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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.

Original poster

New kitten owner

110 replies

Newcatmum · 18/01/2019 19:42

Today I brought home a lovely little 10 week old kitten. I'm a first time cat owner so have been researching for about 6 months before getting her.

She's settled in well I feel, eating happily, exploring the house, sleeping Grin but she has no interest in her litter tray. I assume she is used to a different brand of litter and it will be tomorrow now before I can go out and get some other stuff.

Can anyone guide me and give me some tips on how to get her to use it? I've obviously looked online but thought I'd be better posting here and getting some advice. Thanks Grin

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smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 18/01/2019 22:37

I have 2 house cats one of which was found as a stray. One tries to make a run for it from time to time but then freaks out and we have to go and get her. So long as their home is as stimulating as possible and you play with them then she'll probably be fine. Btw she is absolutely gorgeous!

Original poster
Newcatmum · 18/01/2019 22:39

Thank you smart. I knew I would get the answers to my questions on here rather than looking online.

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Girliefriendlikesflowers · 18/01/2019 22:55

With kittens I've always kept an eye on them and then the minute they start sniffing about or scratching the floor I've quickly popped them in the litter tray! It's a bit like kids and potty training 😂

I personally think cats should be free to go outdoors but understand your concerns. If she stays a house cat that does mean keeping doors and windows shut all summer which in my house at least would be completely impractical.

Fwiw both my cats never went far but loved sunbathing in the garden.

Mia184 · 18/01/2019 22:58

I would get her sister as well. Then you won‘t feel guilty when you don‘t have that much time to play with her. I always feel guilty when I come home from work and my cat waits for me at the door which she does every single day. You have a kitten and she will want to play for hours. Do you have the time to do that and do you want to do that every day? My cat is about 8 years old and still wants to play and engage with me for at least an hour per day.
I tried to introduce my cat to another cat shortly after I got her but she became extremely jealous (she had spent her first 5 years with an elderly man) and it thus didn‘t work. But I would much prefer to have two cats.

StarUtopia · 18/01/2019 23:01

Our kitten is 5 months old and hasn't been outside yet. We did lots of research and basically we are in the process of cat-proofing the garden with fencing.

So many cats die on the road. I totally understand you wanting to keep them safe. This is a good compromise!

LionsTeeth · 18/01/2019 23:07

I'm biased but I think Millie is a perfect name for a cat! Here's my little Millie, who unfortunately passed away at the grand old age of 17 a few weeks ago. She also went by: Mills on Wheels, Millie Vanillie, Mills and Boon, Millie vanillie all fat and frilly and a wide variety of others... Grin

New kitten owner
New kitten owner
New kitten owner
Original poster
Newcatmum · 18/01/2019 23:08

That's a very good point about the summer Girlie I'm sure as she gets bigger I may feel less concerned about something happening to her. Hopefully mine won't go too far either if she does go out.

Mia I couldn't afford to buy her sister plus another lot of supplies as well as vet care. I'm not working at the moment so have plenty of time to spend with her. Unless I'm out shopping or at toddler groups then I'm at home. Maybe a few hours on a Saturday if I take the children out then she would be alone. When I start college (not until a lot later in the year) I will only be there 2.5 days per week so even then still plenty of time at home with her. By the time I (hopefully!) start full time work then it will be at least a year and a half from now. I was hoping I would be able to introduce another cat around then.

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Original poster
Newcatmum · 18/01/2019 23:12

star I don't like on a main road although there are main roads on either side of the block which is what worries me. The cat that lives over the back from me spends it's full day sleeping in my garden I would love her to be like thatGrin

Lion so sorry to hear about your Millie. She is adorable looks a right character! Love her nicknames too.

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Original poster
Newcatmum · 18/01/2019 23:13

*don't live

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MrsCatE · 19/01/2019 00:08

Oh, how lovely! She's beautiful! (don't know how to do in-love emoji so have a Bear). I would definitely get some of the original cat litter as back up. I completely buggered up my cat when he was a weeny rescue by using wood pellet litter, he was used to the usual Catsan stuff and refused to go!

