How to litter train an 8 week old kitten?

han_bee

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Hello,

Anyone got any advice on how we can hand rear our kitten and teach her to use a litter tray? Got her yesterday, now found out she isn't litter trained
She laid on my bed and urinated, as if she didn't even realise she was doing it


We put her in the tray and managed to get her to use it that way first time, but she hasn't done it since and is instead doing it in various places around the house.

Any ideas, tips or advice is extremely appreciated.
Thanks in advance
 

goldenkitty45

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This is a good example of why you don't take kittens home under 3 months old. But to resolve the problem.

Best to confine the kitten to a washable room (like the bathroom) unless supervised. Then when the kitten misses the pan you can clean it up. With my young kittens learning the proper manners, I would either wipe up with a tissue and put that in the pan or pick up the poop and put it in the pan.

Kittens usually watch mom and she shows them what to do. Taking kittens from mom too soon results in behavior problems like this. I also use a shallow cake pan for the litter pan for a kitten till they are more reliable.

You can buy Cat Attract litter which is good to get them used to where they should go. Its for kittens and problem cats.

Kittens honestly are not reliable in this area till 3 months old. They may use the pan for days at a time, but then start having "accidents". I also do NOT let kittens have total freedom in the house unsupervised till after 4 months old.

And one other thing - put several pans out for a month or so. Kittens are babies and don't always remember where the pan is or are fast enough to get to a pan if on the other side of the house.
 

stueppes

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  • Start out by putting chicken trays around the house and make sure you put him in it every 30 min-1hour.Then you can start letting him go leave the doors open when hes roming around.Oh and to teach him his name you have to hold out a treat and call his name do it 2 every day then start moving farther and farther away. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!
 

minka

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Um.. strange advice you were given..

I do agree that kittens shouldn't be taken home at 8 weeks. The should stay with Mom until they are at least 9 weeks, 12 weeks is better. But I'm going to assume that you had no way of knowing this, so nothing against you. It just means you may have to put in some extra work to get her accustomed. :nod:

I would also agree that when you aren't watching or holding the kitten, it's wise to keep her in a bathroom so she's very close to the litter pan. Pick up the pee and poop and place it in the litter so she understand that's where it's supposed to go.
I would disagree that they are unreliable about it however. Once they get the hang of it, they're good to go, you don't need to wait till 3 months to trust them.
 

yayi

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In my experience, kittens learn to use the litter box way before 3 months old. I've raised 7 orphans. The litter box should be accessible and the sides not so tall that the kitten can't climb in. Place the little one in it (after feeding), gently hold one of his front paws and guide it to dig. The kitten should "smell" the litter and then will pee or poo by himself. All of my orphans learned that way. 
 
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