good luck with her!

Thanks! Actually, I just caught her in the act this morning. I knew that she was about to poop when she was sniffing the carpeting and then positioning herself. I had to actually dash and place a piece of newspaper at the bottom so the feces won't drop down to the carpeting. It's really hilarious. After she is done, I took the poop and place it back into the litter box and sat her in it. She sniffed around and off she goes back to jumping and running.

It makes me kinda sad because I have been training her since week three to do her stuffs in the litter box, even when she can't go on her own yet. And now, all the hard work down the drain. They can be so unpredictable!

Originally Posted by tutti_bella

Thanks! Actually, I just caught her in the act this morning. I knew that she was about to poop when she was sniffing the carpeting and then positioning herself. I had to actually dash and place a piece of newspaper at the bottom so the feces won't drop down to the carpeting. It's really hilarious. After she is done, I took the poop and place it back into the litter box and sat her in it. She sniffed around and off she goes back to jumping and running.

It makes me kinda sad because I have been training her since week three to do her stuffs in the litter box, even when she can't go on her own yet. And now, all the hard work down the drain. They can be so unpredictable!

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I know what you mean. When I came home with Saedie, my other cat Millie wasn't very thrilled about not being the only cat anymore. She refused to use any litter box Saedie used, and Saedie didn't care. She used both litter boxes which caused Millie to go in the plants.

Cats can be so picky sometimes.

I've read that moving the litter box very very slowly from where they want to go, to your preferred location, can work.

Have you tried Kitten Attract litter (from maker of Cat Attract litter)? When my boy liked the carpet more than the litter box, I tried Cat Attract - so far, works like magic. Also spent a fair amount of time and money cleaning the carpet with Nature's Miracle!

Best of luck with your little one - she's got a great mommy!