won't go in litter on her own

Plenty of trays right now - the thing is to get her using a tray, anywhere.  Once she has got hold of that she will probably have a favourite and you can gradually remove the extras.  Remember, she is a young toddler in human terms and she she realises she has to go, it is usually Right Now.  A hood on the trays might help as well, an upturned card box with an entry / exit hole would do.

mariaanddonnie said:

The bathroom wouldn't work I don't think either.   As for the cage.. that is what she was in before with her siblings and momma and I'd hate to do that agian.

Would I be confusing her by having litter in 2 places? I'd really like her to use this one in the laundry.  It is private, out of the way and quiet for her.  Should I put her food and water in the laundry room and then keep her confined in there for a 1/2 hour or so after feeding her?

I don't want to give up on her.  I love her so much.  And I don't want to drop her off at the shelter.  I'll try and be patient. 

One more question.......this morning about 5:45 I woke up and woke her up.  within a couple minutes I took her to the litter, tapped the box and she got right in and peed.  She then made an area to poop.  And before she pooped she meowed a couple times. She did this before too--meowed once before she pooped.  Is this a sign of something wrong with her?  Last night's accident was mushy, this mornings was alittle more formed. 

I'd try the shallow pans but she gets in and out of this one fine.

I try and not get stressed around her.  I usually end up going to my room and crying or crying on here. 

Click to expand...

I was only saying to put her in there while she eats and for 30 minutes or so after.  If not, the laundry would work, if that is ultimately where you want her to go.  Caging will just confuse her.  Caging is for dogs.  Plus it will hurt her feet. 

I would say to have as many litterboxes right now as possible, until she gets the hang of it.  Being so young, like I and others have said, she doesn't have control over it yet.  When she has to go, she has to go NOW and will not stop to wait and find her box.  She will look for a few moments and not be able to hold it any longer and just go where she is at. 

Once she gets control over the litterbox situation and is "potty trained" you can gradually start taking the extra boxes away and focusing on the main one you want her to use.  Gradually not for a few days and then think she's got it.  I am talking at least a few weeks. 

That's the thing.  You being upset, she can sense it no matter how you are "acting" around her.  Your frustration only upsets her and confuses her more.  Praise, love and affection will make her more confident.  And confidence will lead to success sooner and her grasping this in a more timely manner for you.  Try not to be upset.  She is just a baby.  She doesn't know what she's doing is wrong.  She can't help it.  She was too young to be taken from her mother and this is why because momma would have taught her all of this.  Just work with her.  The shallow pans are excellent now.  One step.  Now, she just needs access to more for now.  Not forever.  Just now.  It'll help her and you. 
 

I do find myself wondering if this kitten was even as much as six weeks old.  What colour are her eyes?

You might also try disposable tin pans for the litter.  Osage wasn't old enough to keep himself warm when we found him and we wound up using the baking pans you can find at the grocery store - first the cookie sheet size then the next size up until he was big enough for the "big kitty" litter box that Precious already used. 

I found the tins perfect and easy to keep clean and managable for him until he grew up past the "right now" stage.

Remember to love this little girl and give her lots of praise when she uses a box - that's a big step for a baby.

I just can't put her in a cage area.  And tonight I'm thinking about sleeping with her in the laundry.  She has done well today--no accidents YET (cross fingers).  And we have lead her somewhat and a couple times she went back towards the laundry and then went.  I praised her and praised her.  I did clean out her litter tonight and gave her fresh litter.....but I did keep a piece of poop in there from before.  I worry about tonight but I don't have the heart to lock her in the room without baracading the door so she can't slip out.    This is her home now and if she has an accident I'll just clean it up in the morning.  I've read online and talked to a number of people and I keep getting conflicting reports about litter box in the dining area.  I know that is what she was use too--in a cage in the basement--but I want to break her of that habit so I'll just continue guiding her to the bathroom and cleaning up messes until she gets old enough.  She did GREAT today.  I just need to be calm and not get upset.  But it is so upsetting that I get this cute little thing from a bunch of a**holes. If she doesn't continue as she is or doesn't improve I'll get a box this weekend.  But I should give her at least a week to adjusting to this house.

She knew exactly where I was last night when she "escaped" from the laundry room.  It was so adorable when she jumped on the bed. 

OrientalSlave--she has blue eyes. 

She probably is either just at 6 weeks or just under.  She wasn't weened.  Way, way too early to be taken from mom.  This puts a lot of pressure on her.  Things that mom would have shown her, you have to... In a way she can comprehend and understand.  Poor baby.  That is good that you are being calm and praising her for doing good.  She understands that!!  And she will continue to try and do that again so you will praise her again!  She may have some slip ups but it's not because she intends to.  She just can't hold it and by the time she realizes she needs to go, it is too late.  But, she will continue to get better and do better.  Just try to stay patient and ever praising!! 

I just wanted to say-- thank goodness she has you. The student who gave her to you clearly didn't know how to properly raise kittens, and she separated her WAY too early. Blue eyes means the kitten was super young. I am glad that you clearly already love her and are giving her a real chance. That poor little baby!

So yyesterdy she did well with my husband home.  Last night she didn't.  I didn't put her in the laundry and she had an accidnet in the living room.

So did I do the right thing....

Bring her to it, picked it up with her and put her in the litter box.  It was pretty mushy so I couldn't put any of it in the litter.

o need Advice------I've got to do something for her.  Which would you all try first. 

1.  extra litter box--my mom keeps saying no, not to do this that she will continue to use that one and not the one in the laundry and who wants to eat dinner at a table beside a litter box.

2.  put her in the laundry at night when no one is around to watch her.

mariaanddonnie said:

So yyesterdy she did well with my husband home.  Last night she didn't.  I didn't put her in the laundry and she had an accidnet in the living room.

So did I do the right thing....

Bring her to it, picked it up with her and put her in the litter box.  It was pretty mushy so I couldn't put any of it in the litter.

o need Advice------I've got to do something for her.  Which would you all try first. 

1.  extra litter box--my mom keeps saying no, not to do this that she will continue to use that one and not the one in the laundry and who wants to eat dinner at a table beside a litter box.

2.  put her in the laundry at night when no one is around to watch her.

Click to expand...

Extra litter boxes are a good idea. Cats often need different types of boxes or different locations to feel comfortable, plus she needs boxes that are close at hand. You can decrease the number of boxes once she gets bigger.

I've had the best luck with trying different kinds of litter, but also bringing cats to the litter box when they don't even seem like they have to go. Picking her up, putting her in the box, and holding her little paw and scratching it up and down in the little box a couple of times. It's good to do this when she hasn't gone in a while. Considering she is so little, putting her in the box to show her after she goes won't teach her anything, except possibly that the litter box is a place she goes to be punished.

I know it isn't fun to have multiple litter boxes, but it's just one of things we do because we love our fur babies, right?

She is such a baby that lots of litter boxes will be best - when she realises she needs to go, it's Right Now.  Not in a minute or two, but Right Now.

I do agree with putting her in the laundry room when everyone is out, or at night.  Do make sure there are no tiny places she can hide or get stuck in.

If you can spot a pattern about when she goes, try to anticipate and pop her in the litter tray before she has an accident.  She wil get the idea, but kittens that are 5-6 weeks old and with their mother often have accidents as well.

Kittens often have a bit of dire rear when they go to a new home.  It's a stressful experience, if they are carrying an illness it tends to surface then, and their diet is often changed suddenly.  Any of these things can provike dire rear, keep a good eye if it continues that she doesn't get dehydrated.  If you lift her scruff (lose skin on the back of her neck) it should spring straight back.  If it's tardy, like a fold of skin on the back of an old person's hand, she is dehydrated.  If it's just a bit then some oral rehydration fluid (boiled water with a little sugar and salt, lots of info via Google) fed via a spoon or syringe will do the trick, but be aware that if it persists or her scruff is staying up if you lift it a vet visit is called for.

