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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Advice needed - don't know what to do.

21 replies

knittedslippersx3 · 29/05/2013 19:01

I recently got 2 kittens. Had cats growing up and have looked after family and friends cats in the past. I think I've made a mistake and am finding it more stressful than enjoyable. I feel awful and don't know what to do. Not sure why I'm posting really or what I expect anyone else to do about it.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 29/05/2013 19:04

Post away, knitted.

Two kittens can be quite a handful at the start. What particular things are you finding stressful?

And how old are the kits at the moment?

MrsBeep · 29/05/2013 19:06

2 at a time can certainly be stressful. As the poster above has said, what is particularly stressful or difficult? We'll try and help as best we can.

cozietoesie · 29/05/2013 19:09

How is DD getting on with them for instance - is she helping out?

Original poster

knittedslippersx3 · 29/05/2013 19:10

Thank you for not flaming me cozie. I read this topic all the time and know how much you all love cats as do I. They are only 8 weeks and are really friendly and settled. I'm just struggling with them climbing on things that I can't move or close off. They use the litter tray but when they are given access to other areas they go anywhere. I've cleaned accidents, put down orange peel, sprayed deterrent and provided another tray. I sound like I'm bloody horrible, I'm really not. I'm just so stressed by them and thinking I've made a big mistake. Do I try to rehome them?

OP posts:

Original poster

knittedslippersx3 · 29/05/2013 19:11

Dd likes a 5 minute cuddle then in typical teenage style does her own thing. It's all down to me really.

OP posts:

Iseeall · 29/05/2013 19:21

Two kittens should be company for each other. Have they got plenty of toys and I really do mean plenty(think very spoilt child) ?
Lots of little mice type toys to hunt and kill, balls etc. I would add a couple of climbing frame/scratching posts as well.
Our kitten is just over twelve wks (our big cat is four) and we have two toy boxes( well unused cat beds) a giant scratching post, a climbing tower(large), two tunnels, a small kitten size scratching climbing toy and lots more. Boxes and scrunched up paper is also good.

If you are finding it hard to keep up with feeding it is economical to leave down dry food and water fountains are also useful if you are forgetting to change their water.
Try to get into a habit of cleaning out the litter tray first thing in the morning and then that's done for the day.

hth

Original poster

knittedslippersx3 · 29/05/2013 19:30

They have 3 climbing towers, a tunnel, plastic thing with balls in and loads of mice, balls, pom-poms etc. I leave water and dried food down all day and because I am home all day I clean out litter tray regularly.

I'm now sat in tears because I just can't seem to cope. I'm being so pathetic I know. It all just seems too much to cope with.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 29/05/2013 19:52

No, no need to cry - and you're not pathetic at all. You're dealing with two rambunctious infants, and their accidents, all by yourself. (Well, you've got us now as well.) It's a lot - myself I'd have got one kit if I was home all day to be with it.

(I'm guessing there's also some other stuff going on in your life which isn't strictly speaking for this board?)

Bottom line is that you could always try to find a home for them. I'm not suggesting that you do that but you've always got the option so you might find that to be calming a little.

Why did you get them ? And do you actually want to keep them? If so, what would be your most important thing to get sorted out - the accidents, say? That we can advise on.

Iseeall · 29/05/2013 19:56

Oh dear. Do the kittens play together happily though. Do you think you are just having abit of a wobble about taking on the kittens, realising what you have committed to?
Have they been to the vets, a friendly vet can give lots of tips and they often recommend feliway to calm cats and kittens.
I know some vets post on here so hopefully one of them will see your post soon.

Hassled · 29/05/2013 20:03

Kittens really are bloody hard work. Everyone thinks cute and adorable (which of course they are) but the reality is they're into everything, they're relentless and I can quite understand why you're feeling stressed. I've had cats all my life and we got a new kitten last year - it was 6 months before I really enjoyed him. And now of course he's the third best cat in the world (after my others) and we love him - so it does get better. Hang in there.

The climbing on things - there's really nothing you can do. They will climb on things. To an extent you're just going to have to readjust your expectations - put throws etc on furniture you're worried about and rearrange ornaments as needed. The toileting - I spent a ridiculous amount of time picking the kitten up and just putting him on the litter tray - every time it occurred to me. He worked it out.

Fluffycloudland77 · 29/05/2013 20:36

It does get better, 8 weeks is very young. Once you neuter them they calm down a lot.

Go to the poundshop/world/land and buy a cheap tray for every room while they are still so little. It's a big ask for such a young animal to get to a tray in a different room when it's having fun playing. It's like a toddler really.

deliasmithy · 30/05/2013 02:28

I burst into tears when my then kitten chewed the corner off my favourite m and s cardigan.
I think it felt personal. And it probably was!

