New kitten and litter tray help.

[Wingingitlikeapro]

Hi all :)

I am looking for some tips and guidance regarding my new 8 week old kitten.

We brought her home lastnight and when taking her out the pet carry she had peed and poo'ed in the carry , which is fine as the journey was a bit long so expected that might happen.

Our kitchen opens into the living room so we let her roam about in there and she hid under the couch for a bit. I took her to the tray a few times just to show her where it is etc and put out some food and water.

I ended up sleeping on the couch with her so that she was close to the tray and food and I didn't want her upstairs just now until she's established peeing in her tray.

Today she ate some food and then maybe half an hour later she peed behind the TV unit. I have throughly cleaned it and pushed the TV unit against the wall so she can't get behind there again but just wondering what else I can do to get her going to the tray , I can't have eyes on her 24/7 to watch for her squatting but also don't want the carpet getting it all the time.

I have put all her stuff in the kitchen as that's tiled flooring, food and litter opposite ends of the kitchen , put a wee bed and blanket in the middle and she has access straight into the living for during the day but was thinking of keeping her in the kitchen overnight at least until she's using the tray.

Also I am using the litter type and food that the lady I bought her from used.

Any tips would be great , feel awful confining her to the one room just now x

TIA

Keeping her in just one room is good for her - there's plenty for her to explore. She's only still tiny.

Also, you must supply photos.

Roxy x

🥰

Where she has peed, it is a good idea to wash it with bio washing liquid/powder (diluted) to get rid of the enzymes in the pee so the smell is eradicated and she doesn't think that is her pee corner.

Fab thank you , I didn't think to use washing liquid :)

She is sleeping for now so I will lift her back into the tray when she wakes up. On the edge of my seat waiting for this first pee in the tray lol x

I caught my 9 week old kitten mid pee and put her in the litter box. Once she could smell herself in the litter she started going in there with no problems. I think the problem is that the litter didn't smell of her and in a new house she just didn't recognise it as the place to go

Try having more than one tray. Have you tried putting her in the tray, holding her paws and helping her ‘dig’ in the litter? Apparently it helps them to make the association.

Yeah I am hoping to try and catch her but she goes straight under the couch where i can't see her . She has been meowing like mad and I keep putting her in the tray but she hops right back out. X

I was thinking of another tray so will get another at the weekend.

I have put her in and did the digging thing but she's just not interested lol

Maybe she just doesn't need to go 😕
X

If it happens again.
Rub a piece of kitchen roll on the place where she peed before cleaning it and put it in the litter tray.
She’ll get the idea that it’s the place to go.

When we brought our kitten home she kept going in the pet carrier to go to the toilet. I then realised the foster carer had a tray that was enclosed like a carrier so I put the tray in the carrier and she used it straight away. She’s gorgeous 😻

Aww never thought of that, good idea 😀 x

Thank you 😊. I am going to try a hooded tray if this one doesn't do the job. She's back sleeping and has been for the last hour so once she's up again I will plop her back in the tray . Literally sat toilet watching all day , can't wait for the first one to come haha.

Does anyone know how long I should leave before thinking of changing litter etc incase she doesn't like that particular brand ? I don't want to be too hasty incase it's just a matter of perseverance, I mean she has peed this morning just not in the right place lol x

I’d try a kitten litter, they can be little sods for deciding the current set up doesn’t work once their home.

She’s very cute!

Thank you ! Yeah am sensing she might turn out to be a little diva! Lol x

Ours used woodchip litter in the cattery but wouldn’t use it in the house. Current cat had the same biscuits for years but is now firmly on one tin of wet a day with biscuits on the side.

They just know your going to come up with the goods, and if you don’t they can always go round the neighbours pleading ham deficiency.

She's a beauty! I'd limit her to the kitchen for the first few days.

@Fluffycloudland77 cats really are little fuss pots lol still no pees since this morning , she's practically slept all day x

@Doomscrolling Yes I think that's the best plan for now and hopefully when I check on her by the morning she will have used the tray and thank you she is very cute x

[quote Wingingitlikeapro]@Doomscrolling Yes I think that's the best plan for now and hopefully when I check on her by the morning she will have used the tray and thank you she is very cute x[/quote]
It’s what we had to do with our most recent when he was tiny. Otherwise he would go anywhere!
He’s a big bruiser now!

Ours picked her own corner for the litter tray as I’d put it somewhere and had tried to show her, but she wee’d in a different corner so put a tray there and haven’t had any issues since.
Appreciate it can’t go behind the tv cabinet, but maybe if there’s somewhere else she ‘chooses’

@Doomscrolling aww he's adorable!! ❤ she's just peed in her bed 😭 managed to catch her and put her in the tray so maybe now her scents there that will help x

@NautaOcts I know its a hard one as I am limited on spaces to put it . I am starting to think its the litter she doesn't like. Not sure what kind to try now as I was advised she was used to pellets, scared to make a change incase it makes things worse x

[quote Wingingitlikeapro]@Doomscrolling aww he's adorable!! ❤ she's just peed in her bed 😭 managed to catch her and put her in the tray so maybe now her scents there that will help x[/quote]
He’s a 6.5kg greedy-guts with a wonderful purr and chinchilla-soft fur.

Roxy is lovely!
8 weeks is very young to be away from her mother. It seems to be happening more and more but 12 weeks is better for kittens. (I think 8 weeks is okay for puppies? I'm not a dog person though.)

Has she had a poo yet? At 8 weeks old they usually poo a few times a day.

I would think once she has had a number two in the tray she'll carry on using it for wees also.