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Expert: - 7/10/2009


Question
Hi Norm,

Thanks for your answers to a previous question regarding introducing kittens.
I have my master bedroom set up to acclimate my new 4.5 month old kitten
who is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. My existing 3.5 month old kitten is in a
separate bedroom during the day with her litter box which is is using quite
well.

I had a question regarding their litter boxes. Currently, I am using open,
shallow litter pans but was wondering what the best way would be to try and
place a breathable cover over the boxes. I saw wicker ones that don't trap
odors. Do you think my kittens are young enough to take to the covers or is
it a bad idea?

I don't want to move the current pans because I don't want to confuse the
kittens but given that they are in bedrooms, it would help tremendously if
they were semi out of sight.

Answer
Dana,

Most kittens tell their litter pans by smell, so if you were to get a covered litter pan, I would put the dirty litter in that for a day and just put your kitten in the pan, The kitten should be able to figure it out immediately.

We use covered litter pans and after our babies are used to the open litter pan, we do what I described above, and they all seem to adjust immediately!

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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