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

Phone the breeder and ask what style of tray they have and what brand of litter they use and get the same one?

When mums want their kittens to do the toilet they lick their bits to encourage them to go.

I don’t know if it works in older kittens but you could put her in her tray- help her to dig with her paws, and gently wipe her parts with a soft cloth to see if that would make her wee? Once she’s gone once in the tray she should go again next time.

Keep an eye on how soon after feeding she toilets so you can be keeping an eye on her at that time.

Sounds like she’s scared if she keeps hiding. Do you have a empty cardboard box to use as a hideyhole?

@urbanbuddha

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.)

This was my thought too. At 8 weeks, their mummy cat would still be teaching them to use the tray etc. She'll get there. Is the tray shallow enough for her to get into ok?

She will get the hang of it in a few days.
Mine was a bit like this at first, I got her very young, typically told she was older than she actually appeared in reality. We had to lift her in the litter tray and she would play with the litter. When she eventually went I still remember the delight and round of applause we gave her.