Help! Potty Training Stray Kitten!

caliprincess

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About a week and a half ago I found a stray kitten, he's probably about 15-16 weeks. I've tried multiple things trying to potty train him and NOTHING will work. I've done the whole putting the poop in the litter box and showing him. I went out and bought him his own litter box without a hood on it, I bought him Feline Pine (which he seems to like better then the cat litter) and still he refused to poop in it. Right now I have him in the bathroom with his food on one side with a blanket next to his food and a litter box on the other side of the bathroom and he chooses to poop on the blanket even though his food is on the blanket. I figured if I took the blanket out maybe that would work, but I doubt it since he pooped in the bathtub today. I'm running out of ideas. I'm thinking of putting him in the cat carrier that I have so he only has enough room to lay down and eat, so then he'd be forced to go in the litter box for a day or two. But I feel bad enough having him in the bathroom. I'm hoping he's not sick, because I definatly don't have the money to take him to the vet, but if it's necisarry I guess I'm going to have to take him to the local non kill shelter. I'm just so attached to the little guy after nursing him back to health. If anybody can help me please do!
 

StefanZ

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Oh may, it was a severe case. Pooping on his own blanket where food is...

But him pooping in the bathtube is of course a big step forwards. Some cats are in fact trained to poop in the bathtube...

Or if you could train him to poop in the toiletstool, it would be excellent.

the cat of mine neighbors, who usually did his outside; if he did it home he did it in the toilette, NOT the litter although they had a litter for their other cat.

You wrote you nursed him back to health. So he was sick, perhaps is still konvalescenting?? This may be some explanation. Many cats when sick have difficulties behawing. Especielly if the sickedness is with "stomach" or urinary.
Hopefullt it will be better with time and patience...

Try perhaps with common sand from beach or childrens playground. Or even common earth-dirt.
Otherwise classical cat-sand, and no perfumes or such...


Welcome to this forum!
 

tnr1

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Originally Posted by Caliprincess

About a week and a half ago I found a stray kitten, he's probably about 15-16 weeks. I've tried multiple things trying to potty train him and NOTHING will work. I've done the whole putting the poop in the litter box and showing him. I went out and bought him his own litter box without a hood on it, I bought him Feline Pine (which he seems to like better then the cat litter) and still he refused to poop in it. Right now I have him in the bathroom with his food on one side with a blanket next to his food and a litter box on the other side of the bathroom and he chooses to poop on the blanket even though his food is on the blanket. I figured if I took the blanket out maybe that would work, but I doubt it since he pooped in the bathtub today. I'm running out of ideas. I'm thinking of putting him in the cat carrier that I have so he only has enough room to lay down and eat, so then he'd be forced to go in the litter box for a day or two. But I feel bad enough having him in the bathroom. I'm hoping he's not sick, because I definatly don't have the money to take him to the vet, but if it's necisarry I guess I'm going to have to take him to the local non kill shelter. I'm just so attached to the little guy after nursing him back to health. If anybody can help me please do!
Here are some recommendations:

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

I'm a little concerned that you cannot take him to the vet...it could be a medical reason and not a behavior reason that is causing for him to have litterbox avoidance and without a vet check..it will be impossible to know if anything we recommend will help. Can you get on a payment plan or perhaps contact a low cost clinic (there are several in California):

http://www.lovethatcat.com/stca.html

I just would like this little guy to receive his age appropriate shots (because he is due for distemper and rabies) as well as being looked over for the issue you have described above.

Katie
 

ldg

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I have to agree with Katie. Kitty really needs to see a vet. All rescues should see a vet even if you don't think they're sick. They always need to be vaccinated, and they almost always need to be de-flea-ed and de-wormed. ESPECIALLY if you have another cat in the house - then it's also very important to ensure that the rescue does not test positive for several diseases (such as Feline Leukemia).

Please use this link to search for resources in your area - and call around to see if you can find a shelter or organization that can help. You can also call local vets to see if they'll work out a payment plan for you.

http://www.pets911.com/organizations/organizations.php

Is the kitty using the box for peeing? If so, then the problem is not the litter or the box, and it is very likely a medical problem. If not, then you may want to consider purchasing potting soil (without fertilizers!). Ferals are used to going to the bathroom outside, and litter is strange to them. If kitty will go to the bathroom in the soil, then empty the litterbox, fill it with litter, and put a small layer of potting soil covering the litter.

Unfortunately, I suspect kitty's got a problem, and your time and resources may be better spent figuring out a way to get him to a vet.

Thank you for rescuing this little one - but please do what you can to get him the proper medical care he needs!


