New Kitten Pooped on Me

Hi, I'm new to the site.

I got two new kittens this past week.  They are only about 2 months old so still small.  One is a male -- a grey and white named Pepper.  And the other is his sister -- a grey tabby named Pickles.  Both were barn kittens I adopted from a friend so they have had no litter box experience.  I am putting them in there and I scoop twice a day so I know they do use it, but we're still having accidents.  Both like to pee on the cement area by our wood-burning stove in the basement.  But the worst is PIckles.  She peed in our bed yesterday (with us in it) and now today, she pooped in my hand while in bed!  Both times she was mewing for her brother.  She is the shyest of the two but also gets lonely the easiest.  Pepper is much braver and has kind of thrown himself into our family.  Since they were barn kittens they have had only minimal socialization.  And we have two small children so I know it's all been a shock on their system this past week.  I am noticing an improvement on the social end (and am making sure to give the kittens breaks from the kids' enthusiasm!) so am willing to give that time.  But the bed messes are horrible.  Doesn't help our washing machine broke and we won't be getting a new one until the end of the week at the soonest.

Right now we only have the litter box downstairs.  That had been enough for our old cat (who had died several months ago).  I have discussed with my husband about getting a second litter box for upstairs but I was wondering if there is anything else I should be doing.  I had JUST taken them to the vet (about 2 days ago) and had them dewormed and other than that, they were in perfect health.   

We are using generic store-brand clumping litter but was wondering if there is another kind we could be using to encourage use.  I had read that sometimes a more sand-like litter could encourage kittens who had never used a litter box before.  Any experience with that?

My family had taken in a barn kitten when I was a child but that was 20 years ago and my last cat had been a shelter cat so already was litter trained and socialized.  So feeling a little lost.  I run in a circle of people who would have no sympathy to this problem.  They'd just suggest to toss it outside (or worse) so any advice here would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

PS  I do have their spay and neuter surgery booked but the vet won't do it before 6 months.

You definitely need at least a 2nd litter box.  Small kittens have small bladders and can not always get to the box if it is too far away.   As for peeing in the bed, she could be claiming her territory.

Thank you for the reply.  We will definitly be getting a second litter box.  For now we're going to be making our room off-limits.

Would the marking territory be a sign of aggression against us?  Or possibly her brother?  They scrap A LOT.  To the point of crying out in pain.  They do cuddle together too and Pickles will cry out if she can't find Pepper.  But Pepper seems indifferent if she is around or not.  When he's lonely he is already coming to us (he's sleeping by me as I type though Pickles is constantly walking on the keyboard which is making typing this difficult!)

Just trying to play Cat Whisperer so I can nip this behaviour in the bud!

As extra information, they do seem to get jealous for attention.  Pickles just kicked Pepper out of his cuddle spot by me and now she's dozing where he had been just a moment ago.

Can you get one to sleep on either side of you?

Trimming the very tip of their nails will help keep them from harming each other while playing.  You should probably step in if they get too rough.  Usually the mom cat will step in to teach soft paws.

They did eventually cuddle together beside me and then started fighting a little while later.  I do break them up when they get too rough.  Thankfully, they don`t turn that energy around on me.  They accept me moving them about.  

I`ll have to hurry up and get that second litter box.  They seem to share a food dish fine (though there are two separate dishes they tend to eat out of the same one) but maybe litter box is a different story.

Just don`t get why she`d poop ON me.  Blech.  That was gross.  My youngest is still in diapers.  There is only so much poop I can handle.