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Author Topic:   My New Kitten - HELP
Illflower
Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-09-2003 11:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Illflower     Edit/Delete Message
Hi, I am new

I've never owned a cat before.
I got a 9 week old kitten from the Humane Society shelter 12 days ago.

She was perfect the first 9 days. She ate all her food, she used her litter box, she cried very little at night when we closed our bedroom door (not interested in having her walk all over our faces at night), never bothered us during meals.

The past 3 days have been horrible. She is constantly crying when we don't look at her, she climbs up legs/back/arms when not being payed attention to, she can't stand when we close ANY door.
She has poo'd 3 seperate times outside of her box (twice in one day!) and peed once. Is this a big deal? Is she going to continue doing it?
I clean her litter box everyday. I tend to her every need, she is very much a spoiled cat! I don't know how to deter her from defecating outside of the litter box

Please help. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Jamiya
Member

Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 08:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jamiya     Edit/Delete Message
Usually a cat not using the box is trying to tell you something is wrong. Have you had her in to the vet recently to check for possible problems?

I don't recall having the problems you are having when our cats were kittens, but then again they were always in my lap (or lying on whatever I was working on at the desk) if they weren't playing by themselves. Or I was on the floor playing with them. They also slept with us (I loved it!).

My husband did not like it so much, so they are not allowed in our room anymore, but they were grown by the time this happened.

Sorry I can't be of more help. I would recommend a check-up for the poo problem, and for the other - try buying some new toys and playing with her!

(Or you could always get another cat to keep her company. We did this as well when I started back to school full time.)


Jamiya

[This message has been edited by Jamiya (edited 09-10-2003).]

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Bengal Lover
Member

Posts: 50
From:Seattle WA USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 09:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bengal Lover     Edit/Delete Message
I agree with Jamiya. New toys to keep her occupied. Put her poo in the box when you find it and put her in the box so she knows that's where it goes. If she gets the idea, praise her and then play or give her a small treat. My cats react very well to positive reinforcement. If she had litter mates at the Humane Society, it may be that she's just missing the companionship. She is still very, very young. You might even consider getting another of the opposite sex. I'm sure that sounds like a lot of work right now, but it might end up working out in your favor. I don't know what I would have done if I had only gotten one. They keep eachother company while I am at work.

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lucidity03
Member

Posts: 201
From:Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-10-2003 09:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for lucidity03     Edit/Delete Message
I never had problems with kittens and their litter box. Well, I did once.

I've had several kittens/cats in my life time. They always picked up the litter box thing right off the bat. (I was amazed that they got it so easily.) However, my most recent kitty, Zoe, would pee outside her litter box (not poo, though).

I did take her to the vet and she needed treated for a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)... it was very inexpensive and easy to cure. Your kitten may have a little infection of some sort. It's a good idea to have the vet check her out just in case.

As for the crying, and climbing all over you sounds normal to me. Zoe is very talkitive and has long conversations with me when I come home from work. Your kitten is still adjusting to her new home. The kitten climing all over you and bothering you... she probably wants attention and wants to play.

Like stated before, try some new toys to keep the kitten stimulated. If you take her to the vet for the litter problem, you can always mention her crying, etc... It took my cat Zoe a couple months to let me have a full night's sleep and she learned a schedule with me to play and be petted. Personally, the couple months of annoyance was well worth it!

Good luck!

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Illflower
Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 09:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Illflower     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks everyone!

I don't mind her crawling on me, she always sits with me on the computer or couch etc.

She did it again last night though. She only does it when we are not aroudn, so it's hard to discipline her or give her positive reinforcement.

We just brought her to the vet 2 days before all this started happening.
Is it spite?
I constantly put her in the litter box after she eats, or even when I am just walking around.

I just don't understand why all of a sudden she is not using her litter box. She's always used it until the past 3 days.

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fleafly
Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-10-2003 09:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for fleafly     Edit/Delete Message
Kittens need a lot of attention. Especially ones that come from shelters. They are usually very clingy at first. When I got my first cat from the shelter, I couldn't even put him down to cook dinner with out him crying, so I would wear overalls and let him sit in the pocket. After a few weeks he was a lot better, and now he is fine. My guess is she is lonely and insecure, and doesn't feel like she is getting enough attention. Another kitten would most likely help. I am a firm believer in kitties having playmates. They get lonely when we are gone all day to work. She would get love from the other kitty too and not be so needy towards you.

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Illflower
Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 10:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Illflower     Edit/Delete Message
I don't mind her being needy and cuddly.

I just don't want her to poo outside the box

I am gonna try changing the litter and washing the box out (it's been 5 days). Maybe that will help?

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lucidity03
Member

Posts: 201
From:Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-10-2003 11:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for lucidity03     Edit/Delete Message
I talked about my cat Zoe earlier here... she used her litterbox faithfully for probably a week after we got her. Then she started peeing behind the entertainment center (and everywhere else) and meowing when she peed (she was in pain from the crystals in her urine). But, she still pooped in the box with her problem.

So... if cleaning out the litter box, etc. doesn't work... maybe she developed a problem since you last had her at the vet? Just a thought.

I hope the litter problem clears up!

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Illflower
Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-12-2003 01:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Illflower     Edit/Delete Message
Update**

She hasn't gone outside of the litter box since Wednesday at 11:30am (it is currently 4am Thursday morning). So basically 2 full days!!

Yay!

Whenever I see her use the litter box, I give her a treat.

She still seems to only go when we are in there though (bathroom).

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Jamiya
Member

Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-12-2003 07:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jamiya     Edit/Delete Message
Oh yes! Clean litter box!

One of our cats MUST have a clean box. If we do not scoop it EVERY DAY she will start to pee on the floor. Never poo, though.

I would suggest keeping it very clean and see if that helps. Or try a new kind of litter if it doesn't.


Jamiya

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Illflower
Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-14-2003 02:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Illflower     Edit/Delete Message
She's done it again

For the past 2 days ... I am really confused.
We can't sleep with the door open because it's impossible to sleep w/ her right now.
She KNOWS where her litter box is, I even keep the light on at night, she is doing it for attention.

It's not that her litter box is dirty or that she doesn't know where her box is, she uses it ALL the time when we are around.
She just does this when we are sleeping.

Help.
(again)

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fleafly
Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-14-2003 07:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for fleafly     Edit/Delete Message
If she just does it at night when she is shut out of the room, I would bet she is mad that you wont let her in. Kittens can be annoying when they little. They are very cuddly and always want to sleep on your face. I am a heavy sleeper so I always got used to it pretty used fast. I would try to find someway to let her sleep with you, or confine her to an area that is "her" sleeping area. Maybe a tile area where accidents wouldn't be so hard to clean up.

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Illflower
Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-15-2003 07:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Illflower     Edit/Delete Message
We are going to start keeping her in the washroom while we sleep.

I was almost crying when we put her in there last night w/ her lil blanket and her toys.
I felt horrible!

But it has to be like that for a lil while

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