Kitten won't use litter trays

[mainecoonmum]

Had our kitten a few days now. Was told they were litter trained, however they are yet to go in the tray.

I regularly move it to site of accident (which is never is same place), I place them in the tray after meals and naps, or whenever they are sniffing about but they just jump straight out.

Any further advice?

They are 9 weeks old

[dementedpixie]

Are you using the same type of litter?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Are you using wood pellet? Way too big for kitten paws, like stepping on bricks barefoot.

Try a kitten non clumping litter.

[mainecoonmum]

Just checked with breeder. Catscan, I use the catscan natural. So should be similar x

[Tinty]

The kittens are too young to have left their mother, they should be 12 weeks old. This might be part of your problem.

[Fluffycloudland77]

If it’s clumping they shouldn’t be using it, if they eat it (kittens do stupid things) it swells in their stomachs.

I’d try a non clumping kitten litter.

[dementedpixie]

Catsan is nothing like catsan natural. Catsan is white clay like stuff. I'd buy catsan if that's what they were using before

[dementedpixie]

I got my kittens at 8 weeks and they used their litter from the start

[mainecoonmum]

Ok will buy normal catsan tomorrow... re age I honestly had been led to believe 8-9 weeks was ok

[Plump82]

We got our kittens at 9 weeks and found it was best to contain them in as small an area as possible. While we're home they get a bigger area to explode but we have trays everywhere!! How many cats are in the house and how many boxes do you have? Are you cleaning the areas properly? Walls not just floors in case it's splashed. We got a black light and it was great for seeing where we had missed despite us thinking we'd cleaned everywhere properly!

[idsisatwat]

Kittens don’t have to be 12 weeks to be rehomed. We got ours at 9 weeks from the local sanctuary.
We had the same issue when we first got them, just make sure the litter us the same as they’ve used previously. And maybe get an extra litter tray - so they’ve a choice.

[GeorgiaGirl52]

It would be better if the kitten were 12 weeks. Its mother would have fully trained it by then. However --
Keep it in a small area like a laundry room or bathroom with the litter box. Immediately after you feed it, put the kitten in the litter box and move its paws in a digging motion.
If it defecates outside the box, scoop up the poop and put it into the litter box and assist the kitten in covering the poop.

[mainecoonmum]

Thank you all great advice. Came down to 4 poos this morning. Placed in tray for scent. Placed in litter tray all day but nothing yet. Tried the digging thing but they are struggling when I do it. Changed from catsan natural to their standard stuff x

[AuntyElle]

I think you need to leave one tray in the same place so that they always know where to find it. This might be helpful:

[mainecoonmum]

The girls has poo'd in the tray!!! The boy still now cracked it :( good job they are gorgeous!

[mainecoonmum]

*not

[dementedpixie]

Do you have more than one tray? He may not want to do the toilet in the same tray

[mainecoonmum]

Sorry meant to say yes we have 2 trays

[mainecoonmum]

Still no luck so bought a third litter tray today. Girl went straight over and used it! So 3 in use with all her scent and the boy don't use any 🤯

[mainecoonmum]

Same litter as breeder. Catsan

[AuntyElle]

As you got them from a breeder, what does the breeder say about this? I foster kittens for a rescue charity and have never had to do anything beyond pop the kitten on the litter a few times, even the orphaned ones. But using a litter tray is usually learnt from the mother.