Kitten keeps eating cat litter

ccskitten

Hello


I picked up two new kittens yesterday. They are not litter trained and keep trying to eat the cat litter!


We are keeping a constant eye on them during the day and every time they squat we are placing them in the litter tray to try and train them but I've seen them trying to eat it and I'm worried about them. I was especially worried last night when I couldn't supervise them.


I'm going to buy some different cat litter this evening and see if it makes a difference but I was wondering if anyone knows how harmful it is to my kittens and which brand might be best to go for.


On a plus note, each of them have now had a wee in the tray!


Any advice appreciated.


Thank you .

SensibleSarah

Congrats on the new kittens - you're in for a lot of fun

Definitely don't use any clay based clumping litter if the little ones are trying to eat it. Something like 'World's best' or Okto plus are clumping but won't harm if eaten. Wood based litter should also be ok. It's totally normal for them to try & have a taste - generally they work out pretty quickly that it's not very tasty

I foster litters of kittens for a rescue & I always confine them to a large dog crate with food, water, bed & litter tray when they're not supervised until they are getting the litter tray thing right every time. I also provide several trays around the house once their little world expands to include different rooms, so they are always close to a tray. Not sure how old yours are but I tend to find that virtually all the kittens I have owned or fostered have cracked it 95% by about 10 weeks, with the occasional accident when I'm not alert enough to spot it in time.

meritaten

I agree with SensibleSarah - in my (limited experience) cats that are not used to litter trays usually have a taste of it. But, once they learn its their 'toilet' they usually stop eating it! The clay based ones could cause problems but are not actually toxic or harmful.
Oh and Congrats on the new kittens! there is a RULE on this forum - 'new pet pics MUST be posted'! just joking hun, but everybody here loves kitten pics!

GwylimT

meritaten wrote: »

The clay based ones could cause problems but are not actually toxic or harmful.

Eating it causes blockages in the digestive tract, if not removed very quickly it leads to death.

OP, how old are the kittens? Its very unusual for a kitten who has spent adequate time with mum not to be toilet trained.

Kittens often eat litter, so you need to ensure that you either use a wood pellet litter, or something like oko, which does clump, but is easily broken down in the stomach to prevent blockages.

Ideally in the room they are confined to there should be a tray per cat plus one. When they start exploring the house they will need more trays, just like human toddlers kittens can't hold on for very long.

tealady

We want pics!!!!!!!!! (of the kitties not the litter LOL)

meritaten

I am so sorry - I meant to say not toxic and the not harmful meant in any 'poisonous' way! of course its not good for them to eat! As Gwylim rightfully points out it can cause blockages.

But, my first cat Timmy had never met a litter tray until he was ten - he was strictly an outdoor cat. but, he had various problems and became an 'indoor cat'. using a litter tray instead of a drain. he did eat a bit - but once he realised it was HIS toilet - he never ate any more. sorry i have no experience of very young kittens - but cats are very particular about keeping eating and toileting well apart usually. Second cat Nicki had to be taught about litter trays too - but he never tried to eat any. and third Cat Barney was litter trained from a kit.

ccskitten

Hi all


Thank you for your advice and I'm sorry to take so long to get back to you. I've been trying to find some time to figure out how to upload some pictures. My first attempt will be below. If it works I will post more.


Our two kittens has now expanded to three kittens. Basically one of the kittens we first wanted became available again. We already have his cousins. They were born a week apart in the same house so I took pitty and decided to home him too!


With regards to the eating of litter, this was very short lived thankfully and I haven't seen them do it from the first full day we had them. Despite having 3 litter trays available in different corners of the room, they all like to use the same tray and more often than not there will be two deposits being done at the same time! I'm imagining when they mature they will get a little more fussy over this!



Anyway, here goes with photos...

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tealady

They are soooooo cute. I love kitty pics when they are all piled in a heap fast asleep.

ccskitten

Tao
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Mika
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Blue
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owlet

Aww they are just gorgeous. Enjoy your new family - lots of fun ahead :-)

myteeduck

Beautiful Kitties x