Laurie
 
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caliprincess

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Thanks for your help. I've found places to get low cost shots and to get him fixed, but I'll also look at that site for getting him to a low cost vet. I gave him a flea bath yesterday and it seemed to kill them. The potting soil and dirt from outside actually sounds like a great idea. He does try to cover it up when he poops on cloth material. I'm now off to find a low cost vet. Maybe if worst comes to worst I can get some help from my Mom or Dad. Thanks again.
 
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caliprincess

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So I made the kitten (my daughter named him Four) to the vet on Monday. It's $34 which I don't know how great of a price it is, but I got it off a lisk of afordable clinics. But my fiance agreed to pay for it. At the moment I don't have the money to get him tested for the Feline Aids and Leukimia, so I'm going to see what the vet suggests. Now I'm off to find a way to get him shots and neutered. Thanks for the help.
 

ldg

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Caliprincess, I'm so glad you're finding ways to help kitty get the proper care he needs! Kudos to you for using the resources!


As to potting soil - just make sure it doesn't have any additives (like fertilizer). If he's not having a medical issue, hopefully that will do the trick. It has for all our feral rescues.


(((((((((hugs))))))))))

Laurie
 

StefanZ

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Originally Posted by Caliprincess

to the vet on Monday. It's $34 which I don't know how great of a price it is,.
This depends on what it is these 34 bucks. If it is to go through the door and say hallo - why, pretty normal. You may perhaps even also shake hands for the price. The investigations adds, shots adds etc. Such entry fee is common at some big clinics.

But if it is for the investigation AND some advices, but probably not shots or bigger treatments - sure, it is very good price. Most vets take 70-100 bucks for this as I understand after I had read some of the american forumists tell us.
If it is shots inclusive - its is a pure bargain, take half a douzin at once.
 

tnr1

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Originally Posted by Caliprincess

Thanks for your help. I've found places to get low cost shots and to get him fixed, but I'll also look at that site for getting him to a low cost vet. I gave him a flea bath yesterday and it seemed to kill them. The potting soil and dirt from outside actually sounds like a great idea. He does try to cover it up when he poops on cloth material. I'm now off to find a low cost vet. Maybe if worst comes to worst I can get some help from my Mom or Dad. Thanks again.
I wouldn't recommend using dirt from outside....because you could accidentally bring in unwanted "guests" (bugs) so it is best to stick with the potting soil that you can get at a store.

Katie
 

ldg

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Originally Posted by TNR1

I wouldn't recommend using dirt from outside....because you could accidentally bring in unwanted "guests" (bugs) so it is best to stick with the potting soil that you can get at a store.

Katie
Thanks for clarifying that, Katie. It is VERY important not to use dirt from outside!
 
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caliprincess

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I went and got some potting soil today. He seems to like it better then the other stuff. He actually let me put his paws in it. But he only really liked it if his body was on the outside of the box. I also took the blanket out, but now he decides to hide underneath my sink.

I'm also wondering if perhaps this was somebodies kitten that got lost. He was extremely happy when we brought him in the house, and could not stop purring. Is this usual for ferrals?

I'm also getting kind of concerned because he's been sneezing, but besides that he acts like a pretty happy kitty, except for when he's in the bathroom and wants out.

And the $34 is just to get him checked out, I realize if there's anything wrong with him it's going to cost more money, which I'll find some way to pay it, I always do. Since I'm low income there's places for me to get the shots and getting him neutered for lowers costs. I actually found a place that charges $20 for shots, neuter, license, and microchip, but I want to call and make sure it's for all and not for each, otherwise I'll go someplace else to get the shots and neuter done, then the microchip when I get more money.

Does anybody know the limit of how many dogs and cats you can have fixed for low cost? Thanks!
 

jcribbs

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And office visit at my vet is 40.00 or so. But if I include shots and anyspecialed treatment, prices climb. One of my cats had a low grade eye infection once it costs just under 100.00 for a shot and the stuff he needed. But he got well.

Being fixed is more expensive for a female cat usually and can range in my area from 45-75.00 depending on where you go.

All vet charge different prices. But putting money aside, the relief you will feel when you know kitty is healty and finally fixed makes it all worthwhile.

Good luck with your baby.

Also on my young cats, I would physically put them in the litter box and move their feet back and forth to simulate digging in the litter. I do this several times. And I also put a little piece of poop in there at first like you did.

Good luck.
 
