Kittens - HELP!!!
 

Hey,
I am calling on GCers to HELP ME with my new kittens.

I got 2 new kittens a couple of days ago. They're brother and sister and get along with eachother (and get eachother in trouble!) very well. Here's the thing....One of the kittens is great about using the litter box and the other only uses it for...well...number #2. She doesn't like it when I pick her up to bring her to the litter box to show her that that's where she should go for number #1 as well. I've never had cats and I'm totally clueless about what to do. I'm hoping at least one GCer out there has had kittens and can give me some help (and sanity!).

For the first couple of days that you have them at home, you need to keep them in a room with the litter box to 'force' them to use it. Make sure the room does not have carpeting, throw rugs, etc.

If you keep their food and water in the same room as the litterbox, make sure it is far away - otherwise you'll end up with litter in the water and it's a mess.

Check the Purina Cat Chow and American Cat Fancier's sites for information on kitten care. Also http://www.peteducation.com


Handle the kits a lot - that will make them friendlier. You can also start getting them used to being brushed (daily) to cut down on shedding AND have your vet show you the proper way to trim their front claws. Do not play with them by dangling your fingers or waving them - you'll end up bleeding, trust me, and the kits will attack hands (not a good thing) when they get older. Please do not declaw them! My cats have all their claws and have been trained to used their rope-covered scratching posts - not the furniture. Don't get carpet-covered posts - rope posts and the cardboard scratching platforms (preferably one of each) are best.

Get a couple of good toys - some small balls with bells, a busy wand, etc. for them to play with.

Please don't think I'm being rude - but you really should have read up on this stuff before you brought the kittens home.

Thanks for all of the helpfull advice. I actually did read up a lot before we got the kittens and my boyfriend (who I live with) has had cats his whole life. We already know all of the stuff you've mentioned regarding everything other than the litter box. Thus why I didn't ask what kinda toys they should and should not play with, and how to trim their nails.

And the problem with the litter box situation is not related to the fact that I didn't read up, because I did. The problem is that one of the two kittens is perfectly cool with where it is and uses it well. Therefore, we should not move it to accomodate the kitten that ISN'T using it. She has to be trained to use it as well, where it already is. That is the problem.

Welcome to the wonderful world of cats! I got my kitten last fall and now he is a wonderful companion, not to mention too cute!!

Something the store owner told me NOT to do was rub their noses in it, instead, if you catch her in the act immediatly say NO and put her in the litter box, (as PenguinTrx said make sure it is in a room by itself at first). Leave her there for ten minutes, even if she cries. When you run their noses in it they get to where the smell becomes a deterant and they won't even go near a litter box because of it. Also, since you have two of them you may want TWO litter boxes, some cats will not urinate on a dominant cats urine. Just a thought. Make sure to put the little one that has the problem in the room by themselves with the box so they understand it is theirs.
That is all I can think of right now.
Some other thoughts for your kitties... love em love em love em. What are their names? I named mine George cause I love that cartoon with bugs bunny and the abominal snowman when he picks up bugs and says "I will hug em and kiss em and love him and name him GEORGE" That is how I feel about my George.

I agree with what the previous posters have said. I love cats and have had kittens somewhat recently. One thing that helps is that if they go out of the box, you should take their pee or poo and put it in the box. That way they smell their stuff in there and recognize it as a place to put more...

What they said about handling is soooooo true. Play with your kittens and cuddle them constantly so that they will be affectionate and will not be afraid of people.

But in your original message you said you'd never had a cat before and didn't know what to do. You never mentioned the fact that your BF has had cats his entire life.

have you taken the cat to the vet and had her checked for a Urinary Tract Infection? Many cats will uriniate outside the box because of an undiagnosed UTI -it's because they associate the pain of urination with the box, so they go on the carpet or other 'soft' surfaces.

My original advice still stands - even tho' only one cat is having a problem. Confiine them for a couple of days in an area with the litter box and no rugs, etc. It won't hurt the cat that's fine, and it will help the cat that's having a problem.

