Question:
Hi,

I have a new kitten that is litter box trained...but seems to have a real problem with finding it...is this normal...

I can even put it in the same room as her in the wide open and she still won't find it....she has to actually walk right by it to know it is there.

is this normal for a kitten?


Answer:
Both of my cats were very good at finding the litterbox. However, both were kept in the bathroom when we couldn't directly supervise them. The bathroom was very small (1/2 bath) so they didn't have a problem finding it. If we ever move the litterbox, we take the cats right to it and put them in. Then they can wander off wherever they'd like and they know where it is.

Is your kitten going on the floor? And what kind of litterbox are you using? The regular litterboxes for adult cats are often too high.


Answer:
I am using a very low and shallow litter box with a dip in the front...it was meant for kittens......I don't have any problems with my full grown cat he never had a problem....

but this one I have taken her right to the litter box and she will go in it no problem...but if she has to find it....it seems that she can't and she isn't blind so that isn't the problem and she will go on the floor or anywhere that she is but first she will hunt for the litter box....I can actually watch her and pick her up take her to the litter box and she will go...but if she has to find it herself she get really lost.....

Tammy


Answer:
It sounds like you need more litterboxes. In a normal sized house, a walk to the litterbox is a long way for a kitten. I would buy at least two more boxes and space them out around her space.


Answer:
My two very first kittens were very young when I brought them home from a farm (I was worried they would get stepped on by the cows). They had the run of the house and I thought they were using the litter box faithfully until one day I moved the couch and saw the mess underneath It's pretty normal for a new kitten to have to go NOW (LOL) and forget where to go. I solved the problem by decreasing the room they had to run around in, adding a litter box and making them more visable until they were a little older. Praise, praise, praise when your kitty uses the box.


Answer:
How young is the kitten? It may be too much freedom too soon... like CTChin mentioned. I always isolate new kittens in the bathroom, not only for quarantine purposes, but to make sure they are faithfully using the LB.


Answer:
Yea, I didn't do that with my cat when he was little and he had a lot of accidents. They are basically like kids...sometimes when they have to go, they really have to go. They hardly ever have time to walk to a litter box even if it's 2 feet away from them. I would add another litter box or two and clean them everyday.


Answer:
Cool thanks so much for all the advice....I put more LB around the house and now she is having no troubles at all...

Thanks all