New kitten owner--kitty won't use litter box

Hi All,

I'm new to the site.

We found a adorable black kitty last weekend and decided to keep her, we've taken her to the vet and she is between 6 and 8 weeks. She will NOT use her litter box, she's been kept in a confined area and she will poop in her bed before go in her box. She can get in and out with no problem. My husband has about had it. He wasn't so into this and now he is ready to give her to the shelter. I've read about Cat Attract, is it only availabe via the internet.

Please my kids love Winnie but this is almost a week of accidents.

Thanks in advance

You can get Cat Attract at the pet stores.

If she was outdoors before she may also respond if you put a little dirt or leaves in her box. Please understand that she is very young and has never learned about the litterbox.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge will show up soon to help you. I would try putting her in her litter box after she eats and gently hold her little paws and scratch around in the litter. Perhaps put some of her "doodoo" in the box and help her cover it up so she knows that is where it should go.

I'm just guessing here, but I'd try that until I got some better advice from the folks here who know about these things.

Originally Posted by ampmpp

Hi All,

I'm new to the site.

We found a adorable black kitty last weekend and decided to keep her, we've taken her to the vet and she is between 6 and 8 weeks. She will NOT use her litter box, she's been kept in a confined area and she will poop in her bed before go in her box. She can get in and out with no problem. My husband has about had it. He wasn't so into this and now he is ready to give her to the shelter. I've read about Cat Attract, is it only availabe via the internet.

Please my kids love Winnie but this is almost a week of accidents.

Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

How many litterboxes do you have?? One is probably not enough for this little one....remember, she is equivalent to a baby and is more interested in playing then figuring out where the litterbox is when she needs to go. Given her young age, she may not have been taught from her mom regarding the use of the litterbox.

Here is a really good article on suggestions for cats/kittens not pooping in the appropriate place:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=19767

Katie

She is pretty young, and you have to allow her to have these accidents. It just happens with kittens. I find that going to the grocery store and buying those throwaway pans out of aluminum foil works quite well. I use the cake pans. Put several of these out for her, because she is so small, they are easier to scramble over, plus you get four at once (they are usually banded together). If you have a kitten that has been outside, do not use clumping litter, or scented litter of any kind. Instead use potting soil mixed with regular clay litter and see if that turns the trick. But allow her to have these accidents- she should still be with mom at this age and mom would be teaching her about elimination and how to do it right. As much as we love these kittens, we are very poor substitutes for their mom in this department

When I got my cat, she was an outdoor kitten, about the same age as yours. I just spent an entire weekend continually placing her in the litterbox, probably every hour and after I saw her eat. It's was a lot of work and attention, but by Sunday evening I heard the wonderful sounds of her digging in the litter box by herself.

Originally Posted by lunasmom

When I got my cat, she was an outdoor kitten, about the same age as yours. I just spent an entire weekend continually placing her in the litterbox, probably every hour and after I saw her eat. It's was a lot of work and attention, but by Sunday evening I heard the wonderful sounds of her digging in the litter box by herself.

Click to expand...

Isn't it funny how that is such a great sound to a cat lover? Others must think we are silly!

When I brought my kittens home at eight weeks old, I was all excited when they used the litterbox properly. They never once had an accident (I was a little worried because the foster mom said sometimes the kittens still went outside the box.)

I'm sure people would have thought I was nuts if they saw how I reacted the first time they used the box, LOL.

I agree with putting her poop in the (unscented litter) box so she might get the idea, and adding another box for her to play in, lol. I also recommend getting a poop sample to your vet asap to check for parasites, as sometimes they know something's not right with the way they are pooping and have to tell you about it one way or another! Unfortunately, that's the most common way for them to "tell" us something is wrong!! Don't forget to have her Feline Leukemia and FIV tested at 12 weeks!