Be sure to praise her when you see her going in the box and be sure to keep the box very clean, even if that means scooping solids more than once a day. If she goes outside the box, be sure to use a cleaner that does not contain ammonia - that will make the spot even more attractive to her.

Also - are you using the same litter that was used before you got them? Some cats are very particular and will only go in one type of litter. Make sure you use an unscented litter, don't use a covered litter pan (holds in odors) and when you wash out the box during a full litter change, use only really hot water and a scrub brush. Don't use chemical cleaners, etc. I have a cat that 'anger urinates' if her box is not kept very clean and odor-free. That means doing a full litter change at least every month and adding fresh litter every week to keep odors at bay. I use a very good quality litter, but she is very senstitive to smells.

We have always seemd to have at least two cats. Right now, though, our two are brothers from the same litter-- which is redundant, I know. They're neat, because they still exhibit some of the same traits they did as kittens -- playing and sleeping together, etc. They're really fun.

One other thing you might try is being sure that the litter box is kept relatively clean. Some cats are really touchy about using dirty litter. We clean our (not change -- clean) pretty much daily.

Nice tip about the rope scratching post. With over thirty-five years with cats, I've never heard that.

I had a roommate that hardly ever scooped out the litter box. It stunk so bad...and it was worse cuz I'm alergic to cat's fur (dander). Anyone know if you can also be allergic to their liter box if it's not kept clean (or at least scooped)? The reason I ask is I had an ex-boyfriend who had a cat that I eventually got used to (as far as his dander). But I was never around the liter box cuz it was in a seperate room that I never was in.
Barb, you might be able to answer my question!
Thanks,
Hootie

Hootie -
The previous problem could have been a reaction to either the ammonia buildup in the box (yech!) or dust from the type of litter that was being used. Some litters are very fine and really throw up clouds of dust when the cats are in the box. The dust clings to the fur...and sneezes run rampant in the household, LOL.

HTH!
Barbara

BTW - some good friends of mine are going to be in Austin for 9-10 months starting in July. He's going to be a guest Prof. at the law school there.

A friend of mine has 2 cats and has the same problem that you have. One of the cats refuses to use the litter box because it is used by the second cat.

My friend solved the problem by buying two litter boxes. They sit side by side and both cats use their own private box with no problem now. :)

Whoops..forgot to mention that! We use 2 boxes, too.

Thanks All
 

I think we are going to have to take all of your advice and get a second litter box. Our kittens are Gabby (orange and white tabby who is forsure the dominant of the two) and Gershwin (brown and black tabby who is so sweet and compliacent I feel bad when her brother pounces on her :( ). So I'm thinking Ilovemyglo's explanation is probably correct as far as these kitties are concerned. About the dominant cat theory....

Does it make any sense that Gershwin goes into the litter box but won't pee? She'll do the 'other' thing....just not pee. As far as not wanting to pee in the same place as the dominant cat, wouldn't that mean that they wouldn't wanna 'number 2' there either???

Good call on the rope scratching post PnguinTrax . I wish I knew that before I got the carpet one. They're not using it. I'm sure a rope stratching post would work like a charm!

Think I'm gonna have to do some shopping for a rope scratching post and a new litter box this weekend.

Ok, try those things quickly, but follow PnguinTrax's other advice. Do this quickly and try it out. If she keeps it up, take her to the vet. You don't want to mess around with urinary tract infections with a cat, much different than a woman.

So please keep that in mind.
Keep us updated, I love kitties...and have one with sensitive (forgot what they're called...oh polyps...or butt sacs). It's been trouble, but just have to tend to her more. She does this butt scoot thing when she gets out of the box, messy some days, and causes me to clean a TON, but the vet said is normal and ok, unless she's very irritated. I find random poos all over, but that's also because they get caught on her fur.

Ugh, the trama of cat stuff.
Gotta love them!

Mine are out side cats, so let me think.....um.....

All I did was squirt mine with a water gun unless he went out side or the litter box.