Beginner help for new kitten with bathroom trouble

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  • 22 September, 2015 at 12:35 am #838015
    Dale Green
    Participant

    Hi everyone. First post here, just got my little man Frank a few days ago. http://imgur.com/a/Y78IG

    For the first day he used his tray exclusively. Second day he had an accident in the corner of my room, and today he’s had a few accidents. (poops in the corner!)

    After reading some stuff online I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m going to buy a shallower tray, and replace the litter with the sandy/gravel stuff. We’re currently using the big pellets and he seems to have trouble digging his poop hole before goes?! Could this be why he’s seemingly using it less and less? He loves any corner he can find!

    The first night he slept on his bed next to mine, the second he ran onto my bed often, and last night he spent the whole night in my bed! He’s very friendly already, but i can’t keep waking up to poop in the corners. I did put the litter tray in my room on a night, but he would go there once, then hit the corners.

    We’ve decided to shut him in the hallway and bathroom at night. His litter tray is in the bathroom and that’s where we want to train him to go. I figured I’d keep him out there each night until he consistently only goes in the tray. Then i’d let him back to my room.

    Is this the right way to approach the situation? He spends all his time with me, and he cries and scratches at my door. It’s horrible, I want to go hug him?! 🙁

    Any advice here would be greatly appreciated.

    22 September, 2015 at 4:06 am #838022
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hi Dale and Frank,

    Your wee kit is too precious. Bringing up a kit is a challenging and wonderful experience.
    My first inclination is a medical issue. Take him to the vet. explain the problem and see what they say. They will probably have to do a basic urinalysis. Once a medical issue is ruled out, determine what changes have happened in his life. He’s in a new home with a new hoomin that may confuse him but shouldn’t cause this behavior. As far as his litter box is concerned-use fragrant free non-clumping litter. Kittens will try to eat their litter and the clumping kind can create serious problems. You can switch over when he’s around 6-8 months.

    Sometimes it’s the food they are now eating. Did you change his food when he arrived? If so, you can supplement it with Goats’ milk. It is easier on tummies and provides probiotics. It also doesn’t give constipation. You can give this to them in lieu of formula until he’s 12-14 weeks old. You can get it in the baking aisle or milk section. If you use the concentrate, mix it 1 water/1 powder. I’m also providing the go-to links for TDKers.

    Chaos’ Guide to Constipation


    http://lovemeow.com/2009/09/suckling-behavior-in-kittens/
    http://messybeast.com/handrear.htm
    http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.com

    Check out the links and try the advice. Drop back in any time if you have questions and let us know how wee Frank is doing. We’re not vets. but many of have been where you are now.

    PG

    22 September, 2015 at 1:41 pm #838028
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    I would wonder about the scent of the litter, if it’s strongly scented, a lot of cats/kittens refuse to use it. They sniff and dig in the litter, so my advice is to put his poops in the box of unscented, plain clay litter and see how he does. Put the litter box in the bedroom with you and him, and have another one that stays stationary in your bathroom if that’s what you prefer, so he knows always where to find it. He’s a baby, he is going to want to be with you wherever you are, asleep or awake. He isn’t sure of himself yet, so make it easy for him in the night to go and put a box in the bedroom.

    24 September, 2015 at 11:18 am #838111
    Dale Green
    Participant

    Thankyou both for your replies.

    After replacing the big wooden pellets with CatSan Hygiene litter he seems much happier. I work from home half the week, so am able to clean it out as soon as he’s done his business. Not a single accident since the change, and he comes from all over the house to use his tray where he wasn’t before.

    “Sometimes it’s the food they are now eating. Did you change his food when he arrived? If so, you can supplement it with Goats’ milk. It is easier on tummies and provides probiotics.”

    When he got here we started him on Whiskers kitten pouches, Jelly and Gravy. The gravy ones seemed to give him the runs, and I think we were feeding him too late, so we’re sticking with the jelly pouched for now and no wet food after 6pm. He has a bowl of dry food and water always available. He seems much happier with this, and has had solid poops since! Each morning we also give him a little bit of kitten milk with his breakfast which he seems to love!

    “Put the litter box in the bedroom with you and him, and have another one that stays stationary in your bathroom if that’s what you prefer, so he knows always where to find it.”

    I was going to try this but changing the litter seems to have sorted the problems! He’s able to now dig and hide his poop properly like he wants to where the pellets didn’t allow this. Thanks for the suggestion, it was going to be next on the list. 🙂

    Frank is a happy little kitty. He’s settled in very well and runs around the house like a nutcase playing! Thanks you both greatly for you help. 🙂 Here’s a few more pictures of the little guy! http://imgur.com/a/9HnlF

    24 September, 2015 at 11:53 am #838113
    katzenjammer
    Participant

    Hi Dale,
    Glad that some of our resident ex-purrts are able to help!
    Frank is such a cutie, reminds me of when my Dorry (my avatar) was a wee guy! Looks like Frank is helping you (ahem) make the bed or playing kitty hide and seek. You should submit some pics so that he can be star kit of the day here! “Submit Your Kitten” link has instructions. 🙂

    24 September, 2015 at 2:00 pm #838118
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    What a sweet little kitten Frank is, all snuggled up in the blankets! Yes, I’m not surprised that a change in litter can yield big results, as I had the same problem with my latest kitten also. Changing litters solved the problem. Keep an eye out in his peeing habits, as too much dry food such as kibbles can result in crystals in the bladder and are extremely painful and treatment is costly. This seems to be more prevalent in male kittens/cats. I feed my cats one dry meal a day, the rest is wet, but don’t leave it out for free feeding. A cat that you want to train, is much easier if you don’t free feed. 🙂 Congratulations on the newest member of the family!

    24 September, 2015 at 6:06 pm #838124
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    HI Dale,
    Re: dry food. It’s worth you effort to get a food that is tailored to preventing crystals. I don’t sell cat food but here’s a couple that don’t require prescription: ProPlan FOCUS Urinary Tract Health And Purina ONE Special Care Urinary Tract Health. Please don’t feed Meow Mix food. It’s a poorly processed.

    Although this is more common in males some females will get it. Miss Gaea was diagnosed with Crystals and is now eating Royal Canin “Urinalysis.” It is a prescription dry food.

    If you transition Frank to a urinary formula make sure he’s has extra water. It’s designed to make him drink more water. I also use filtered water.

    Give wee Frank hugs and kisses.

    PG

    25 September, 2015 at 12:02 pm #838148
    Dale Green
    Participant

    Thanks for the information everyone. I’ll make sure the next dry food we buy is tailored to prevent crystals. 🙂 Frank says thankyou. 😀 All the best!!

    25 September, 2015 at 1:57 pm #838152
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I hope you keep in touch so we can see Frank grow up

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