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 Litter box Phobia
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| Author | Topic: Litter box Phobia |
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jules unregistered |
posted 10-30-2003 07:24 PM
I got a kitty (Crookshanks) from a neighbor whos cat had kittens, and I thought great, she should be litter trained from her mom. But she wasnt, and I tried asking the vet when I got her checked out and even bought new brands of kitty litter. Then I found a stray (Coconut) and brought her in, she was naturally trained i guess because I have no problems with her. I was hoping the Coconut would educate Crrokshanks, but there seems to be no hope becasue even through all the suggestions of putting crooks in the litter box when I get home and after meals she still doesnt go in. SHe struggles to get out!! Help!! becasue her stool isnt exactly hard!! IP: Logged |
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Ahkahna Member  Posts: 93 |
posted 10-30-2003 09:11 PM
It takes patience. A kitten won't automatically figure it out, just as a young child wont figure out that they have to use the toilet. It takes lots of time and training to geta kitten to use the litter box. An I hate to tell you, but cats don't teach their kittens to use the litter box. They aren't people and don't have the same look on where to potty as we do. Whenever you find a place that your little kitty has done it's buisness, take the mess to the litterbox and put it in there. Clean up the mes on the floor with pet cleaners without ammonia. Every hour or so, take the kitten to the litter box and show it where it's stool is. Eventually it'll get the hint. Expecting an animal to learn on it's own or from another is absurd x_x No offense. IP: Logged |
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fleafly Member Posts: 996 |
posted 10-31-2003 12:11 AM
For a lot of kittens it does come pretty natural and they put two and two together pretty well. Ahkahna's suggestions were very good. With young kittens taking them to the litter box often helps. When I had kittens I actually put a litter box in the living room for a little while so it was closer when they needed it. IP: Logged |
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wtpooh Member Posts: 81 |
posted 10-31-2003 04:35 AM
When you say she struggles to get out I think of two things. Either the litter pan may be too big for her, in which case you can pick up a small one for just a few dollars at most grocery stores. Or...she just doesn't have to go at the point you put her in there. You don't want to make her afraid of the box. You need to put her in the box more often than just after meals and after you get home. If you catch her in the act of going somewhere she is not supposed to than immediatly bring her to the box and show her but don't force her to stay in the box. IP: Logged |
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Jamiya Member Posts: 1392 |
posted 10-31-2003 09:59 AM
Are you using a covered box? Because that might scare her, also. You might try a different box or a different kind of litter. I also always wondered how kittens learn to use the litter box. I assumed they learn from watching the mother. I don't see why that is absurd. I have never had a kitten not know how to use the box, no matter how young. Perhaps someone who has had a mommy cat with kittens can tell us what the progression is as far as the kittens using the box?
IP: Logged |
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fleafly Member Posts: 996 |
posted 10-31-2003 11:24 AM
I have had 7 kittens with a mommy and 16 stray kittens that didn't have the mom with them. All but one had no problem learning to use the box. Most of them you put them in and they go. With kittens you should put them in after they eat. After they eat put them in the box every ten minutes until they go. Just set them in, if they jump out let them go and put them back in a few minutes later. Trying to make them stay in until they go will make them dislike the box. Sometimes I would take their paw and scratch the litter a little bit. Usually they get the idea fairly quickly. If it is a young kitten you can leave it in a room without carpet like the bathroom while you are gone. Put a box in there. The box will seem like the best place to go potty. The only one I had some trouble with was a hand raised kitten. She didn't quite get it for awhile. She kept going in the same corner of the living room, so I put a little litter box in that corner. She used the litter box when it was in that spot, so I slowly moved it to where I wanted it. Momma cats teach their kittens to dig and bury their poo so the smell doesn't attract predators. If you show a kitten how to dig in the litter box sometimes this helps them make the connection. IP: Logged |
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wtpooh Member Posts: 81 |
posted 10-31-2003 05:06 PM
"Expecting an animal to learn on it's own or from another is absurd" I'm sorry...I just can't keep my mouth shut on this one. This board is for people to ask questions for issues they need advise on. Thinking that cats can learn from another is not absurd! Simply stating that you don't believe another cat can teach a kitten to use the litter box would've been a sufficient response. Jules...I applaud you for taking in a kitten and a stray and giving them a loving home. With time and patience Crookshank will learn how to use the litter box. IP: Logged |
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