Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/kittens not using litter box

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/25/2009


Question
The cat I took in has had kittens and has moved them to my closet. It is a very large closet. She is an excellent mother, but the kittens are now 4 weeks of age. How will they learn to use the littler box? Will she take them there?  They still are not eliminating on their own, but are healthy and active and moving about freely in the closet, which by the way is a step down closet, so they can't really get out of it yet. I don't want a littler box in my closet. Help!

Answer
Bernice,

I'm very sorry I didn't answer your question earlier but the hard drive in my computer died and I was just able to get it replaced.

If you keep a litterbox where the kittens are they will use it. I have always kept a litterbox with the kittens and all the kittens I raised were litter trained by themselves.

It is important that you do NOT use clumping litter when you have kittens. Some kittens will eat litter (that's normal) and if you use clumping it will 'clump' in their intestines which can cause a fatal blockage. Only use clay litter with kittens.

Kittens do not go very far to use a litterbox which is why you need one close to them. You may not want a litterbox in your closet, but if you have kittens in there you need one, or you may end up with 'messes' on the floor and kittens not trained to use a litter box, which mother helps with.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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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.

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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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