[lilsparrow]

We have kittens!! Right now they are in a low box with a blankiet and their mommy in my bedroom closet. My question is, what about the pee and poop. When do I encourage them to use the litter box and how do I do it? I was thinking a low sided pan, like a foil baking pan ... But do I just put it in there with them? Will the mommy cat show them what to do. I want to make sure they are litter trained, because we already have homes for them and I want to make sure they are housebroken. Any suggestions?

 

[simple life]

How old are they? The mom takes care of the pee and poop for several weeks. Around 2 to 3 weeks, they will start wondering more. At that point I make sure there is a low litter box they can get into, a small bowl of water and also food. I would put the little box right by the box they are sleeping in. Cats just kind of know how to use a box. If you see one going somewhere else, just put them in the box, they really do catch on quickly. You really don't have to train a cat to use the litter box. I will say, just from having seen about 5 litters of kittens in my life, that 8 weeks is a little early for take them away from mom. I would try to wait ever until about 10, 12 seems a little better and more of a natural breaking point. Good luck.

Julie

 

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

: I found that even with an outside feral mama the kittens will gravitate to a box and so will mom even though she never laid eyes on one in her life up till then.

 

[NewDirections]

Mom takes care of the pee and poop for the first few weeks. Once they start eating cat food, they can use the litter box. Put the litter on something flat, like a cookie sheet, so they don't have to climb over the sides of the box.

Congrats on the kittens.

Do you have any pics?

 

[lilsparrow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple life How old are they? The mom takes care of the pee and poop for several weeks. Around 2 to 3 weeks, they will start wondering more. At that point I make sure there is a low litter box they can get into, a small bowl of water and also food. I would put the little box right by the box they are sleeping in. Cats just kind of know how to use a box. If you see one going somewhere else, just put them in the box, they really do catch on quickly. You really don't have to train a cat to use the litter box. I will say, just from having seen about 5 litters of kittens in my life, that 8 weeks is a little early for take them away from mom. I would try to wait ever until about 10, 12 seems a little better and more of a natural breaking point. Good luck. Julie

Thanks Julie.They just opened their eyes a couple of days ago, They're a little less than two weeks old. I'll just put the litter pan out in a couple of weeks or so ... and let nature take it's course hopefully.
I hear what you are saying about waiting till 10 to 12 weeks. I think that is a really good idea. They still seem so little (vulnerable) at 8 weeks.

 

[lilsparrow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X : I found that even with an outside feral mama the kittens will gravitate to a box and so will mom even though she never laid eyes on one in her life up till then.

Should be easy then ... finally, something easy. YEAH!!

:

 

[lilsparrow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TatianaTiger Mom takes care of the pee and poop for the first few weeks. Once they start eating cat food, they can use the litter box. Put the litter on something flat, like a cookie sheet, so they don't have to climb over the sides of the box. Congrats on the kittens. Do you have any pics?

I bought one of those low sided foil pans in the cooking aisle. Do you think the sides need to be so low as a cookie sheet? I am envisioning litter kicked everywhere.

Thanks for the congrats ... They are really cute. It is bittersweet that she only had three, we were hoping for a houseful of frolicky kittens, but it is easier to find home for three than ten.

I DO have some pics. I need to find my camera cord so I can download them, then I'll post em.

 

[phatchristy]

When I had litters the kittens just started using the litter spontaneously, watched mom, and their instincts! However, personally I would suggest not using clumping litter with kittens though. Many breeders have learned it the hard way unfortunately and have lost kittens to clumping litters (both to sufforcation and intestinal blockage).

 

[lilsparrow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatchristy When I had litters the kittens just started using the litter spontaneously, watched mom, and their instincts! However, personally I would suggest not using clumping litter with kittens though. Many breeders have learned it the hard way unfortunately and have lost kittens to clumping litters (both to sufforcation and intestinal blockage).

OMG!! Thanks for telling me that. I would have just used the clumping litter I use for the mom. I am so glad I know this now. That would have been horrible!!

 

[trauerweidchen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatchristy When I had litters the kittens just started using the litter spontaneously, watched mom, and their instincts! However, personally I would suggest not using clumping litter with kittens though. Many breeders have learned it the hard way unfortunately and have lost kittens to clumping litters (both to sufforcation and intestinal blockage).

Agreed on the clumping litter; I worked at an animal shelter and the biggest problem we had with clumping cat litter and kittens was that they'd play in their water dish, then in the litter, and it would take 15 minutes to get their feet clean. But these kittens were more like 8-10 weeks old usually; I'd believe it that younger kittens could ingest it and die.