Cat litter - merged

borderlakland

one of my kittens sev yrs ago wouldn't use a litter tray full stop.when taking her for her jabs i mentioned it to vet he sugested using the clay based cat litter as he'd had probs in past. stopped of at tesco on way home and within 24 hrs kitten was using tray every time hth

meeps

I have had my kitten a week and she is mostly using the tray now, she went on the washing by the machine once so I lay a tea towel there and she went on that, then I put that by the litter tray too, and cleaned the floor and don't leave any cloth down now. I am clearing out poop right away but leaving the wee so she can smell where to go. I started with wood stuff but have got cheapy litter now and she seems to prefer it.

Secret1234

Thanks for all your tips, i'll test your theories and keep you posted,

thanks again x

sandy2_2

perhaps she doesn't like sharing the litter tray

SnowyOwl_2

When my cat was a little kitten he decided that my bed would be a good place to do piddles. (I bought quite a few new duvets because of him, expensive habit!) However he was just being lazy (or possibly forgetful) that the litter tray was downstairs. He never ever soiled in the wrong place downstairs, so he did know what the tray was for.

I solved the problem by placing him into his litter tray after he had eaten, and praised praised praised him just for being in it. Once he'd done his business he got yet more praise. He soon caught on, he loved the praise, would leap in his litter tray and beg with big eyes to be fussed over (and he'd do a pee as well). He forgot about going anywhere else. He's all grown up now, and hasn't eliminated anywhere other than his litter tray since his kittenhood, and he doesn't need the continual praise either, that tapered off yonks ago.

I think my method is known as positive reinforcement or something - whatever it's called, it was low on the punishment side of things and big on rewarding the behaviour I wanted.

saffiedale_2

also if you keep cleaning it, yea i know it stinks. but the smell will make her more litley to go in there. the joys of cats hey??????????/

saffiedale_2

soz ment let the wee wee stay abit longer, not poo poo. ha ha.

rita-rabbit

2 trays - one up & one down is excellent advice.

If you give them dry food there is alot `less' in the trays & it's better for your pocket & their teeth/general health. Try Burns http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/

if you clean the trays often enuf clay is fine: cheapest @ Liddles or Aldis. some people leave it FAR too long & then `accidents' occur (my too will `remind' me if it's not clean enuf 4 them to use or do protests poos next to it). Every other day is fine with `good quality' litter (much less smelly & cost effective - you just remove the wet clumps & poo rather than chuck out whole thing when it's minging). if you do this u will v rarely have that `walk in the door: oh u have cats' comment from visitors.

best is from Zooplus tho: flushable wood (Okoplus) or talc scented Classy cat, 300% usual absorption (excuse spelling).

Good luck & enjoy

FBThree

Just a hint - don't leave any nice vases or big pots with pot-pourri in it! We gave 2 of my cats kittens to a friend who did - and found the kittens enjoyed using it as a litter tray.

Not quite in answer to your question but another bit of advice. Check their eyes, ears and teeth daily whilst they are young. That way if there's ever a problem when they are older they don't get freaked when you try to look. e.g. one of our boys gets sleep in his eyes, so is used to staying still when we say "Gummy Eyes". We didn't do this with his brother, and his cornea got scratched. Much distress on his and our side whilst we tried to check his eye.

Have fun . www.dailykitten.com quite cute too.,

knithappens

thanks for your replies,i just wanted to ask, how often should the whole tray be emptied and cleaned properly. I have had them since Wednesday, I got a disposable try , because i was not expecting to get them that day. I just threw it out today, and started using the hooded trays, with wood litter.