Advice please! New kitten hiding under sofa, only came out to wee in the corner...

[linspins]

We've collected our new kittens today, imaginatively named Sandy and Mittens by the kids. Sandy initially had a quick explore, then settled himself under the sofa, and hasn't come out...apart from to find a dark corner and wee under a box. I quickly cleaned it up and wiped the floor with a litter box disinfctant wipe. I'm worried though that he now thinks that corner is his toilet. We have no experience of kittens, and have been reading up as much as we can. Should I put his litter tray there...but then the other kitten might not know where it is, and she's already used it. Help!

You need more than 1 litter tray, and while they're little they don't need to be big trays, so I'd definitely pop a small tray of litter in that corner.

Photo?

the usual advice is one litter tray per cat plus one other I think? When we had new arrivals they've always spent the first day or two under a bed or sofa (depending on how much roaming you allow them). We've normally just sat on the bed watching a film talking quietly so the kitten gets used to our smell/sounds etc but don't expect them to come out when we're around - they'll be fine in a couple of days! Enjoy & second the request for a photo!!

They hate new places. Give 'em time.

Yes, I saw an article about having more than one litter tray, however, at their old house they had one...for the mum and her four kittens, so they assured me I would only need one. I accepted their advice, having none knowledge of my own. I could put an extra one down in that corner...what could I use overnight? Would a paint roller tray make an emergency litter tray?
I worried he will wee and poo on floor, if he's forgotten where the original tray is ( which is in the kitchen, across open plan dining room and lounge).

Photos will follow, if they ever come out from under the sofa! Son was most sad not to be able to say a proper good night to his kitten as it was hiding!

Don't fuss them and they will come out when they are ready to investigate. They're just overwhelmed at the moment. Within days they'll be tearing round the place!

I'm happy to leave them be, it must be overwhelming. Just needed to know what to do about littler box. Husband wonders if a washing up bowl would do as an extra one overnight, until I can get a second one tomorrow? Thoughts?

When our two kittens came home, the girl pooped in a certain place not near the litter tray. I think she must have felt exposed where it was placed. I put another one where she pooped and she very helpfully started using it from that time on. I have two trays for two kitties. The litter in the first tray was that fragranced, clumping litter. That may have put her off. I learned here that the clumping litter is bad for kitties. They don't have the good sense not to eat it and it gives problems in their tummies. So that was ditched.

I have just moved them onto the bottoms of covered litter trays, now that their paws are long enough to get in easily. Super not to have it all over the floor. I'd imagine either tray or bowl would be ok. I'd go first with the shallow sides tray to make sure they can see what it is. It is only for tonight.

One of my cats hid for a week in a gap between the kitchen cupboards and the wall that I didn't know existed when I first got her. Leave him to it, he'll come out when he's ready.

I tried two litter trays with my two but one of them was never used. Mine happily share a large tray.

I've never heard that cat's eat clumping litter or that it's bad for them.

I couldn't not use clumping litter. I have two trays as I have a fear of someone locking them in a room by accident when I'm not in.

Kittens can eat clumping litter & it swells in their stomachs.

Kittens can be like babies, everything goes in the mouth to test what it is.

Thank you all for your comments. I'm laughing at myself about how daunting owning kittens is seeming. We put the bowl down as a litter tray and it had been used this morning, so I'm glad it was there. Both kittens are under the sofa still, I'd love to know how much ( or if) they came out in the night. Food had gone so must have been out on some exploratory forays.
Sandy, the ginger one, was initially braver, and had a good look round for ten minutes, whilst mittens sat in the travel box. But it's been Sandy who has stayed under the sofa since. I wonder what they will get up to today...

Our kittens did exactly this when we got them home!

Went straight under the sofas and weed on the floor! I was overwhelmed just like you.

But I just followed everyone's advice: put two trays out, filled with the litter they'd had at the breeders and kept putting them in it. It took a couple of weeks but we got there!

Two months later and they are so much part of the family I wonder what we ever did before they came!!

Be patient. The pay-off is huge

Make the most of the shyness... by the weekend they'll be EVERYWHERE!!

Pics please - and ooooh I'm jealous!! I want kittens!!

Mine stayed under the bed for the first night. It was fascinating to warch her venture out the next day- she'd go a few feet, and then run back under the bed, and then try again but go a bit further. They'll come out soon, don't worry.