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The litter tray

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Original poster

New kitten struggles - help !

83 replies

Mooncats · 15/05/2021 08:30

Bought this lovely little kitten through gumtree last week . She is a maincoon .

Owner insists she is 9 weeks old but she is very very tiny - only slightly bigger than my hand. I have another cat ( Russian blue ) who was thrice this size at 9 weeks . Seems very very young - struggle to climb up and jump off furniture etc . Her cry is still a very low squeak . Just cannot believe she's 9'weeks .

Issues we are having :

  • accidents everywhere . I put her in the litter tray very very frequently and she'll usually jump right out . She will use it after lots and lots of encouragement but am still finding poo and wee behind furniture .
  • she doesn't seem to know to dig / bury when she uses the tray she just leaves it on top of the litter . I take her paws and encourage her to dig and bury but she isn't interested at all .
  • does seem to groom herself very well . Poo on paws etc

will this settle and is there anything I can do ?

New kitten struggles - help !
OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Original poster
Mooncats · 15/05/2021 08:32

A clearer idea of her size

New kitten struggles - help !
OP posts:
dementedpixie · 15/05/2021 08:35

Maybe doesn't like the type of litter you have. Try a second tray with different litter

Mum normally teaches how to use the tray. If she's very young she may not have learned properly.

Had she seen a vet yet? She needs worming and flea treatments too

Original poster
Mooncats · 15/05/2021 08:37

I will try another tray/ litter. So far we are using nature's best clumping organic wood litter .

Previous Owner said she is flead and wormed but I'm not sure now as they said she was fully trained too.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 15/05/2021 08:39

At that age worming is quite frequent.

I'd definitely see a vet just to check she is healthy
Is she on the same food as before?

Original poster
Mooncats · 15/05/2021 08:42

I'll get her checked in to see a vet.
She is eating wet food only but plenty of it and very regularly / enthusiastically - same as before .

OP posts:
ConfusedAdultFemale · 15/05/2021 08:45

Well that does happen when you use gumtree to buy animals instead of a reputable breeder or shelter. Better getting it to the emergency vets, if it’s younger than you think it could need prescription food or milk.

37TTCLeeds · 15/05/2021 08:47

How much does she weigh? I was worried when we got our kitten last year that he was younger than the 8+ weeks we were told, went to the vets the same day and he weighed about 850g which the vet said was typical. He also couldn't get on and off furniture and had a tiny squeak but didn't have any of the litter tray issues...

felinelucky · 15/05/2021 09:01

Gosh, OP, poor little pussycat. That doesn't sound right. If the breeder is as dodgy as they sound, I'd get the little beastie tested for giardia, just in case that's a contributor to the poop problems.

felinelucky · 15/05/2021 09:06

(Speaking from bitter experience with dodgy breeders)

Toddlerteaplease · 15/05/2021 09:12

I'll put money on her not being a Maine clone as well.

Original poster
Mooncats · 15/05/2021 09:14

toddler I had my doubts about that too but I've seen her with her mum who most definitely is a typically distinctive maincoon.

OP posts:
Chemenger · 15/05/2021 09:22

I would take any new kitten for a check at the vets, no matter where it came from but especially if bought from some random on Gumtree. She looks very small for a 9 week old from a giant breed. Mum is a Main coon, what is dad? Why would a reputable breeder of a popular, in demand breed be selling on Gumtree? Is she insured?

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/05/2021 10:40

Are her eyes blue? She looks too young to be away from mum.

You can buy toys off amazon with heart beats recorded inside them for young animals.

adoptivemummy87 · 15/05/2021 16:18

She definitely looks too young to be away from mum. I would take her to the vet for a check up as soon as you can. These backyard breeders really do tell you anything. Did you see any evidence of her being vet checked already? At 9 weeks, she should have received her first vaccination.

MoesBar · 15/05/2021 16:31

I’ve never seen a Maine Coon be that small at 9 weeks.

Vets. ASAP.

eurochick · 15/05/2021 16:34

There is no way that is a nine week old kitten. She's far too young to be away from her mum.

eurochick · 15/05/2021 16:40

For comparison here are our bsh kittens (so a smaller breed) at 3 weeks when we first went to see them and 12 weeks when we brought them home (photos in reverse order).

New kitten struggles - help !
New kitten struggles - help !
felinelucky · 15/05/2021 16:40

Vets. ASAP being a cat owner already OP probably doesn't need telling, but insurance ASAP!

Northernlurker · 15/05/2021 16:56

Was she the only kitten left? And was she unexpectedly unavailable? They've probably sold the kosher litter first then are selling the b team one at a time and keeping the mum and dad out of sight.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 15/05/2021 17:29

She's nearer six weeks than nine. And not a MC.

felinelucky · 15/05/2021 17:39

But let's keep this in perspective: she is an adorable little poppet, and so far the only apparent issue is that she may be a bit younger than advertised, which would explain why she hasn't got the hang of grooming etc. So long as she's eating, purring, peeing and pooping (wherever that may be) I'm sure the rest will take care of itself in time.

Toddlerteaplease · 15/05/2021 18:19

Agree with @felinelucky as long as you didn't pay a huge amount of money for a Maine cone

Didicat · 15/05/2021 18:35

Reputable breeders of cats don’t let their kitten go till 13 weeks, fully vaccinated. Price is no indication of a good breeder. Kitten looks more like a 6 weeker to me.

felinelucky · 15/05/2021 18:38

Friends of mine just paid £300 for a standard moggie, and Siberians that cost £1,000 pre lockdown are going for £2000-£2,500. Cat inflation is crazy.

andivfmakes3 · 15/05/2021 18:41

I would say she definitely isn't 9 weeks and if she is then she was the runt of the litter or may not be 100% healthy

Also I really don't think she is a Maine coon - unless you have seen the pedigree status of her parents then as beautiful as she is she's just a long haired moggy - Maine coon breeders don't sell on Gumtree

Finally - the fact that she is having issues with litter and grooming also suggests she is much younger than advertised