New kitten won't use litter tray

[oopslateagain]

My friend has adopted a kitten. She's had him for almost two weeks, he was 12 weeks old when she picked him up, and he will NOT use the litter tray. He is pooing on the beds, on the carpet, and on the kitchen floor - lots of different places. She rang me in desperation; I suggested:
Using different kinds of cat litter
Putting bowls of food on the bed/places he poos
Picking up poo and putting it in the litter tray so it 'smells' like the toilet

Nothing has worked, she is cleaning up poo daily - and hasn't found any wee yet, so god only knows where he's doing that. She can't smell it.

She has two other adult cats, the male has accepted the kitten ok, the female will sniff him but then hisses (but there hasn't been any fighting).

Ideas please!

[cozietoesie]

How many trays has she got and does he have a tray he can use all by himself?

[oopslateagain]

The other cats use the garden; he has his own tray which they won't touch, and she's tried it in several different spots.

[cozietoesie]

OK - I'm guessing (and that's a guess) that he's scared and stressed especially if he thinks that the female doesn't like him. Cats can feel very vulnerable when they use a tray, particularly for pooing, which is quite physically demanding what with the high squat and all.

By 12 weeks old, he should have learned his tray duties if he had a halfway competent mother (does she know his history?) so it sounds to me as if if he's got used to doing a 'shit and run for it'. How does he get on with the rest of the house by the way? Is he playing etc?

She still (just about) has time to correct the problem I think. Does she have a separate room she can put him in (with his tray, food and water) for the time being? If so, I'd bung him in there for a few days and go sit with him for an hour or two of an evening at least (it shouldn't last long) maybe reading a book or playing low volume music.

I'd particularly go in there with his food and then wait around because they often have a poo shortly after eating - then if he shows 'poo agitation' or starts to assume his position, she can shift him quickly to the tray. If he doesn't, and she's established a decent relationship with him, she could wait for a few minutes after food and try some bottom stimulation over the tray as you'd do with a hand reared.

Still thinking here.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd try using ultra clumping litter, it's smaller grained and therefore softer on young paws but I think she needs to basically litter train him because it sounds like he hasn't been trained at all.

Failing that try potting compost in the tray, nice and soft.

[cozietoesie]

I was musing about that training, Fluffy.

OP

As I mentioned, has she been told about his background/met his mother/been advised that he's trained etc etc?

[oopslateagain]

Thanks Cozietoesie I will pass on the suggestions. That does sound about right - she kept him in one room for about three days, then let him out to explore but she says he spends most of the time in corners and dark spots so I think stress is a good possibility.

I thought she'd got him from the RSPCA and I suggested tonight that she contact them for ideas, then she said it was a "farm place" with a barn so I'm not sure exactly where he's from (but I'm a bit now)

[cozietoesie]

A 'farm place with a barn' could mean anything. Sounds as if he was brought up semi-feral and may not have been trained. In fact, I'm wondering whether he actually is 12 weeks.

Is your friend an experienced and responsible cat owner?

[BubbleBathFoam]

Agree, I'm wondering if he's been trained at all? Again, as Cozie says - stress plays a major factor in toilet habits. Moving home is a big deal to cats. With two older cats to contend with too - he could be still trying to find his bearings and where he fits in the equation.

If he's having full reign of house I'd suggest a trey both down and upstairs so one is quite nearby when he needs to go. Again, though it depends on his training.

I have 2 treys for she-cat. I have 2 cats but boy cat mainly uses outside. He does on occasion use upstairs trey but point blank refuses downstairs trey. I think that's because it's the one she-cat uses most.

[cozietoesie]

oops

I'm sorry if my questions sounded a tad pointed but it's pretty vital. If the kit is a semi-feral it can be worked with but it's not necessarily an easy undertaking. It would require a committed and grounded owner.

....he spends most of the time in corners and dark spots....

Poor wee soul.

[Fluffycloudland77]

He sounds very scared & stressed tbh. Poor little thing.

[sashh]

Find out what litter the kitten is used to. Felliway spray / plug in. Tray away from the other cats so the other cats can't watch the kitten so a dark corner, or put a box over the litter tray.

[oopslateagain]

She's getting a Feliway plug-in thing. She's had cats for years, just a bit stumped with this problem.

Got a few more details: the kitten was found abandoned with his brother at a garden centre at a few weeks old, they were put out to fostering until they were ready to be rehomed, that's where the farm-with-a-barn came in.

He did poo and wee in the tray last night, she shut him in the kitchen alone so it seems like he was happier without the other cats.

[cozietoesie]

Well that's excellent. (The pee and poo in the tray last night.) Cats, in my experience, are very clean by inclination.

I'd suggest a long introduction to the household with oodles of personal love.