New kittens- how do you get them to go in the box?

[Wcross]

I found some wayward kittens a month ago and they seem to have trouble going in the box. Every day it seems one decides to go "close enough" to the box but not in it. Any tips?

The good news is my six dogs decided that they enjoy the kittens enough not to kill them. As a matter of fact, they even allow the kittens to share food and pillows.

[Beaverhausen]

1. when you see them "going"

try to put them in it. usually cats want to use it though. Maybe they don't like the litter you have in there. try something else?

Good luck with the kitties!

[Gyre]

2. I'm no expert but

I just would feed mine and stick her in the box after she was done. Some start scratching naturally at that point, and other's you've got to show and then they get it. Mileage may vary depending on the gene pool.

Gyre

[grannylib]

3. I always did the following when bringing a new kitty home:

1) make sure the box is close-by and easily accessed, particularly while kitty is acclimating him/herself to new digs
2) as SOON as you bring little one in the house, take him/her to the box and gently scratch their paws in the clean litter. Seems to let them know that it's there and what it's for.
3) more than one kitty - more than one box.
4) helps if what is UNDER the box is nothing at all like somewhere they'd like to pee/poo....nothing soft, fluffy, etc.


Hope you enjoy your new non-human companion!

[Jobu]

11. 3) more than one kitty - more than one box.

I believe the rule for figuring out how many litter boxes to use if you have more than one cat is: (number of cats + 1).

[Jobu]

13. Oh, and one more thing...

...Don't use the clumping kind of litter with kittens. They may eat it while cleaning themselves and then it will absorb moisture and cause internal problems.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

4. Are you using a regular cat box?

When I got my kittens I got a cardboard box and cut it very short. The kittens felt like they could get in then.
Almost one year without an accident too!

[Philostopher]

6. I second this.

A smaller box with a low lip sometimes will solve the problem -- they do really want to go where they can cover it up, but young kittens and older cats who are starting to have trouble getting around (and my behemoth cat, for whom no box is really large enough), 'close enough' is what you'll get, if they can't get into the box easily.

[Jobu]

5. I used a litter box made for kittens..

...instead of one made for adult cats. Like the other poster said, I would feed them and then put them inside the cat box. Eventually they got the idea.

Dogs are cool, but cats have more individual personality. That is why I like them. I have one but he stays with my parents because I travel a lot :(

[miss_kitty]

7. do you have pics of your home zoo you could post?

it would be sweet to see the big ol' doggies being soppy over kittens!:)

[librechik]

8. put some of the "not in the box" poop inside the box

when you see the kitten checking it out, put them all the way inside the box and praise them (make sure they're sniffing or scratching before praising) The kittens will teach each other, but be sure to reinforce by prsising or treating when they do the right thing.

Don't "punish" if you catch them in the act, just quickly put them in the box while telling them gently that the box is really the place to do that, and praise them if they scratch. Cats understand human language if you're very plain and direct, even kittens.

[Cobalt Violet]

9. Place a sample in the litter box

They may get the idea that that's were it goes.

[Lex]

16. Yep--take one of their poops and place it in the box

or if they've peed on some newspaper or something, place a little of that in the box.

Make sure the lip of the box is low enough for them to get inside.

[barb162]

10. about how old were they when you got them

I assume you don't have their mother. They learn this kind of behavior from the mother, also how to hunt, etc.

How high is the box top? Is it over their heads? Have any gone in there to check it out? Do they play in the litter? Are they going on paper now or what? Because if they are, I would tear up some scraps of paper, show it to them as you do it, gently put them in the box, etc.

[calico1]

12. I have 3 cats that were rescued.

With all of them I just put them in each box a few times and that worked. But if its a kitten sometimes they may not go because the box is too high for them. So make sure you get a kitten sized box that they can get in and out of easily. Also, of my 5 cats 4 of them will use any litter but one is picky. Its got to be very fine. She doesn't like the chunkier kind. So that could be an issue too.

[Guy Fawkes]

14. What? No pictures of the kittens!?

[BlackVelvetElvis]

15. Yeah, I think it's an unwritten Lounge rule.

"Any and all new cat/kitten posts must be accompanied by photos".
We are waiting!

[TlalocW]

17. Any kitten who doesn't go in the box...

Spends a night in "the box!" That will show them!

Actually, you should put them in the box and then make them scratch around in it by moving their paws back and forth against the sand. They'll start to get the connection.

TlalocW

[liontamer]

18. usually the mother teaches them but you can use her tricks:

take them to the box and firmly stroke their bellies till they pee. If they're a bit older, just putting them in the box when you see them getting ready to go should help.

[Wcross]

19. Photo- (required by rules)

They are twins, this is the female (I think) named Miss Kitty. They were dumped alongside a road.




Four of my six dogs.

I will try to get some of them hanging out soon.

Thanks for the great tips all! I have been trying to use one box and they do use it but maybe they need another. I never thought these guy's would produce the volume of poop they do! I have been trying to keep them inside as much as possible until they get older (I have all kinds of birds flying around my place that would love to eat a kitten).

[miss_kitty]

20. Miss Kitty!

That's my name! not only that, she looks like my avatar kitty, Sammy, The Perfect Cat whose nickname was Miss Kitty. Plus, those dogs look like the kind of dogs who NEED kitty pets.
Thanks for the post. :)

miss_kitty

On Edit: You are a fine person to rescue those kitties...

[Beaverhausen]

21. Kicking for the cute pics!

Hope it's going well.