Sorry you are having such trials with her, in giving her a home you did a really good thing.  Hopefully she will quickly outgrow accidents and dire rear.

Got her another litter box--same type (she wasn't having problems getting in), same litter and even same type of little rug under it.

I left for work and my husband said she jumped in it and scratched around.  BUT guess what she did......went back to the laundry room one. UGH>>>>I sure hope I dont' confuse her.  But is is worth a try. I will try with this for a while.  As long as she does in one I'll be happy.  Then after a while once she get adjusted and grows I gradually move it back into the laundry a little at a time like someone suggested on a previous post.

I better not keep her in the laundry room.......I think it is too much at one time---new home, different envioroment etc etc and then being locked in a room........    Having 2 litter I think will work I PRAY and HOPE. She has had a run of the house---AND LOVES IT.  She jumps, runs up and down the hall, plays, chases me and we just has a blast.  I think she is so happy to be out of that dam dog cage. 

When we are home we can kinda tell when she has to go so we will encourage her to go.....now the QUESTION is.....when we encourage her to go should we take her to the laundry like we have been or the closer one to her now?  Again, I don't want to get confused!!!!!  I guess location really doesn't matter-----it is getting her to the box that is important.  We can gradually move it later.

She has been eating AND drinking on her own without me putting it inf ront of her.  She actually goes to it.  And that makes me happy. 

I get so upset and I hope she can't tell.  I love her and don't want to give up on her like her previous owner who didn't even give her room to run around. How can you cage a set of kittens---they want to run, hop, play, jump and explore.  This kitten has learned so much in the last couple days with us.  I see her doing stuff that she couldn't when she was caged. 

Thank you for you advice.  If you didn't notice.....I have never had children so I'm very impatient!  And I'm so angry at this girl for giving her away too early and lieing to me that she was litter trained.  Well, I guess she didnt'......she was trained.  Trained to go in her litter in a cage.

It is common for kittens to "play" in litterboxes.  In a way, it's how they practice and learn.  They learn boundaries in play, too.  From their siblings and mom about how biting is a no no and scratching is too.  So, you'll have to calmly and patiently show her that, too.  I don't want to overwhelm you.  Again, it's just part of having a very young kitten. 

I had many growing up.  So I thought I was an expert. When King Arthur and Morgan La Fay's mom, Genevieve had her litter and they were all going through this at first, I thought something was wrong with them?  But, then I realized just like human infants, they have to learn from experience and they have to develop the long term memories to remember to do so.  She is scratching in the litter.  This is good.  Let her do so.  Praise her for it, too.  As much positive reinforcement as she can get will go a long long way!! 

She can tell you are upset.  They know.  But, just try to stay calm and remember that this will all pass soon enough... And she'll grow up fast and this will all seem so silly to you.  Give her love and praise and she will be fine. 

Question for anyone who can answer.....

So we put out the 2nd litter box this morning.  She got in it, played and then went straight for the other box to pee.  Nothing in the 2nd litter box today.  Tonight will be the test I guess.   I'm still considering keeping her in the laundry room for a night. 

My question is this.......later in the day she came to my husband and meowed and meowed so he thought he'd be safe and take her to the laundry and the litter box.  She followed him and into the litter box she went to poop.  Why is she meowing before having to go #2?   She has done this a couple times before.....the first time she had a #2 accident and a couple other times.  Is that what they do when they are with their momma and have to go to the bathroom?

mariaanddonnie said:

Question for anyone who can answer.....

So we put out the 2nd litter box this morning.  She got in it, played and then went straight for the other box to pee.  Nothing in the 2nd litter box today.  Tonight will be the test I guess.   I'm still considering keeping her in the laundry room for a night. 