This same kitten also chewed her way through carpet and underlay in her room and started scratching the floorboards. I had to gaffa tape an entire section of the floor before she gave up.

I have employed various techniques to stamp out naughty behaviour. Most don't work. It is hard, it is likely that it will get better. I think looking back the more I reacted to the naughty behaviour the more it continued.

Original poster

knittedslippersx3 · 30/05/2013 07:13

Thank you so much for all your replies, I hope it is just a wobble and I know things will get better as they get older. Maybe I'm more a cat person than a kitten person! Hopefully once they've been done and can go outside things will calm down. Glad I'm not the only one who had a melt down about their home being attacked! Am going to persevere through this naughty toddler stage and look forward to them being a bit calmer in a few months. Look out for me though because it's likely I'll be back for more advice

OP posts:

Khaleese · 30/05/2013 07:17

Just like children it will soon pass.
I felt like this about our dog, i got over it when she stopped weeing and pooing everywhere and calmed down.

cozietoesie · 30/05/2013 07:51

Glad you're feeling a bit better. Yes - the first short while can be almost overwhelming. Put away all precious things but give Aunt Ermintrude's horrible vase a good prominence somewhere and keep your fingers crossed.

Are they still peeing and pooing outwith their tray?

Original poster

knittedslippersx3 · 30/05/2013 08:43

I confined them to kitchen/dining room. It's a large space and they use their tray. Am going to keep another tray at the bottom of the stairs as that seems to be another favourite spot! All doors upstairs are closed. The only other room is the living room, would it be cruel to shut this off to them for the time being? Am going to rearrange dining room to accommodate them today, as I think them bounding all over it is what pushed me over the edge yesterday. I love cats but admit I am overwhelmed by this kitten stage. Will things change when they are done at about 5 months? Am also giving myself down time away from them. I'm at home all day and was spending all my time with them and I don't think that was helping me tbh. Thank you all again so much.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/05/2013 08:45

Neutering helps, for boys it takes a couple of weeks for all the testosterone to go.

Plus just growing up changes them.

cozietoesie · 30/05/2013 08:51

I'd certainly agree with getting two trays for them and I also think that they should be fine with shutting off a room or so for a while. In the way of cats, they'll moan about it - but that's more because cats hate having doors shut to them than anything else. As you're home during the day, they should be able to get plenty of stimulation. (Although down time for yourself is good.)

Yes, they should get a bit calmer as they get older. This is the most exuberant stage. You've pretty well got a couple of three year olds on your hands - except three year olds who can jump!

Remember to clean up any accidents well (non-bio washing powder) so that there aren't any residual smells to give them the wrong idea.

MumnGran · 30/05/2013 11:28

OP, I hope nobody "flames" here, over genuine issues!

I would definitely close off the living room until you are happy that all peeing is confined to the litter tray. It is not being cruel ...at least only in a "to be kind" way. They will certainly have a miserable adult existence if they are un-trained.
Confining to one room with a hard floor for a week or so really does work. If they still pee on their bedding then you have to reduce that to literally one piece of cloth.
Thats said ....results from training this way are usually 100%

You should be able to get time out from them when they sleep OP ...and 8 week olds do still sleep a lot. If they are full on the whole time then you need to instigate a bit of a calming routine. If they have had lots of play time with toys etc for 2-3 hours, then give them their lunch (or afternoon tea) and then pop them into their bed, in a quiet room, (obviously once you have finished the litter training exclusion) close the door and leave them to it.
Chances are that if you peep in 10 minutes later, you will 2 sleeping babies!!

Equally, although you can stroke and interact with them during the day, I would begin to teach them that their playtime with you is when DC's have gone to bed. They do learn routines pretty quickly, and I think you will find it much easier to cope with if they are playing with each other through the day when your attention is mainly on the children.....you will learn to really enjoy their antics when you can be just calm and relaxed and focussed on just the kittens for an hour or so.

Good luck.

Iseeall · 30/05/2013 11:58

Hi, hope you and the kittens are ok today.
It sounds like a very good idea to confine them to two rooms, you also get peace and quiet in other rooms and your whole home is not trashed.
If you think neutering will calm them down, vets can do early neutering and you may want to look into that.

issey6cats · 31/05/2013 21:49

i have four adult cats and foster for a cat reascue, i usually foster one kitten at a time till they go back to the rescue and i fostered two brothers at 7 weeks old and omg the difference it was like having two 18 month old toddlers in the house, they were everywhere, up the curtains on my keyboard all over the kitchen, trying to sit on my lap while i was eating, thought what have i taken on here but they were the sweetest kittnes and one of them the really cheeky one i didnt want to take back, in a year or so you will be on here saying i miss them being kittens lol
when all they do is sleep and eat and dissapear off for the day

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