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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/My kittens don't cover their poop
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Question
I'm currently fostering six, six weeks old kittens from a local animal shelter, but after using the litter box none of them cover up their poop. This leads to the problem of them stepping in it and trailing it around the room.
Sierra (pretty name!),
My guess is that the kittens were weaned too young and didn't get a chance for mama cat to teach them correctly. That is usually done by the mama from 8-12 weeks.
They are still young yet. Give them time to learn and to get coordinated. The kittens don't like it on their feet and pretty soon they will associate the reason why it is happening. Cats don't have any reasoning ability so they have to learn good and bad from habit and experiences.
Also Try deeper litter so they get the natural urge to dig when they get in the litterbox. Also try a bigger litterbox.
Note: only use clay litter for little kittens. DO NOT use scoopable. Some kittens will try to 'taste' the litter or eat it. Just like it does in the litterbox, it will swell in their intestines and can cause a fatal blockage.
I hope this is helpful.
Tabbi
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Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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