kittens don't dig?

I had posted before about taking in two young kittens, probably around 4-5 weeks old. I was under the impression that you don't give kittens that young litter because it's dangerous to them so we did not put a little box in their pen instead we put newspapers down. I don't know if they got used to not burying, but they were in the box for about a week before they started to look healthy and alert enough to allow to move about, but now we are having problems with them not using the litterbox. We got two of them thinking maybe they are territorial about just one but no. They always poop in generally the same place so we put the boxes there and they just go beside them or find a new place to go. Sometimes they use the box but to pee only, the poop ends up in a pile somewhere outside the box.. It's as though they are not inclined to dig, or they don't care. Even when the pee in the box they don't dig, just pee on top. They are otherwise happy and seem in good health though a trip to the vet is coming up, but I think it's more of a thing of not knowing what to do rather than not wanting to or being sick. Any ideas? How can I teach my kits to dig?

What kind of litter pans are you using? At that age I used disposable aluminum cake pans as it's much easier for then to climb into.

Also try putting the poop into the pan so they can learn that this is the place to go.

As long as you are NOT using clumping litter then it is safe for them.

first we were using old shoe box lids (when they were very small), now we are using the small plastic ones but they have no problem getting in and out to play, although they are a bit higher than some things might be. We have also tried the put the old poop in the box thing which did not work. I'm not horrible upset or freaking out or stressed about it but would prefer that they start to use their box as soon as possible.

I have fostered many a fuzzy-baby and have found when they are ready...they are ready I highly recommend disposable baking pans as a litter pan using non-clumping litter (they tend to eat it). This may sound a bit silly, but for some of my slow-learners, I have actually put them back in the litter pan after they did their "business" and moved their legs for them in a digging motion. You have the right idea about moving their old poop into the litter box...but leave it there. May stink a bit, but leave their "stuff" in the litter pan so they get the idea that "this is the correct place" for it, move their little legs in a digging motion (gently) and thoroughly clean the area where they have been pooping so there is no remaining scent. Hang-in there...they are still babies.

They will "go" in a dirt-like substance instinctively, if it is provided to them. Newspaper is tougher for them to understand.

Plain, unscented clay litter is fine for kittens. There are also clumping litters made from corn, wheat, or newspaper that are even better for them from a safety standpoint, but it is different enough from dirt that they might or might not use them. The pellet-type litter (usually made from either pine or newspaper) is very safe but also harder for kittens to get the idea of.

When I litter trained kittens I would wait about 15-20 minutes or so after they ate and picked them up and put them in the litter box and took their front legs and did digging motions and them gently pushed down their rear ends. They got the hang of this after just a couple of times. Of course they liked to play in the litter boxes too!!!
I used the same litter (non clumping/and clumping) like the big cats did. I would agree however that the sides of a normal litter box might be to tall for them!!!
BTW Under my litter boxes I bought a couple yards of the material that you could use as a tablecloth outside. Smooth on one side. I duct taped this up the basement wall about a foot and taped the whole thing down. Its very easy to clean up!! And I have had the same piece for years!

well.. just wanted to say that bf called and both cats used the box for the first time today. I'm not throwing a party yet, but it gives me hope I have also done the digging motion with their front paws and they don't like it at all hehe. Oh well, let's hope this is a trend.

Originally Posted by annabelle33

well.. just wanted to say that bf called and both cats used the box for the first time today. I'm not throwing a party yet, but it gives me hope

I have also done the digging motion with their front paws and they don't like it at all hehe. Oh well, let's hope this is a trend.

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I have full confidence that your little ones will eventually "get it" I never said that these little ones "liked" me moving their little paws in a digging motion but for whatever reason, they finally "got it". Wishing you luck & "mazeltov" on your little ones using the litter box for the first time

i adopted a couple of 8 week olds that had the same problem, their old home was dirty so i figured it would be ok in my clean home .. wrong! after a while of me scrubbing my carpets they all of a sudden decided that the litter box was the place to go. (thank heavens)