My question is this.......later in the day she came to my husband and meowed and meowed so he thought he'd be safe and take her to the laundry and the litter box.  She followed him and into the litter box she went to poop.  Why is she meowing before having to go #2?   She has done this a couple times before.....the first time she had a #2 accident and a couple other times.  Is that what they do when they are with their momma and have to go to the bathroom?

Click to expand...

Yes, kittens announce when they have to go just like little kids.  It's their way of saying "OH OK, I have to go now... Take me to the potty, please!"  If she starts meowing like that just go with her to the litterbox and let her do her business.  Praise her of course!!  A couple of mine still announce to me when they have to go!

The 2nd litterbox is really there as a safety net so she has another option.  Don't remove it just yet because she may get confused when she can't see it.  Leave it there until you are confident she is completely potty trained.
 

Also, don't be surprised if she also makes a lot of noise and runs around after going to the litter box. Cats often find it rather invigorating and get super excited after defecating.

YES, she does run around when she goes. lol  It is so funny.

I'm driving myself NUTS with this. I'm actually thinking about sleeping in the laundry with her tonight. Is this CRAZY or what!  I'm worrying myself to death about this tonight.  WHY?  It is just poop, it can be cleaned up right.

I guess I've recieved 2nd litter box and putting her in the laundry as adivce to help with this and I have a terrible time deciding which one to do. ugh.......This poor cat has a nutball for an owner......worry about whether a cat will use the litter box or not. 

mariaanddonnie said:

YES, she does run around when she goes. lol  It is so funny.

I'm driving myself NUTS with this. I'm actually thinking about sleeping in the laundry with her tonight. Is this CRAZY or what!  I'm worrying myself to death about this tonight.  WHY?  It is just poop, it can be cleaned up right.

I guess I've recieved 2nd litter box and putting her in the laundry as adivce to help with this and I have a terrible time deciding which one to do. ugh.......This poor cat has a nutball for an owner......worry about whether a cat will use the litter box or not. 

Click to expand...

Just one more thing to remember-- locking a cat up for the night is not really that cruel. You can leave a radio on in the room, too, so that she's not as lonely. A lot of cats feel more secure in a small place. It can sometimes become their safe area.

It is me AGAIN......

My husband was playing with the kitten.  I went to bed.  He came back to say goodbye to me because he work night shift.  When he went back out to the living room she had gone to the bathroom in the same place she went before.  And we had just taken her to the litter box.  And there was no warning this time.  I feel like we just took 2 steps backwards.

So I'm sitting here crying my eyes out because we put her in the laundry room and put a rug at the bottom of the door and she meowed and meowed.  My heart is BREAKING.  I can't deal with this.

mariaanddonnie said:

It is me AGAIN......

My husband was playing with the kitten.  I went to bed.  He came back to say goodbye to me because he work night shift.  When he went back out to the living room she had gone to the bathroom in the same place she went before.  And we had just taken her to the litter box.  And there was no warning this time.  I feel like we just took 2 steps backwards.

So I'm sitting here crying my eyes out because we put her in the laundry room and put a rug at the bottom of the door and she meowed and meowed.  My heart is BREAKING.  I can't deal with this.

Click to expand...

It's ok for her to cry-- honestly! She is ok. Sometimes something like a radio in the room with her helps. It also covers your movements so she doesn't hear you. However, just make sure you aren't doing it to punish her. Can you put a temporary litter box where she has had the two accidents?

I dont know if she thinks it is punishing or not.  I didn't yell at her or anything.  When I saw the accident I picked it up brought it to the litter box and put her in the box.  Is this wrong?  This is what many people said to do.  Again I didn't yell, put her nose in it or anything like that.  I just brought her to the litter box along with some of the accident. 

I put her blanket, scratching toy, mice, rope hangy thing and food and water.  I also left a wind up clock in there along with a dusk to dawn candle for light.  I should have put a radio but didn't. 

Everyone said to do this at night or when we aren't home but we are home and she had the accident.  And we had just taken her to the litter box.  And she usually meows and gives us a warning but nothing this time.