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Cats/Kitten litter training, help please

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Expert: - 12/28/2010


Question
Hello Norman,

I'm having trouble figuring out how to train this litter or 5 kittens how to use the litter box. I'm using the bottom of a shoe box which I cut the sides down enough so they can easily crawl over and get into it. However the little ones like to eat it. I bought a kitty litter that says its 99% natural ingredients but i had to take away the litter box because they keep eating the litter.
How do I get them to stop eating the litter? And how do I get them to go in the litter box?
The mothers litter box isnt near the kitten box and kittens litter box, should i move it near? Do they learn from watching their mother only?
Please help,
Thanks
Jackie

Answer
Jackie,

First of all, I would put the kitten box near mama's box and put some dirty litter from mama's box into the kitten's box so they know what it is for.

Also, for now, avoid using clumping litter as it can swell up in the kittens' throats if they eat it.

It is perfectly normal for little kittens to eat litter at the beginning, they usually get over that pretty quickly. If they smell mama's litter in their box, they should be less likely to eat the litter.

It usually takes kittens a little bit of time until they get the hang of using the litter pan. You just need some patience.  Often after they have eaten a meal, we put the kittens into their litter box, one at a time to help give them the idea.  It is natural for domestic cats to want to use "sand" to do their business, so they usually catch on reasonably quickly.  Although, there always seems to be one who stubbornly takes a little longer.

It is unclear whether or not they learn by watching mama. Orphaned kittens figure it out and they have no mama to learn from.

Please feel free to ask for any clarification of the above.

Seasonal 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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