Expert: Dear Tabbi - 6/22/2008

Question
I just got a kitten from the humane society (about 5-6 months old) and he
isn't using the litter box to poop. It is a little runny so I'm wondering if maybe
something is wrong or it's just the new environment. I know they all have
litter boxes in the shelter so he should know how to use it. It is one of those
with a top on. I'm not sure if that's what he used there though. Any help to
solve this problem would be appreciated.

Answer
Marie,

Everything is all new and confusing to him and he is probably nervous. Ideally you should get 2 kittens so they can comfort each other, play kitty games together, learn together, and be comfort and companionship for each other especially in a new environment.

When you get a new cat it should be kept in one room with food, water, and litter for a few days. That gives the cat a chance to get to know you (spend lots of time with the new cat, talking to it, etc.), gain confidence and trust, and get acclimated to having a new home. Then you let them explore the home gradually, one room at the time. It is too overwhelming to have a whole big house at one time to be in. And that can stress him alot. Then as the cat is comfortable with the expanded area, let it go where it wants but still have the safety of it's 'safe' room to run back into. Otherwise there are too many new and confusing things going on, and too much to learn and accept all at once. At the shelter he was used to being a small area with his litterbox.  

Most cats do not like covered litterboxes. They tend to get nervous if they can't see what is coming. He may need more privacy and not like where the litterbox is located. Pooping outside the box is usually a sign that the cat is upset about something. I would give him awhile to relax and get un-stressed. Runny poop is not unusual in a cat in a new environment.

Also don't feed him alot at the beginning. Let his digestive system get used to having enough food. A good quality kitten chow in a bowl available all the time is good so the kitten can nibble when it's hungry. Some cats, like shelter cats, aren't used to having enough to eat so they tend to gobble food when it's available and that is hard on their tummies and can give them 'the runs'.

It's hard to treat it as a behavior problem yet when it may not be. Give him some time to settle in, then and write back if he is still not using the litterbox to defecate and we can go from there.

Tabbi