Expert: Jessica - 7/17/2009

Question
Hi

I'm at my wit's end and wondered if you can possibly give me some advice.

We recently got an 8 week old male ginger kitten and it sometimes urinates on the bed instead of the litter tray. I've tried using a water spray, covering the beds with plastic shower curtains etc, but nothing is working. I'm cleaning the areas thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner to stop him going back but this has not worked either. He is now 9 weeks old and has had his first vaccinations. He uses the litter tray for soiling and sometimes urinating but if I don't watch him constantly he sits and urinates on the bed. My son would be devastated if I have to return him, so I'm desperate for some advice.

I wondered if it's behavioural (he's had a full checkup at the vet) or if it's territorial as we have another old male cat who sometimes comes in who belongs to a neighbour.

I have had cats all my life and never encountered this problem before!

Thanks so much for your time

Nicola


Answer
Hi Nicola.  It would be wise to first have him checked out just in case of a bladder infection.  This can be a reason why he wouldn’t use the litter box to urinate all the time.  But I believe the kitten is just young and did not have the opportunity to really solidify his litter habits before being separated from mom and going to his new home.  Some kittens are fine by this age, but others take a little longer.  This is one reason why I try to keep my kittens with mom until they are 12 weeks of age.

It will be inconvenient, but the best way to try to fix this problem is to keep the kitten in a small, confined area until he is using the litter box 100% of the time.  Of course, this would mean out of the bedroom.  A bathroom is often the best place, because there are no tempting soft areas for him to urinate on.  Sometimes renting a large dog crate is the best option.  The kitten can come out for closely supervised play but must be returned to the confined area anytime he cannot be watched or if he begins to sniff or scratch around as if he looks like he needs to use the litter box.  

It’s probably a good idea to also use a special litter during this time that can help train him.  There’s a litter called Cat Attract that’s formulated with herbs to encourage 100% litter box usage.  It’s money back guaranteed.  There is also a Cat Attract additive if you prefer to continue using your own litter, but it should only be used if your litter is unscented.  You can locate a dealer at www.preciouscat.com, or you may find the litter for sale online.

He may need up to a few weeks of confinement before he’s really got the idea down that the litter box is the ONLY place that he should be urinating.  I don’t think he’s a lost cause, but he is little and will need some patience, just like a potty training child.  However, I do agree that if you have a very busy household and won’t be able to work with him a little, it may be better to return him to the shelter now, while he’s still little and adoptable.  If the problem isn’t corrected soon, it may become a real habit, and he’ll be a bigger kitty with a behavioral problem – the picture of an unadoptable cat.

If he seems to have a problem even during the confinement, I would add another box and give him a choice of litters.  Try a few different textures.  Some of my cats’ favorites have been Swheat Scoop, World’s Best Cat Litter, Feline Pine Scoop and Cedarrific.  I had a cat who would use the litter box to urinate but would defecate on the bed if she had access to it for the entire year I’d had her.  I racked my brain.  Finally, I tried Feline Pine Scoop, which is a very soft litter.  She’s never had an accident since.

Good luck with him!

Jessica