Hello!
I've got two orphaned kittens here that I've been caring for over the past 4 weeks, and I have some questions about litter training. The boys turned 4 weeks old on Thursday (June 21st), and I'm a bit concerned, as they are not urinating or defecating on their own yet- I am still having to stimulate them to go. With stimulation, they are having normal urine and bowel movements, they just aren't doing it by themselves. Otherwise, they seem to be healthy kittens. They are eating well (still bottle feeding, though teeth are coming!), gaining weight daily, and are active and playful. Fecal samples were checked, and were negative for intestinal parasites, and they'll start their first round of dewormings on Monday.
I started trying litter box training a few days ago. I have a small pan they are able to get in and out of, and I'll place them in it and scratch their paws in the litter, then try stimulating them while holding them in the box. I know it can take a while for kittens to get the hang of the box, especially without mom to teach them, I'm just concerned about them not going on their own. I check their bedding often, and have not found any urine or stool in it, so I know they really aren't going other than the times I'm stimulating them to.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
-Jackie
I've got two orphaned kittens here that I've been caring for over the past 4 weeks, and I have some questions about litter training. The boys turned 4 weeks old on Thursday (June 21st), and I'm a bit concerned, as they are not urinating or defecating on their own yet- I am still having to stimulate them to go. With stimulation, they are having normal urine and bowel movements, they just aren't doing it by themselves. Otherwise, they seem to be healthy kittens. They are eating well (still bottle feeding, though teeth are coming!), gaining weight daily, and are active and playful. Fecal samples were checked, and were negative for intestinal parasites, and they'll start their first round of dewormings on Monday.
I started trying litter box training a few days ago. I have a small pan they are able to get in and out of, and I'll place them in it and scratch their paws in the litter, then try stimulating them while holding them in the box. I know it can take a while for kittens to get the hang of the box, especially without mom to teach them, I'm just concerned about them not going on their own. I check their bedding often, and have not found any urine or stool in it, so I know they really aren't going other than the times I'm stimulating them to.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
-Jackie