I recently introduced two new kittens to our house and our almost two year old cat. Litter training the kittens was hard, but they got through it and are now using the litter box. They also get along with the older cat just fine through play, grooming, and sleeping together. The one weird thing the two kittens do is like to tease each other and my older cat in the litter! They will play with tails, play with each other, and bat at the box while the one is trying to go. My older cat does not do this to the kittens, but he does act like he is stalking them from across the room (he has yet to run up and pounce on them).
I have three litter boxes, one of which is in a totally different location than the other two. Two of the litter boxes are old plastic tote boxes with high sides and the third is a traditional low sided one; the kittens and adult cat can easily get into all three, while only the one kitten favors the low sided one.
We haven't had any accidents with them hopping out mid stream, but we have had some instances with them getting startled by the other kitten, stepping in their poop, then tracking the litter. We do have a mat down in front of the two litter boxes and the third one is in an unused shower so cleanup is fairly easy, but still, it's strange.
I don't have a covered litter box as the older cat does not care for those, and I am hesitant to redirect the kittens when they do this because it was a struggle getting them to use the litter in the first place.... but that is another story all together and has been resolved.
So, what's up with this? Is it just kitten behavior?
I have three litter boxes, one of which is in a totally different location than the other two. Two of the litter boxes are old plastic tote boxes with high sides and the third is a traditional low sided one; the kittens and adult cat can easily get into all three, while only the one kitten favors the low sided one.
We haven't had any accidents with them hopping out mid stream, but we have had some instances with them getting startled by the other kitten, stepping in their poop, then tracking the litter. We do have a mat down in front of the two litter boxes and the third one is in an unused shower so cleanup is fairly easy, but still, it's strange.
I don't have a covered litter box as the older cat does not care for those, and I am hesitant to redirect the kittens when they do this because it was a struggle getting them to use the litter in the first place.... but that is another story all together and has been resolved.
So, what's up with this? Is it just kitten behavior?