Little help with the little ones...

salemsmith

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Messages
171
Purraise
1
Location
Winnipeg MB Canada
I have 5 kittens
and they seem to have the whole walking thing down pat. Their about 3 weeks old now, eyes open and everything, and another thing they seem to have learned is how to climb
. Anyways, I need to know how and when I should litter train them, because I have never had to deal with this kind of thing wiht kittens before ((when I got my first two they had already learned how)).

Any help? Please....

No Hobbit! Not my Bed!!!

*runs*

~ Salem
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
No mom around? If she is in the picture then she will teach them. Their best instructor would be another cat, but if that is not possible, you just need patience, time and a stick (to cover the litter) not to beat kittens with.


After they eat, put them in the litter box and using the stick cover their waste- it takes time. You can also cut a slit in the side of the litter box like a door to help them get in and out easier- some litter will spill out, but you can put newspaper down to make it easier.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

salemsmith

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Messages
171
Purraise
1
Location
Winnipeg MB Canada
*chuckles* well right now I'm using a low cut cooking pan (I normaly use(d) it for cooking brownies). It's low enough that the shortcakes
can get in and out, but the problem is is that they keep using my bed and clothes and so on as "litter boxes". My bed is on the floor and I don't have a dresser just yet ((Just got back from hitch-hiking for 2 1/2 years)) so I'm trying to build back up what I had before I left ((don't worry I didn't have any of the fuzzballs when I was traveling)).

Anyways, yeah... and how do I stop them from climbing everything in sight? O-B-OneCatNobi (otherwise known and "The Intreped Explorer") was the first one born... and the first to open his eyes, and the first to walk, and the first to realise that couch cushions can be climbed.

Last but not least, how can I get some solid sleep? They all have decided that my bed is a good place to sleep, and now when I go t bed the swarm me, and then fall asleep next to me... or on me, or around me, or right on my feet.

((OH! the mom IS around, but she's getting to the point that she's loosing patience with them))
*yawns*

~ Salem
 

princess purr

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 5, 2003
Messages
4,964
Purraise
2
Location
NJ
I would think mommy would be teaching them what they need to know. As far as sleeping I don't think there is a such thing with cats in the room. My big boys still wake me up at night once in awhile when they want to snuggle. Kittens like to climb and they need to know how. If would get then a kitty post to claw on or a little kitty condo. I'm keeping snowwhite (mommy) and the babies in there own room until the babies are weaned and I feel I can trust them to run around the house with out hurting themselves. I hope that you are going to get momma fixed once the kittens are weaned
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

salemsmith

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Messages
171
Purraise
1
Location
Winnipeg MB Canada
Ironicaly, the day the kittens were born was the day i had made the apointment for to get her fixed ((I made the apointment back in Jan. and April was the soonest opening )). I thought it was kind of funny.

But don't worry i'll be getting her another one soon enough.

~ Salem
 

jeanie g.

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 21, 2002
Messages
5,046
Purraise
12
The kittens will stop climbing things when they learn to leap up onto them. Watch the drapes and curtains. That will take a little teaching and patience! Kittens have to explore everything, preferably at a gallop or a trot.

You will get some sleep when they're old enough to sleep outside of your room!
Until then, you make a great mountain to climb and a wonderful toy to play with. Of course, when they are allowed in the living room or family room, they will climb your legs and chair-anything to get up on your lap! Don't wear good pantyhose, whatever you do!! (not unless you own stock in the company!(
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Ideally then, you should confine mom and kittens in a room that is small enough she can teach them litterbox manners, and large enough they can play in it. Let her out about 4 times a day to roam the house and get her away from them, but she needs to teach them, and she really can't unless she can control the enviornment they are in. A large bathroom would be ideal for this purpose.
 

princess purr

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 5, 2003
Messages
4,964
Purraise
2
Location
NJ
Originally posted by hissy
Ideally then, you should confine mom and kittens in a room that is small enough she can teach them litterbox manners, and large enough they can play in it. Let her out about 4 times a day to roam the house and get her away from them, but she needs to teach them, and she really can't unless she can control the enviornment they are in. A large bathroom would be ideal for this purpose.
Having them in a room is really working great for me!!! Mommy cat is even training the two rescue kitties we took in that are around 8 weeks old
I think she likes having her on speical place to teach the babies.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

salemsmith

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Messages
171
Purraise
1
Location
Winnipeg MB Canada
So it's a goo thing that I put them in the bathroom? I mean I felt bad doing it, because of the look Vagabond ((the mother)) gave me when I put her in there.

Is that natural? for the mother to act as if she is not interested in the kittens after a month or so?

Just curious...

And when should they be weened, and how do I do this?

Anyways... I shoudl get going here... i need sleep so I'll be back later..

~ Salem
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
If you can, give mom a small cat post in the bathroom, so she can get away from the kits if she wants, or just put a soft towel in the sink or bathtub for her to lie on.

At this young age, she shouldn't be tiring of them yet, so perhaps giving her an outlet to escape them, without removing her from the room would be best. I always let my kittens stay with mom for at least 12 weeks- but start them on food (canned kitten food at week 4) because that is when their sense of smell begins to develop, they will continue to nurse on mom if she lets them to week 8, but should be fully weaned after that.
 
Top