Hi! My cat has had 5 kittens about 5 weeks ago and although some of the kittens are using the litter box, others are not. Is this anything to do with the mom cat? Should I try putting the kittens into the litter box? I'm not sure why some are using and some are not and I would greatly appreciate any advice! Thanks!
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Litter training kittens
- Thread starter cboyle224
- Start Date
Could you give more details? Like are the kittens just eliminating anywhere, or a specific spot outside of the litterbox?
When you see one of the kittens starting to go, put them in the litterbox. Afterwards, take their paw and lightly dig at the litter. They should instinctively catch on. If they don't the first time, keep putting them in the box. Is the box short enough for them to get into? Is the litter nonscented? Is it dusty? Is it nonclumping?
When you see one of the kittens starting to go, put them in the litterbox. Afterwards, take their paw and lightly dig at the litter. They should instinctively catch on. If they don't the first time, keep putting them in the box. Is the box short enough for them to get into? Is the litter nonscented? Is it dusty? Is it nonclumping?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Hi and thanks for responding! So far I've found two spots. One is under my daughters bed and unfortunately whichever kitty is using this spot seems to have done so frequently. The only other spot is under our desk in the living room. I have been putting them into the litter box after they are done nursing. I did read in an article I found online that sometimes they will do this because the litter box is in an area that they don't feel they have enough privacy. Should I move it? I use fresh step brand litter and it is non clumping for the kitties but clumping for the mom. I now have 2 litter boxes. Is this ok? Thank you!
It sounds as if the kittens have access to a large part of the house?
The kittens should be confined to a small area (bathrooms work great) with 2 or more litter boxes. You have to think of them like toddlers that are just learning to use the potty. At 5 weeks, they are just beginning to have full control of their bowel movements, so accidents are going to happen. But, the key is to have a litter box close by. Sometimes it even takes having litter boxes in all corners of the room (and sometimes throughout the middle of the room, if it is a larger size room.)
Also, so long as the kittens have *no* access to mom's litter box, clumping for her is ok. But, if the box is in an area the kittens are, then, no, clumping litter should not be used.
The kittens should be confined to a small area (bathrooms work great) with 2 or more litter boxes. You have to think of them like toddlers that are just learning to use the potty. At 5 weeks, they are just beginning to have full control of their bowel movements, so accidents are going to happen. But, the key is to have a litter box close by. Sometimes it even takes having litter boxes in all corners of the room (and sometimes throughout the middle of the room, if it is a larger size room.)
Also, so long as the kittens have *no* access to mom's litter box, clumping for her is ok. But, if the box is in an area the kittens are, then, no, clumping litter should not be used.
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I and a similar problem at this age and as the poster above says the fix for this was confining them to my bathroom, it's a fairly small room but I had 3 litter boxes in there spread out and after a week I was able to let them out to have free access again but made sure we had litter boxes everywhere (still have 5 litter boxes now and they're almost 11 weeks old now)
