Litter training young kittens

Hi, I have 4 1-month old kittens running around that I am trying to litter train. One was very good, and picked it up immediately. The others aren't so great at it, and one especially is having a lot of problems.

I've caught the one who is having problems at least 2 dozen times, scooped him up, and put him in the litter box. He won't finish peeing in there, no matter how long I keep him there. He will leave and find another place on the floor (wood floors) to do it.

I've tried putting him there are holding his paws to make digging motions in the litter. (BTW, I'm using scoopable wheat litter). I've tried stimulating him to go while he's on the box and he haaaaaates it and will not cooperate.

I've put out kitten size litter boxes (and bowls) all over the house, in the spots he likes to pee (which is just about everywhere), and he won't go in them. I've tried scooping out the communal box to make sure it's clean, and no go.

I've tried getting him to watch mom go to her box, and he seems totally uninterested. I've tried putting him in her box right after she's gone, and he climbs right back out.

I've been cleaning up all of the spots and spraying feliway on them after, but he keeps finding new ones.

This has been going on for a week now, and I have no idea where to go from here. Please help!

**UPDATE** 2 seemed to catch on and now use the box. Still having problems with the one. I've put a paper towel that I used to clean up his pee inside the box and he doesn't seem any more interested.

I am having the same issue, I went out and got clay litter today, being that wheat and the yesterdays news, wasnt working. If it works I will let you know.
I tried everything you tried and then some. And I only have 1 baby, with mommy, so since they are so much in luv, you would think he would pay closer attention, but maybe not since he is the only one..

I resorted to this as a last step, because all the cats Ive either had or been around, never had issues with the original clay stuff, the cheap stuff...Though the benefits arent there for us, as far as tracking and smell, I never had one who used those give me a problem.

Ive started to wonder if this nice "NEW" kind of litter isnt the problem

Ill let you know what helps me , etc...
I am renting now, so its a HUGE ISSUE. Im moving within the month too.. So I really dont need accidents from the start. And he is 8 wks now, and staying with mommy forever

I spoke to someone else who said the type of litter shoulnd't be a problem because it's not like they have anything to compare it to. Those problems usually arise in older cats, after you've switched litters.

And, I've got 3/4 who don't mind it. I think we just both have finicky kitties. I am going to try confinement next unless someone can offer another suggestion?

Well, it certainly sounds like you're doing everything right with this little guy. Have you ruled out any health problems? Sometimes kitties pee outside the litterbox when they have a bladder infection, but it might just be his age.

One thing to remember, when they're that young, it might take a bit of time for them to really "get" the idea. I know it's frustrating, but when they're that young, sometimes they get so involved in the game they're playing, they don't notice they have to "go", and wind up "losing it" on the way to the box.

Some things that should help...

Sometimes kitties get very finicky about exactly how their litterbox is set up, and where.

Here are a couple websites that should help:

http://www.larimerhumane.org/services/litterboxinfo.cfm

http://www.thepetprofessor.com/secA...es_and_cats.asp

http://www.heartlandhumane.org/pub/petcare_litterbox

A couple tips:

Cats don't usually like the plastic liners some people use in litterboxes.

Some cats don't like the hooded boxes, while some prefer them (for privacy).

Cats at times don't like the box to be anywhere that they also have to eat and drink.

Sometimes the problem is just that the box isn't somewhere private enough. They only like to "go" somewhere that is low-traffic, quiet, and very private.

I would suggest putting the box where he's "going", but it sounds like he's going whereever he happens to be at the time, which could be what I mentioned before, about him just not being used to listening to his body's signals about having to "go".

We found out in trying different things that our boy, Hobbes, wanted one litterbox to poop in and one to pee in, he didn't like hooded litterboxes, and he liked it pristinely clean. One good thing is the fact that he's now outgrown his pickiness about wanting two and wanting them in such perfect condition, now that he's two! Hopefully yours will do the same!

Hope all that helps!

Let us know how it goes!

I had a kitten like that and I tried everything I could think of and finally I put it in the litter box when one of the other kittens went in to do there thing and that is what seemed to work. I had tried putting him in with mom and everything but when put in with him in with his siter it worked out fine. Afriend of mine had this problem and it seemed the cat would go potty outside just fine. they allowed there kitty to go outside to potty. other than that not sure what you can do. I am sure someone else will come by shorlty and offer better information than I. good luck.

Im almost afraid to speak to soon..
BUT..
I got the new litter, set that one up..
So there was 2 boxes. one for mommy with the yesterdays news, and one for baby with the clay..

Well. the baby has been in the yesterdays news 3 times so far that I seen..2 pees, and 1 poop

And mommy likes the clay
So what that is gonna be about who knows, but I dont care, I will buy both if mommy really likes it better..

SOOOOO, even though a few told me not to confine, Im thinking that might have done the trick..
If you seen my first post, not sure if you did. I put him in the kitchen blocked off for a day or so, let him out and he started again, then the bathroom, and my son let him out, and did it again...
BUT the 3rd time I was alittle disturbed by then, and made sure he was atleast in there for a day and a half , 2 days, and only let him out this morning because of the new box...

Well he went, so confining might be the solution
Oh unless he just knew I was irritated because he would go back in there like punishment..Even though I didnt do it MEANLY..He might have picked up on, everytime he did it he ended up locked in a room

Plus if they have free run of the house and just have one litterbox in a particular spot, they may not remember or be able to make it in time.

Put lots of small litterboxes everywhere. Get little pie tins. Also, scoopable litter is not good for such young kittens. Sometimes they try eating it or when they go they will sit in it sometimes and when that clumps to their butts it builds up fast. Then they get all blocked and red and raw. I don't know about wheat litter though, but I know scoopable is not good for kittens.

Originally Posted by Jen

Plus if they have free run of the house and just have one litterbox in a particular spot, they may not remember or be able to make it in time.

Put lots of small litterboxes everywhere. Get little pie tins. Also, scoopable litter is not good for such young kittens. Sometimes they try eating it or when they go they will sit in it sometimes and when that clumps to their butts it builds up fast. Then they get all blocked and red and raw. I don't know about wheat litter though, but I know scoopable is not good for kittens.

Click to expand...

Good idea with the lots of litterboxes. I neglected to mention that in my big, long response. Lol...

I mentioned in my initial post that I've tried using multiple litter boxes. It doesn't seem to be the thing. Also, wheat litter is safe for kittens because they will digest it. (It's flushable and biodegradeable).

I've now tried confining him to a small carboard box, with a smaller litter box inside. He seems to go when I lock him in there, but not voluntarily. I'm hoping he will make the transition though..

I confined him to the bathroom and first he just peed in a corner in the bathroom. So I confined him to a small box with the litter box inside taking up half the room. Bingo! He went quickly, but he haaaaaates being confined.

Now to make the transition.. sigh. Any tips?