Kitten not using the litter box

Hello,

 I'm new here. I have a 3 1/2 month old male kitten and since I brought him home he has on and off not used the litter box. He uses it mostly but at least three times a week he will poop on the floor. His litter boxes are cleaned every day at the same time. This has been going on since I brought him home. When I brought him home we kept him separated from my 3 year old female cat, he had his own litter box and was taken out and played with. While we had him separated he always used the litter box. But once he had free rein of the house this problem has started. We had added two more litter boxes, used different kinds off litter and even shredded our own paper thinking it may be the packaging smell or some crazy thing. He is neutered and declawed. His big sister does not bully him at all... Its the other way around actually. I'm at my wits end and my boyfriend is quite sick of thisd problem. Any and all advise would be great! Thank you

I forgot to add, the litter boxes are in low traffic areas and placed in different areas around the house. 

TOsmommy said:

I forgot to add, the litter boxes are in low traffic areas and placed in different areas around the house. 

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I wonder if you're aware that the mutilation of their paws called de-clawing sometimes causes this problem.  Many cats are left with permanent pain and find litter painful or at the least irritating. 

Declawing a cat can cause them to act out and not to use the litter box. If you are using a clay based litter then you may want to change the litter. My suggestion is to change the litter to a natural cat litter. Natural cat litters are considered a soft litter. The litter in the litter box may be causing him addition pain.

My cat was also declawed and fixed 2 weeks. I tried to shredded newspaper but he will not go. So he still using the clay litter. When I get money on the first of Aug I am going to switch my boy's litter is feline pine non clumping litter.
 

I understand that some people are against de-clawing. It was a choice of mine, that I talk about with my vet. This problem has been going on since he before he was de-clawed and neutered. Also, I would like to add that my 13 year old cat who has been de-clawed since a kitten and has regular check ups with the vet has never had a single problem with pain in her paws.

Thank you Brand LeeSinder. I will try using the natural cat litters. But I would like to add this problem had been going on since before he was De-clawed.

Maybe he just don't like the litter or the box. I have to scoop up any waste my cat leaves right away. He does not like a dirty box. That might be he problem too.
 

TOsmommy said:

Hello,

 I'm new here. I have a 3 1/2 month old male kitten and since I brought him home he has on and off not used the litter box. He uses it mostly but at least three times a week he will poop on the floor. His litter boxes are cleaned every day at the same time. This has been going on since I brought him home. When I brought him home we kept him separated from my 3 year old female cat, he had his own litter box and was taken out and played with. While we had him separated he always used the litter box. But once he had free rein of the house this problem has started. We had added two more litter boxes, used different kinds off litter and even shredded our own paper thinking it may be the packaging smell or some crazy thing. He is neutered and declawed. His big sister does not bully him at all... Its the other way around actually. I'm at my wits end and my boyfriend is quite sick of thisd problem. Any and all advise would be great! Thank you

Click to expand...

He is still young so I wonder if he was properly trained. Since he used the box when he was separated, I would isolate him again and retrain him to use the box. Have you tried Kitten Attract litter? As has been noted, the litter box avoidance could be from the declawing so a soft litter should also help. Are the boxes open or closed? Some cats do not like the closed ones.

TOsmommy said:

I understand that some people are against de-clawing. It was a choice of mine, that I talk about with my vet. This problem has been going on since he before he was de-clawed and neutered. Also, I would like to add that my 13 year old cat who has been de-clawed since a kitten and has regular check ups with the vet has never had a single problem with pain in her paws.

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TOsmommy, what's done is done, and we will do everything we can to help and support you, but it is important to note the following:

Cat Care Policies, Guidelines and Stances

4. This website is anti-declawing. Understand that if you are pro-declaw in your posts, you will encounter opposition.

Some important TCS declawing articles:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/declawing-and-alternatives
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/declawing-more-than-just-a-manicure
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/why-cats-should-not-be-declawed

I'm not a vet, so these are just random suggestions based on having cats for 31 years.

Cats are naturally clean creatures who want to bury their waste, so it is unusual that he is having such frequent accidents. Is there a particular place where he tends to go? I would increase the number of litter boxes and litter types so you have at least 5 or 6 around the home in those places. If he is declawed perhaps something that's a bit softer and doesn't require too much scratching. Cats prefer litter that is like sand/dirt so I would go as soft and as natural as possible. Once he shows a preference for a place and a type of litter then you can get rid of the excess boxes.

When I was training my last kitten he would go behind the TV or the curtains as it was a more private place. I would gently lift him and sit him in the new litter box, lift a paw and together help him scratch the litter so he knew instinctively that's where he should go. Eventually the accidents stopped altogether.

Reward litter use too. So whenever he does use the litter box and you notice it, give him a cat treat and a pat and praise him for the good work!

If his behaviour persists talk to your vet because you don't want him to get into this habit.

Hope this helps!

The boxes are open. We had closed ones. He tends to go in whatever room he is in, there is not a set spot that he goes in. We also switched litter to Feline Pine Natural cat litter, I hope that helps. Also, after talking with my boyfriend he pointed out that most accidents happen when I work longer hours. So I was wondering could this be a stress response? I do tend to baby him a lot when I am home.