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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

8 week old kittens and litter tray...

53 replies

Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 16:35

Hello! 2 8-week old kittens came to live with us on Sunday. Breeder assured me they were confident using litter tray. They're not; they're not interested in it, and are peeing behind an armchair in front room (keeping them in one room for now so as not to overwhelm them). I've put the tray there so that it's quiet and private, and there's another tray the other side of the room. It's made no difference. The internet tells me to pick them up and place them in tray, especially after eating. But they're so anxious and afraid of me currently that this just feels unkind, and certainly hasn't had any impact on their toileting. Is there anything else I could or should do?

OP posts:
Everythingiswonderful · 30/03/2021 16:39

Picking them up is the best way, or confining them to the room where the tray is after eating maybe. Are you using the same litter the breeder used? That could help.

Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 16:43

Thank you for replying! Yes she gave me same litter to make the adjustment easier for them but it's like they've never seen one before, they don't go in it, just pee on the floor next to it (which I'm sure they're doing because that's where they started peeing on Sunday and it smells of them (have ordered an enzyme cleaner thing) rather than because the tray is there). I could confine them smaller room, with tray, after eating; but it just feels so cruel because they currently run and hide as soon as I go near them. They're very very affectionate with one another but are obviously hugely anxious to be here. I feel at such a loss, it's been fifteen years since I had a kitten (and he was very tidy and clean!) and I'm just not sure what I'm doing. I don't want them to be miserable and I don't want my front room to smell of cat widdle 😔

OP posts:
Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 16:44

I also think if I put them in a smaller room, with the tray, they would still pee on the floor...

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 30/03/2021 17:15

Are you using kitten litter? Paw pads are very sensitive and anything too rough will put them off the tray & they’ll make their own arrangements.

dementedpixie · 30/03/2021 17:17

Can you put them in a room with a wipeable floor?

Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 17:19

Yes, got kitten litter. Honestly they don't even stand in it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 17:21

Floor is wood, happily, so easily moppable. But I need one of those strong scented things that break down the stink a bit better, which I've ordered from Amazon. I have a tendency to catastrophise when I'm stressed so I'm worrying they just won't get the hang of it, especially as they're still running away from me every time I go near

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 30/03/2021 17:26

Where did you get them from?.

dementedpixie · 30/03/2021 17:27

Pets at home sell enzyme cleaners

Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 17:29

I got them from a friend of my ex who is moving soon, hence them coming to me at just 8 weeks. I think she lied about how much handling they'd had and certainly about their confidence using a tray.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/03/2021 17:34

I wonder if they are younger than she says. Mine were using the tray at 8 weeks. What type of litter is it?

Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 17:37

It's a wood based litter. I wonder if they're younger too 😔 not a great sign - she'd said get in touch if any issues and when I did she'd blocked me! Lol. The thing that's odd is that they don't even seem to recognise the fact it's a litter tray. They just pee on floor next to it. No walking in it. No effort to cover it with litter though that would be possible by scratching it out of the tray on top of it. Short of squatting in there myself I am really stuck with what to do for them. And I know I keep banging on about it, but their enormous anxiety around me is not helping. Perhaps they just need time to settle and get used to me, and then I'll be able to do more with getting them used to the tray?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/03/2021 17:48

They would normally learn by copying their mum. Maybe a different finer clay litter would help. If you just sit on the floor in the room do they come out?

Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 17:52

I have catsan, I can see if that makes a difference. They'll come out and they'll play with each other, but they've no tolerance for me at all; if I approach them, or even slowly extend a hand, they hide again. Am currently laying on the floor chatting to them as they eat...

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 30/03/2021 18:02

They don’t sound socialised at all, most kittens know all this by 8 weeks. Farm cats squat and run.

T1gerEyes · 30/03/2021 18:03

It sounds like they're younger than you thought and they've not been taught by mum. Also sounds like they've not been handled really - hence the nerves around you.

I think I'd be forcing contact with you on them - and I don't mean in a horrible scary way! Sit in as small a room as possible with them with toys and treats and a litter tray and put gloves on. Try handling them like that and see how they go. Or at least getting close to them where you can.

The danger with leaving it to them to decide is that they won't overcome it and that's likely to happen if they've not been properly handled prior to coming to you.

I'd also have as shallow a tray as possible and just keep popping them in there every 20 - 30 mins or so

sunflowersandbuttercups · 30/03/2021 18:10

I've had kittens from eight weeks of age in the past, and they've all just gone straight to the tray on day one. We've never had any accidents unless one has been unwell.

It doesn't sound like they've come from a great situation in all honesty - by eight weeks they should know how to use a tray and they should be well used to being handled by people.

Some nerves/shyness are understandable but all the kittens I've had have been happy to come for cuddles and to be picked up and moved if necessary.

Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 30/03/2021 18:13

Oh God. I'm not equipped for this I think. Maybe I'll try the small room thing and putting them in the tray in there every so often. Scared that'll just make them hate me more.

OP posts:
sunflowersandbuttercups · 30/03/2021 18:17

It sounds like you're going to have go right back to basics and teach them how to use the litter tray - they won't just know - they need to be taught.

This is a good guide:

www.hillspet.com/cat-care/training/how-to-litter-box-train-a-kitten

T1gerEyes · 30/03/2021 18:21

Honestly, just confidently handle them and ignore any hissing and spitting. Pretend you're a vet or something - a vet wouldn't be approaching them in a nervous way. Just get stuck in and speak to them kindly as you're doing it.

Crappyfridays7 · 30/03/2021 18:51

My kittens are taught as soon as they are on solids and are fab although one went off and acted the same, he hissed and was very anti social despite being well handled by me, 4 kids and playing with our dog. He was just separated from us all and his mum so maybe just a sensitive kitten.

Yours could be the same, just keep putting them on. Simple solution is a great enzyme cleaner for pee stops them repeating in the same place. Cat pee honks so it’s something you want to sort ASAP. just put them on after meals and through the day and if you catch them squatting. Play with them with long cat toys build some trust they’ll settle down once they realise you’re nice to them

Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 31/03/2021 08:34

OK, so I kept picking them up and petting them; one got used to it quickly and isn't running away from me so much, the other hates it and runs from me all the time. Have put each of them in their trays repeatedly. They're still pissing all over the floor. I'm going to get a crate from Pets at Home and pop them in there after meals with the trays. If that's a terrible idea someone please tell me...

OP posts:
sunflowersandbuttercups · 31/03/2021 09:15

I wouldn't crate a cat - they may find it incredibly stressful.

Can you not just keep them in a small room like a bathroom or utility area?

Original poster
Piddleissues2021 · 31/03/2021 09:23

I don't have a small room I can use - I have a tiny tiny downstairs loo they'd shoot out of as soon as I put them in; I have 2 bedrooms that are filled with stuff I'd rather didn't get wee'd on; I have a bathroom but as small loo doesn't flush currently that has to be used regularly. I am at a complete loss, I'm so depressed.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 31/03/2021 09:42

If its a large crate that fits the litter tray, bed and feeding bowls then I dont see an issue with using one