Kitten &I liter box. Help!!

I adopted a 5-6 week old kitten who also didn't know how/what to do with the litter box. I have several cats and after my kitten watched the other cats use the litter box, she began to use it as well. Prior to that she would sometimes eat the littler...like your kitty. Cats learn by watching other cats...if your older cats will allow it, let them share the litter box so she can watch the adults.

Jim

Oh ok! How did you do that? Did you get a big but shallow liter box? Right now the older cat has a liter box way to big for her to get in & her current box is too small for him.

We used a disposable litter box that comes pre-loaded with non clumping clay based litter...I can't remember the name of it but it is a fairly shallow gray pan. Ours was shallow enough for the kitten (Salome) to climb into and we added some extra litter so she didn't have a big climb getting back out of the box/tray. I wrote a thread about it a year ago and was really surprised when I observed the kitten watching older cats and learning from them. I guess kittens of that age learn from their parents/mother, so it makes sense that they learn by imitation. It is much easier getting a cat to demonstrate the process than for me to try to get the idea across!

    Once Salome learned the new trick, there was no stopping her...a bad pun is intended!

Jim   [==========================

It's probably the Cat's Pride Kat Kit: http://www.catspride.com/our-products/cats-pride-kat-kit/ Most supermarkets have this product.

If you put a "step" next to the older cat's litter box, the kitten can use it to get in. An old phone book or two works well if you have any of those still lying around. Or a sturdy cardboard box.

Update- we got her disposable cake pans and put non clumping non scented natural liter in it (finally found some) of course they're bigger clay chunks like small rocks almost. She STILL eats it. And being bigger chunks we won't allow that. We have taken that away and are back to paper towels yet again. Today- she has had no accidents. Went in one of her two liter boxes all day. She really seems to like the paper towels. Next step is trying shredded news paper. Fingers crossed she won't eat that as well!!! She has been extremely good today. We got a baby gate so we didn't have t shut the door and she can at least see out. She has tried climbing it once but she'll get the hang of it. She has slept most of the day away- hopefully she won't be up all night!

babylexus said:

Update- we got her disposable cake pans and put non clumping non scented natural liter in it (finally found some) of course they're bigger clay chunks like small rocks almost. She STILL eats it. And being bigger chunks we won't allow that. We have taken that away and are back to paper towels yet again. Today- she has had no accidents. Went in one of her two liter boxes all day. She really seems to like the paper towels. Next step is trying shredded news paper. Fingers crossed she won't eat that as well!!! She has been extremely good today. We got a baby gate so we didn't have t shut the door and she can at least see out. She has tried climbing it once but she'll get the hang of it. She has slept most of the day away- hopefully she won't be up all night!

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Have you considered using a news paper pellet or corn based litter? Both should be safe for kittens

We did find some corn based liter. I considered getting it but my husband didn't like the idea- it would be a lot less harmful if she ate it wouldn't it? Didnt find any newspaper though!

It would be a lot less harmful, yes. Why was your husband opposed?

You will still need to make sure the corn litter is non-clumping.

This is good news! Your kitten used the litter box properly all day long! Hurray!

The paper towels seem to be working for now, so I'd just stick with those until she's a bit bigger and less interested in eating the litter. You can also try using doggie pee pads in the box. A package of the generic ones is about $5 at my Walmart. Might be more absorbable and easy to pick up and dispose of. They can be cut to fit. I think she's doing great! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

My kitten took a couple of weeks to learn to use litter box. She was a feral, bottle baby abandoned her first week of life. She really started doing better when I bought Kitten Attract litter, in a pink box. Bought it at Petco. Expensive $18.99 but later found on Amazon for like $12.99. When it's fresh, it smells like pine needles! Nala Ava Marie really did well with that, now that she's litter box trained, I can use the less expensive litter and she's been fine with that. Good luck.

Hi everyone! It has been a long time since I have posted but since she is completely LITER box trained!! Yes liter! So- now our new problem! Tonight we discovered our poor kitten has worms. We think tapeworms. Our other cat is not showing signs but we will get him some dewormer either way. I plan on taking her to the vet first thing tomorrow morning. What do tapeworms do to kittens? How likely is it that my husband and I will contract them from her? She has had some runy stools and did have an accident in our bedroom yesterday of course on our bed. We changed all sheets and pillowcases. But am wondering if that makes us more at risk?? Help! We are very worried for our kitties and ourselves!

You will not easily catch tapeworms from your kitty. They come from ingesting fleas, so she needs to also be treated for fleas. Tapeworm medicine is given now and again in a couple of weeks. It's an easy remedy, especially if you get rid of the fleas.

Well that is good to hear thank you all!! I have an appointment for her at the vet today in a few hours! Fingers crossed!!

Cats always seem to get worms of one type or another and some flea medications, such as Revolution, treat roundworms as well as the fleas and other critters. The vet will make short work out of the worms either by a pill or a shot. You might have to follow up to make sure they are gone in the weeks after the treatment, but your vet will give you more specific instructions. Worms are not easily transmitted between animals and people unless some contents of the litter box and the dinner table get mixed, the chance of getting worms is nearly zero. Typically worms are part of the life cycle and are spread in the feces. When another animal either eats something contaminated or transmitted in other fashions, then the life cycle is continued and the worms continue. Fleas also live in feces and are easily spread by users of the litter box. Fun, huh?

Jim M 

Well that makes me feel a lot better! Update on her; she went to the vet today and I was ruff it was tapeworms! She got a few of her kitten shots today as well as flea & heartworm medication! She also got a few pills for her tapeworms and should be good to go in a few weeks![emoji]9786[/emoji]️

It sounds like she will be fit as a fiddle! Just be aware that occasionally they can sleep a lot or feel lethargic for a day or two after their shots. [emoji]128522[/emoji]