Later old litter, hello new litter, and Litter Advice

Hey kitty guys and gals.

So just like every cat parent we are always on the lookout for the new or as new cat litter that we can fine. But sometimes that isn't the case and we end up buying time and time again the wrong litter.

Well this last Sunday was one of those prime examples. I decided to buy my kitten a walnut based cat litter by Blue Buffalo because I was honestly sick and tired of Arm & Hammer clumping litter- to much dust and the smell was beyond terrible. I was cleaning the litter 2-3 times a day.

Anyway being a new cat mom sometimes you don't know the rule of things. Immediately threw out the old litter, gave the litter box a good wash and soak in hot water and soap before I placed the new liter. Foremost let me tell you just smell alone I'm enjoy the smell of the Blue Buffalo cat litter, doesn't really have a chemical or strong frangrance smell. Secondly I like the fact that the texture doesn't look like fine sand. My kitten is a Persian and he has long hair so that was a huge bonus for me.

I placed my kitten in the litter box uncovered and let him smell around a bit, after I took his paw and guided him like "look here buddy, this is litter you scratch"

It's now Tuesday and I feel like my kitten still doesn't understand that the litter inside his box is where he needs to go to. I haven't had no accidents around the house but I do begin hearing him just meow and meow and roam the house around like he's looking for something I grab him and put him in the litter where then he'll sniff a bit more going about doing his business.

Am I in the wrong for changing his cat litter so suddenly. Any suggestions to make my kitten using his business more efficiently without him looking confused. I'm a bit nervous that when I'm off at work one day he won't be able to wait and have an accident. Also anyone else have expierence with walnut based cat litter or even pine pellet litter? Any advice helps.

By the way for those of you wondering, my kitten is around 3 months.

Thanks again guys

Changing cat litter is a process of transition. What you did was you've gotten rid of all your kitty's own familiar smells that is smell of his pee and poo.
If you want to change to a new kitty litter, you have to progressively mix new and old and till the old litter is finally overtaken by the new litter. On top of that, your kitty might not even like the new litter maybe due to the smell or texture. Yes, it's a too sudden change.
Here's an article about switching to a new type of litter -

[article="31211"][/article]

I was able to switch my kittens' litter pretty quickly, but I suspect that's because they had strong associations with the location of the litter tray, and Hester watches me closely when I clean the box then immediately goes in to sniff and mark the new litter. Can you get a small amount of the old kind of litter and mix it in with the new so your kitten feels a bit more secure? 

Gatsby watches me all the time when I change his liter or clean it. With the arm & hammer litter I was having so many problems. Tracking everywhere, the amount of dust and since my kitten is still young he does have the occaasional "oops I stepped in this " kind of accident. I'm trying to avoid for my kitten to inhale any harmfulndust or ingest any of the clumping litter. Another thing he started doing was spending time in the litter box, playing inside it and even taking naps in it. When I saw his vet, his vet said he was fine no problems since he was peeing and pooping normally.

I got the new litter because I ran out of the previous one I was using so in my head I was "killing two birds with one stone." I thought 1. I was getting something better more natural that would be less harmful for my kitten and 2. Maybe the new litter would stop the "litter playhouse" that my kitten had created.

My kitten has definitely stopped playing or taking naps in the litter ever since I switched it out on Sunday but it's too soon to say how long that will continue. My only concern now is that sometimes he'll take a peek at the litter like he's going to use it and then turn around. A couple minutes will go by and he seems restless liable he's looking for something and he'll start to meow. I literally have to pick him up and put him inside the litter where then he'll sniff and start to scratch around tondonhis business. I don't want to create a bad habit where he thinks "oh someone has to pick me up and take me to my litter in order to potty"

Maybe it's the color? I know that arm and hammer is more of a grayish white color where Blue Buffalo is more of a brown color (it's is walnut based after all)

hellogatsby,

You are welcomed.

It's ok to pick him up and put him in the litter box. It won't become a bad habit when you do this. Maybe you can pick him up and let him stand with the front paws on the edge of the litter box so that he is looking into the litter box. Then maybe few seconds later, put your hands under his front leg armpit and gently lift him up and at the same time with the other hand holding his tummy area from below, lift at the same time as the front in a motion like climbing into the litter box instead of just carrying him and putting him in the litter box. This might give him the idea that he has to climb in to do his business if you are afraid that it becomes a bad habit that he needs to to be carried in.
Keep us posted.

Hey guys, soooo for the last two days Gatsby has been pooping (TMI sorry) and he'll dig, do his business but not cover up. Today was sort of a mini "raise the white flag" moment for me because out of no where Gatsby just peed on one of my carpets. 

I was so upset because I really was liking the Blue Buffalo  walnut litter but i guess he wasn't. 

So went to petsmart and after explaining the situation the manager was kind enough to swap out the litter as a one time courtesy. 

So now we're on tidy cats. as soon as i opened it i could smell the fragrance and i immediately knew this was going to be bad news. 

sure enough within 15 minutes Gatsby was back to going inside the litter and playing around in his litter box. 

I dont know if maybe i should gradually switch him over to the blue buffalo walnut or try something else that will make him happy. 

ugh this cat momma doesn't know what to do  

so just to recap: 

Was originally using Arm and Hammer (Gatsby would go do his business normally but he would play around the litter too much. I wasnt happy) 

switched to Blue Buffalo (Gatsby seemed a bit confused but would use the litter and occasionally i would have to place him inside the litter for him to do his  business. i was super happy with this litter, no odors, minimal to almost no tracking.) 

Now currently using tidy cats (Gatsby seems ok with it did his business correctly but is back to the playing in the litter and laying down. weird detergent fragrance and SOOO much tracking. Im not happy at all : ( ..

Any advice or suggestions are going to be haven sent.

thanks guys!