Cats teasing each other in litter

I recently introduced two new kittens to our house and our almost two year old cat. Litter training the kittens was hard, but they got through it and are now using the litter box. They also get along with the older cat just fine through play, grooming, and sleeping together. The one weird thing the two kittens do is like to tease each other and my older cat in the litter! They will play with tails, play with each other, and bat at the box while the one is trying to go. My older cat does not do this to the kittens, but he does act like he is stalking them from across the room (he has yet to run up and pounce on them).

I have three litter boxes, one of which is in a totally different location than the other two. Two of the litter boxes are old plastic tote boxes with high sides and the third is a traditional low sided one; the kittens and adult cat can easily get into all three, while only the one kitten favors the low sided one.

We haven't had any accidents with them hopping out mid stream, but we have had some instances with them getting startled by the other kitten, stepping in their poop, then tracking the litter. We do have a mat down in front of the two litter boxes and the third one is in an unused shower so cleanup is fairly easy, but still, it's strange.

I don't have a covered litter box as the older cat does not care for those, and I am hesitant to redirect the kittens when they do this because it was a struggle getting them to use the litter in the first place.... but that is another story all together and has been resolved.

So, what's up with this? Is it just kitten behavior?

It sounds like typical kitten antics to me. They are always looking to play!  They should grow out of it eventually.  In the meantime it sounds like you are doing everything right by having 3 options and multiple locations. 

I agree with MoochNNoodles, it sound's like typical kitten play. Mine will scratch the outside of the litter box when the other is using it. I would however make sure your kittens cannot get startled when using the box or they might associate it with not feeling secure and find a safer spot to eliminate.

Can the cat using the box easily see the other cats approach? If the boxes are in a corner I would move them away a bit so the kitties can jump out from all sides when they feel threatened.

Good luck and enjoy the kitties!

Thanks guys/gals!

Speaking of getting startled.... I felt so bad one of the first times we actually got the kittens to use the litter. The dryer was running, it's just makes the normal hum every other dryer does, but I totally spaced the "cycle done" buzz it makes! That poor kitten tore out of the litter box, skittered around the linoleum in our kitchen, and hid under our bed for about half an hour. It was just a one time thing, thank goodness, and now she uses it just fine.

One of the tote boxes is made of a semi see through blue plastic, but the other is a solid black. The black on it a bit higher but they are still able to get in and out of it. The boxes are not flush against the wall, the kittens can get behind them (which they love to do), but the older cat cannot get behind as he is too big. So, technically, they have three exit/entrance points.

The one in the shower area is more open, it's just a traditional large litter pan. We do not close the shower curtain (we actually had to remove the shower curtain because they kept trying to climb it, stinkers), and I guess you could say it's not as private. Like I said, only one kitten favors that box though, she's kind of claimed that area as hers since she's the only one that sleeps in the bed in the adjacent bedroom.