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caliprincess

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I'm having no luck with the soil. Now since he no longer has his blanket he chooses to poop in the bathtub. So when he goes to the vet tomorrow, I'm going to see what he says.
 

prettylildanish

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Okay so, I am going to be training stray kittens soon too. My experience with previous training is simple and works great. All you need to do is get a smaller litter box with out a hood and put it in the corner of a small room in your house. Ex. Bathroom or laundry room. Feral kittens are used to going in corners where they can watch out for anything. Usually they defecate in dirt as well. You need to fill it up with dirt instead of litter so they are familiar to it. Also keep them in the small room for a while. put their food on the opposite wall of the litter box. Food in one corner and water in another corner. You want to make sure they can't get into any other corner but the litter corner. Usually they won't go where they eat. Make sue you fill the other corners with things that will block the corner. Reason I used the bathroom was because it's small and it's tile so it's easy to clean just in case. Another thing is you want to keep them in the bathroom for about a week. A new house can be over whelming for a feral kitten and they will usually get lost and forget where their litter box is. Kittens usually defecate about half an hour after eating. So keep the food in the bathroom. There for it has to go in there to eat and it will easily remember where it's litter box is. But by keeping it in there for a while he will get used to going in the box. Also every now and  then if you notice him go to the bathroom check if he has eaten or has gone potty. If he has only eaten then watch the clock and put him in the actual litter box about half an hour later and close the door. Check if he has gone about 15 mins later and if he has then let him out. He will get used to this concept and will eventually do it on his own. It takes patience but good luck. I have trained several and I am about to rescue 7 more that I will be training lol. But again good luck :D and thank you for being such a caring and loving person. I hope this helps.
 

revenwyn

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Okay so, I am going to be training stray kittens soon too. My experience with previous training is simple and works great. All you need to do is get a smaller litter box with out a hood and put it in the corner of a small room in your house. Ex. Bathroom or laundry room. Feral kittens are used to going in corners where they can watch out for anything. Usually they defecate in dirt as well. You need to fill it up with dirt instead of litter so they are familiar to it. Also keep them in the small room for a while. put their food on the opposite wall of the litter box. Food in one corner and water in another corner. You want to make sure they can't get into any other corner but the litter corner. Usually they won't go where they eat. Make sue you fill the other corners with things that will block the corner. Reason I used the bathroom was because it's small and it's tile so it's easy to clean just in case. Another thing is you want to keep them in the bathroom for about a week. A new house can be over whelming for a feral kitten and they will usually get lost and forget where their litter box is. Kittens usually defecate about half an hour after eating. So keep the food in the bathroom. There for it has to go in there to eat and it will easily remember where it's litter box is. But by keeping it in there for a while he will get used to going in the box. Also every now and  then if you notice him go to the bathroom check if he has eaten or has gone potty. If he has only eaten then watch the clock and put him in the actual litter box about half an hour later and close the door. Check if he has gone about 15 mins later and if he has then let him out. He will get used to this concept and will eventually do it on his own. It takes patience but good luck. I have trained several and I am about to rescue 7 more that I will be training lol. But again good luck :D and thank you for being such a caring and loving person. I hope this helps.
You do realize you dragged up a 6 year old thread?
 

feralvr

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Okay so, I am going to be training stray kittens soon too. My experience with previous training is simple and works great. All you need to do is get a smaller litter box with out a hood and put it in the corner of a small room in your house. Ex. Bathroom or laundry room. Feral kittens are used to going in corners where they can watch out for anything. Usually they defecate in dirt as well. You need to fill it up with dirt instead of litter so they are familiar to it. Also keep them in the small room for a while. put their food on the opposite wall of the litter box. Food in one corner and water in another corner. You want to make sure they can't get into any other corner but the litter corner. Usually they won't go where they eat. Make sue you fill the other corners with things that will block the corner. Reason I used the bathroom was because it's small and it's tile so it's easy to clean just in case. Another thing is you want to keep them in the bathroom for about a week. A new house can be over whelming for a feral kitten and they will usually get lost and forget where their litter box is. Kittens usually defecate about half an hour after eating. So keep the food in the bathroom. There for it has to go in there to eat and it will easily remember where it's litter box is. But by keeping it in there for a while he will get used to going in the box. Also every now and  then if you notice him go to the bathroom check if he has eaten or has gone potty. If he has only eaten then watch the clock and put him in the actual litter box about half an hour later and close the door. Check if he has gone about 15 mins later and if he has then let him out. He will get used to this concept and will eventually do it on his own. It takes patience but good luck. I have trained several and I am about to rescue 7 more that I will be training lol. But again good luck :D and thank you for being such a caring and loving person. I hope this helps.
Welcome to TCS!!!!! Sounds like you have some great suggestions and advice on training kittens :clap::clap::clap: Please feel free to start a new thread if you like - and share your feral kitten experience and knowledge!! Glad you found us and thanks for caring for the kitties. :heart3:
 
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