Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

  1. #1
    God/dess tempest666's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Hamburg, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    10,607
    Thanks
    2,705
    Thanked 13,685 Times in 4,414 Posts
    Blog Entries
    5
    My Mood
    In Love

    Thumbs down Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    We got 2 more new kittens and they are adorable in every way except one: They won't use the litter box and it's getting messy. Our other ones used the litter box, no problemo. So why is this batch being so stubborn?
    "Fake tits are like Kevlar. They don't guarantee your chances of survival but they sure as hell improve it."
    Tempest

  2. #2
    Banned
    Joined
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    11,037
    Thanks
    1,891
    Thanked 5,124 Times in 3,086 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    Perfect solution: put a photo of the fattie ex (you know who I mean)and tell them that's where to go.

    Seriously though I'm starting to have this problem with my older cat. I think he's starting to fail. What I've been trying to do (and I remember this from housebreaking a new dog)is make sure they know where their pottie is and put newspapers all around the litter box. If you catch them outside the box, smack them on the butt and put them in the box. The key though is catching them at the moment they do this. I would also lock them in the area for awhile until they learn that's where they go potty.

  3. #3
    Veteran Member kermit210's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Posts
    360
    Thanks
    50
    Thanked 81 Times in 40 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    Are they too little to climb into the box? I rescued one that was and used a disposable aluminum lasagna pan from the grocery store as a temp box. Then I had to put a brick in front of the regular box for him to use as a step until he grew up a bit.
    I propose a toast - to my self control.... I see you crawling, helpless, on the floor.......
    -Mark Sandman

  4. #4
    Featured Member Laurisa's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Doesn't Matter
    Posts
    1,969
    Thanks
    649
    Thanked 1,823 Times in 587 Posts
    My Mood
    Confused

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    You can put them in the litterbox once they have an accident, but don't rub their noses in it or rub their paws in the litter. Doing those things can cause them to have negative associations with using the litterbox.
    If you are willing to do for one year what other's won't, you can spend a lifetime doing what other's cant.


  5. #5
    Senior Member amorescudero's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2011
    Location
    pa
    Posts
    140
    Thanks
    64
    Thanked 114 Times in 50 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    You need a separate litter box for the new kittens. I've had tons of cats and had this problem before. Try setting up a brand new letterbox in a small area where you can enclose the kittens in, like a kitchen, bathroom. Some cats wont use a litter box that another cat uses...so u may need too. I think they say your technically supposed to have one box per cat

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to amorescudero For This Useful Post:


  7. #6
    Senior Member amorescudero's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2011
    Location
    pa
    Posts
    140
    Thanks
    64
    Thanked 114 Times in 50 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    I can spell damn it! Sorry about my above post. Stupid auto correct!

  8. #7
    God/dess DesuvsDeath's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    4,016
    Thanks
    2,110
    Thanked 4,475 Times in 2,023 Posts
    My Mood
    Brooding

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    Too many cats, not enough boxes, maybe?

    Could be the older kittens are being territorial on the old box, too.
    Quote Originally Posted by camille27 View Post
    i am losing my fucking mind and i really just want this chloroform dream because i think that would just get me right with jesus.

  9. #8
    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2005
    Posts
    1,944
    Thanks
    164
    Thanked 498 Times in 218 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    ^This. Cats can be very possessive of their new space, so try getting a new litter box for the new kittens

  10. #9
    Moderator Miss_McKenna's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    1,892
    Thanks
    82
    Thanked 825 Times in 437 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    As soon as they have an accident, put them in the box and "scratch" them back and forth while holding them, so that they can feel themselves scratching their paws through the litter. They have a natural instinct to dig/bury after using the bathroom and it really helped my kitten learn that it was the place to "go"


  11. #10
    Veteran Member kermit210's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Posts
    360
    Thanks
    50
    Thanked 81 Times in 40 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    If you have a ton of spare time on your hands, if you watch them closely, you'll figure out what their individual body language is before they 'go'. Looking anxious, sniffing around certain spots, doing the 'digging in invisible litter' dance. When you see that, very gently place them in their box with a ton of good kitty praise. They oughta catch on pretty quickly, but it only works if you're at home alot.
    Hell, one of my adult cats has learned to let me know when he deems his box too full and would like for me to service it. He yells at the offending box for a few minutes, then comes up to me and pretends to be about to pee on the floor in front of me. Then he patiently holds it while I do my duty. It's hilarious
    I propose a toast - to my self control.... I see you crawling, helpless, on the floor.......
    -Mark Sandman

  12. #11
    Veteran Member Sia's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    481
    Thanks
    681
    Thanked 360 Times in 157 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    Yeah, if you only have 1 litter box for 4 cats, that's the problem. You should have at least 2, if not 3 litter boxes for that many cats.

  13. #12
    Moderator Jessie_tinydancer's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    4,149
    Thanks
    1,307
    Thanked 2,530 Times in 1,295 Posts
    My Mood
    Sick

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    Agree with all the above also I don't know if your place has more than one level but Ive heard of some lazy cats that need a litter box on each level of the house. Cheeky things haha.

  14. #13
    Veteran Member Aslinn's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    702
    Thanks
    130
    Thanked 464 Times in 217 Posts

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    Quote Originally Posted by Sia View Post
    Yeah, if you only have 1 litter box for 4 cats, that's the problem. You should have at least 2, if not 3 litter boxes for that many cats.
    Right before I adopted my cat my brother tried to introduce a new cat to the house that claimed the liter box and would kick her ass for going near it. She got a horrible bladder infection because she wouldn't go pee/poo in the house. She is such a good cat but moral of the story if the new kitten isn't dominant enough they wont let him/her use it.

  15. #14
    God/dess tempest666's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Hamburg, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    10,607
    Thanks
    2,705
    Thanked 13,685 Times in 4,414 Posts
    Blog Entries
    5
    My Mood
    In Love

    Default Re: Help new kittens refuse to use litter box

    Thanks everyone. We have 2 litter boxes. So far things have been getting better although they have had a couple of accidents.
    "Fake tits are like Kevlar. They don't guarantee your chances of survival but they sure as hell improve it."
    Tempest

Similar Threads

  1. Pick(s) O' The Litter?
    By polester in forum Customer Conversation
    Replies: 38
    Last Post: 09-14-2008, 03:34 AM
  2. This was in my cats litter box
    By High_Heel_Lover in forum Picture Post
    Replies: 42
    Last Post: 05-20-2008, 03:08 PM
  3. Dog litter
    By NatalieFRPhilly in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 11-16-2007, 11:55 AM
  4. kitty litter
    By papillonluvr in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 40
    Last Post: 08-19-2007, 06:16 AM
  5. Kitty Litter
    By GoldCoastGirl in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 01-16-2006, 05:56 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •