Litter Training.... NEED HELP

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2004
Litter Training.... NEED HELP
7
Sat, 03-26-2005 - 9:15pm

Hey all!

My name is Catherine, and I am the new owner of a 6 week-old kitten. I have had tons of experience in caring for cats in the past, and feel perfectly at home having this little creature dart around underfoot.

However, I have never had experience with having to litter train a kitten. For whatever reason, the shelter I got him from never had a litter box in the cage with him, so I guess he never really learned to go in the sand (I am in Seoul, S. Korea, and that is common practice in pet stores/shelters here... they keep the cages super clean, but the cats end up unlearning instinctual behaviour).

Anyway, I am not sure where to go from here. I have been putting the solid waste in the box, and taking Kal (my kitten) to the box when I see that he has had another accident... but he is not learning. The I put the litter box in the place that he decided would be a good place to pee, and he just chose another spot. How can I make the litter box atractive to my otherwise amazingly wonderful little friend? ANY suggestions will be used - and please understand that as I am not in Canada or the US, any specific product suggestions may not be useful - cats are not common pets over here, and it's hard enough to find food and litter.

Thanks a million... I know you will all help :)

Catherine and Kalbi :)

     

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 03-27-2005 - 5:33am

*WELCOME* to Cats Catherine!

Cat =^..^=
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2004
Sun, 03-27-2005 - 7:04am

Hey again :)

Thanks for the advice. I have been scooping up his solids and putting them in the litter box, and I noticed that he has pooped in the box a couple times. So yey!! He has yet to pee in the box, but he hasn't peed around the apartment since he started going in the box... :D I am going to wait and see what happens tonight while I am sleeping... I'll let you know what happens in the morning.

Thanks again,
Catherine

     

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 03-28-2005 - 11:01am

Hi Catherine.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Mon, 03-28-2005 - 12:01pm
I agree with the other poster about putting the kitty in a small area with the litter box for a little while. And this is a perfect opportunity? for you to teach some of the pet owners, shelters or pet store owners how to raise a kitty with a litter box! Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2004
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 5:26pm

hey all... thanks for the replies :)

I have been confining him when I go out... he has been very good the last couple of days, so I thought yesterday that I would try letting him out while I was gone. He both pooped and peed on my bed.

Nice.

Anyway, I cleaned up and whatever (not a big deal), and while I was doing it, he jumped into the box, pooped, and covered it up nicely. I don't understand. Maybe he just never "made it" to the box... but that doesn't seem likely. Anyway, I took him to the vet last night for vaccines, and apparently he has a bacterial infection in his bowels. So, he is being treated for that. The vet gave him two injections and 6 little pills to take - 2 a day for 3 days. The vet never spoke very good English, so I didn't catch the name of the infection. I have to bring Kal back on Friday for a checkup, so maybe I will ask him to write down the name of the infection so I can share it with you all.

Oh the joys of a new kitten from unknown sources ;)

Thanks again, and keep the replys coming :)

Catherine and Kalbi

     

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 5:37pm

No wonder Kalbi is having trouble.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Tue, 03-29-2005 - 7:39pm
Do have your vet write down the name of the problem and the meds, for us and your own records. I have a kitten, she is about 6 mos. old, was feral, born behind/living by a walmarts. She several times has wet my bed. I had her spayed and thought that helped. She peed on dh pillow, I don't blame her!, and on the sheets several more times, I found that if I pull a heavy quilt over the pillow and sheets she doesn't wet. Its strange to me. Sounds like you have a smart vet. Good luck, you will make it! Donna