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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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Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 18:58

Happy to oblige Grin

Here she is sticking out her tongue Grin

New kitten owner
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Fluffycloudland77 · 19/01/2019 19:27

I’d take the collar off, ids a strangulation risk.

Your photo reel will now be 90% cat related.

Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 19:36

Oh fluffy I hadn't realised. When I had looked online I read to buy one with a breakaway clasp so that it snaps off if it was to get caught so thats what I bought. The only reason I wanted a collar was for the bell so I could hear where she was which has came in handy but I'm more relaxed now when I can't see her so I will take it off.

I have thousands of photos of just my kids on my phone and now all the recent ones are just cat Grin

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Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 19:44

I can't find any sign of pee or poo anywhere. Shes also refusing her water I'm starting to really worry now. The lady I bought her from told me she gave her water and also kitten milk so I went into pets at home to buy some yesterday and was told at 10 weeks she should be weaned from it now and to only give her water.

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dementedpixie · 19/01/2019 19:56

Honestly if she's eating wet food she will be fine without drinking lots of water. You can lead a horse -cat- to water but you can't make it drink. As long as its available you've done what you can. I've never given mine cat milk either and I've had my 2 since they were 8 weeks old

Original poster
Newcatmum · 19/01/2019 20:00

Thank you that's reassuring . What is your opinion on the lack of toilet activity?

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Fluffycloudland77 · 19/01/2019 20:03

Mine wore a collar till he came home one night with a front leg caught in it and his fang caught on it. I felt like the worst owner ever.

You can mix a teaspoon or two of water into wet food. Mine only drinks when I’m not looking. The water bowl level goes down.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 19/01/2019 20:31

A little bit of kitten milk might help encourage her to drink but I think she's still just settling in, she might have drunk water when you were out or not looking.

Original poster
Newcatmum · 20/01/2019 08:23

I've found poo! Never been so happy to see 💩 in my life.

It's on the floor and have had to bin toddler dollyBlush but it's a relief. A bit worried now where else it may have gone I'm going to have to do a thorough house search! So much for being litter trained. Should I put the poo in the tray???

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Original poster
Newcatmum · 20/01/2019 08:26

And I've just caught her drinking her water Grin

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Original poster
Newcatmum · 20/01/2019 08:39

Oops Blush

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sashh · 20/01/2019 08:40

She is trying to get you to drop the dry food, don't give in.

I have the oddest animal ever, she won't drink water from a bowl (unless it is outside and three week old rainwater) she insists on a glass!

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 20/01/2019 09:58

Yes put the poo in the tray, I think you'll have to watch her like a hawk for signs she is about to go and quickly stick her in the tray!!

Original poster
Newcatmum · 20/01/2019 10:03

I put the poo in and since then she's been digging around in the tray so left her too it and when I went back through there was possible pee. She's took all the poo out and put it in the floorShock.

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Original poster
Newcatmum · 21/01/2019 12:38

I'm back again Sad

Still not using her litter box. Have pulled the TV unit out and found 2 lots of poo in there. So that's 3 altogether since I got her home I'm sure there's probably more hidden away elsewhere. Can not find any wet patches which is worrying I have no idea where she's doing a pee. She's done one pee in her tray. She ended up in my bedroom last night so am going to have to search there. Nothing on the bed thankfully. I can't smell urine at all anywhere and my mum couldn't when she came in. But would a small kitten's have much of an odour yet? Feeling a bit defeatedSad

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dementedpixie · 21/01/2019 12:41

Could you put another tray near the tv unit? Does she go on the new litter?

Original poster
Newcatmum · 21/01/2019 12:57

As soon as I got the new litter she was in the tray digging around. She's in it just now digging whereas with the woodchip litter she wouldn't go near it so I think she does prefer this. Should I move her current tray behind the TV unit or leave it where it is and get an additional one to go there?

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chickhonhoneybabe · 21/01/2019 13:18

When my cats were kittens and they needed a 💩 they would have a mad 1/2 hour running around (all of my cats have done this) so if she does this, once she’s stopped running around I’d keep picking her up and putting her in the litter tray.

Also if you find she’s done a 💩 on the floor, put it in the litter tray and put her in it too.

Re the water thing they tend to drink when you’re not watching so try not to worry, also one of my cats will not touch any form of dry food so I go for a complete wet food that is over 50% meat (well fish in her case as she won’t entertain meat unless it’s fresh chicken, ham or fresh 🍤).

Thrive is a good brand but expensive, I’ve managed to get her on to Sainsbury’s but that is pricey too at £6.50. She actually costs me a bloody fortune compared to the other cat who will eat biscuits and brand cat food... but I luvvvvs her! 🥰 she’s a spoilt princess!

Original poster
Newcatmum · 21/01/2019 13:31

Shes actually having one of those moments just now! So thanks for the tip will give that a go.

I do put the poo in the tray but she throws it back out Shock

I'm not too worried about the water thing anymore I've saw her drink it a couple of times so it must be like you say and she drinks it when I can't see.

I stupidly bought whiskas food for her thinking as it's one of the leading brands I was buying the best. It wasn't until over the weekend I read how it's not good.

I'm feeling a bit annoyed with myself I thought I had read up on everything I need to know but it turns out there's a lot more to this than I expected. I honestly thought it would be straightforward I've been a bit naive. I don't regret it at all though she's part of the family already and I'm sure we will get there eventually with a bit of trial and error!

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chickhonhoneybabe · 21/01/2019 13:57

Cats are just litte people in fur coats 🐱 🧥 😉 they’re all very different. Plus us humans are mere servants! 😂

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/01/2019 19:50

She’s very young and might not understand yet.

Original poster
Newcatmum · 24/01/2019 09:45

I now have a litter trained kitty Grin. Sorry I know no one is interested but I feel like a proud mum of a potty trained toddler and have to announce it. I think my mum is getting bored of all my cat updatesBlush. Thank you to everyone who gave me advice it has helped a lot!

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dementedpixie · 24/01/2019 11:27

Glad to hear it. What worked in the end? Or was it just strange new surroundings that confused her?

Fluffycloudland77 · 24/01/2019 11:36

How many photos of her do you have now?

Original poster
Newcatmum · 24/01/2019 12:24

I just kept placing her in tray demented and when I found I poo I would put it in the tray and she would bury it. I guess it was new surroundings and I feel I could have prevented it if I'd stuck to her usual litter.

Fluffy I've took more photos of her than the kids this past week Grin

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