MrsCatE · 19/01/2019 00:10

@LionsTeeth. Millie was beautiful and obviously, much loved. X

sweetkitty · 19/01/2019 00:20

She’s gorgeous go back and get her sister. They will play together and be great company for each other.

Just keep putting her back in the tray she’ll get the idea, I’ve never had a kitten have an accident.

Welcome to a life of being a cat slave

InSightMars · 19/01/2019 00:20

First tip do not buy scented litter, it can irritate their skin plus the smell of cat pee soaked scented litter is bloody awful. Plain clay is best I’ve found. If you do find she’s gone outside the box get a piece of kitchen roll to blot up the pee and put that in a corner of the litter box so the smell soaks in to the litter. It’ll then smell of her own pee so she’ll quickly get the idea that’s her ‘toilet’.

Remember to scoop out the wet lumps and solid waste daily and top up with a little fresh litter and change it out completely about every 7 - 10 days, cats like their boxes to be kept clean plus it minimizes the smell.

InSightMars · 19/01/2019 00:25

She’s adorable btw and very strongly resembles one of mine!

New kitten owner
Girliefriendlikesflowers · 19/01/2019 09:54

I disagree with all the comments about getting another kitten and you're right op kittens cost a fortune to neuter, vaccinate, feed, deflea etc. If you haven't already I would strongly recommend you get pet insurance, for a moggy its not normally very expensive (I pay £8 a month) and I have had to use the insurance a few times when vet bills came to £££.

Its the one insurance I have made money out of!!

Also check with your vets if they do a pet plan for flea and worm treatment, this will work out cheaper in the long run.

Ime cats prefer to be in a one cat household, my two never really got on and since boycat sadly passed away last year my girlcat has been so much happier!

A neutered female who is able to come and go as she pleases (catflap) is unlikely to go far imo, there is always a risk with roads but I still feel for my cats overall contentment its a risk worth taking.

Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 11:54

Thank you everyone who has posted there's been a lot of great tips here that I'm very grateful for.

Girlie I'm glad you posted that because I was starting to feel really guilt and irresponsible for only getting one. Contacted the vets this morning to register we will be seen on Monday. At the moment they are part of a deal £49 for vaccines, flea and worm treatment, voucher towards microchipping, neutering and a bag off food. £12.50 per month for the insurance so. That's one of the reasons I got her because without the £49 voucher I wouldn't have been able to afford a kitten otherwise.

I'm also reconsidering my house cat idea!

Still hasn't gone in her litter tray and not drinking any water that I've been able to see so starting to get concerned.

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Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 11:58

Excuse the typosBlush

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dementedpixie · 19/01/2019 12:05

Are they eating? If they have wet food then they get fluids from that too. Only one of mine drinks from the water bowl (although they drink from the manky green pond outside!).

The vet plan won't be insurance, it will probably be their plan for injections, flea and worm treatment. Insurance is normally separate

dementedpixie · 19/01/2019 12:07

I have insurance with Bought by Many (was with Tesco before that) plus a vet plan for worm/ flea treatments and vaccinations

Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 12:09

I done a lot of reading and researching before I got her and didn't realise just how stubborn she would actually be! She turns her nose up at the dry food as well so I'm worried she's not eating enough. I'm following the breeder's instructions half a pouch morning, afternoon and evening and dry food available all day but she only wants the wet food. Been in touch with the breeder but she seemed to use a variety of litter and dry food so it's not that she's used to one particular brand.

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dementedpixie · 19/01/2019 12:11

They are fussy wee buggers. I have been through countless different food brands. What dry food is it? Mine liked the dry kitten food from pets at home (AVA I think).

Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 12:12

Crossposted. Yes she eats her wet food.

I will look into the insurance to get along with the £12.50 vet plan I got a bit confused there.

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Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 12:13

The dry food is from pets at home Wainwright's its called

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dementedpixie · 19/01/2019 12:17

Mine used to eat wainwrights wet kitten food but now they won't touch it as it's pate style

dementedpixie · 19/01/2019 12:19

The AVA kitten food comes in a small bag if you wanted to try a different one. It's grain free