Kitten advice anyone?

[LoveMyCali]

I took in a kitten about 8-weeks old nearly two weeks ago and while she is impossibly cute, she has the nasty habit of laying in the litter box. Any suggestions on how to get her to stop doing this without discouraging her from using the box for it's intended purpose?




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[MFM008]

1. hmmm

they are feeling insecure..

Mine does it even now. You could sprinkle some cat litter freashner in there, cats are super sensitive to odors, maybe provide some sort or something else to lay on close by like a scrath house or perch or something. Do you watch My Cat From Hell? He had something like this on it

[LoveMyCali]

4. She seems fearless for such a tiny thing

but I'm sue you're right, with everything she's been through sh must be feeling a bit insecure. She was dropped off on the porch of a friend of mine along with her mother and 2 other kittens. My friend had them all checked out by a vet but she already has 8 cats and 3 dogs so she looked for homes for them all. Then she came to my house and I have a cat who is about 15 months old or so who really wasn't thrilled she was here. It's been 2 weeks since she moved in with us and I just saw the older cat grooming her so maybe things will settle down soon.

[Freddie]

2. My cat Riley

Rolls in the freshly changed litter box; he's the 2nd cat I've had to do that.
Was your kitten caged before you got her? I've seen kittens in cages sleep in their litter boxes because there's nowhere else to sleep.
I'm sure this is something she'll outgrow as she finds better places to sleep, like with you.

[LoveMyCali]

5. She may have been

kept in a dog kennel for awhile when she was first found. Someone dropped her off at my friends house and since they already have many animals in their hoiuse I think they kept her in a dog kennel at first.

She does sleep with me, as a matter of fact I'm having a tough time typing right now because she keeps tryning to lay on my chest and snuggle in under my chin.

[goodword]

3. What a cutie!!

Bless you for taking in this little orphan.

I'm assuming you've already given her snuggly places to sleep and she's just preferring the litter box, and that she's healthy and has no physical illnesses.

Couple things could be behind this. The litter might feel cool to her - as in body temperature wise. Kind of like dogs lying in the dirt when it's hot outside. Or she's getting some sense of comfort from the box.

Have you tried giving her a cardboard box with a hole cut in it so she can go in and out. Even one flipped on its bottom with the lid open might intice her to choose it over sitting in litter. Another idea is to put the litter box in a room where you can close the door away from her. Take her to the box every few hours and after meals, let her do her business and then immediately remove her. Like housebreaking a dog. In a few days she should realize exactly what the box is for and you can try opening it up to her to use when she wants.

It sounds like a "baby" behavior that she will probably outgrow, especially when she gets bigger than litter box.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[LoveMyCali]

6. She is healthy

just really tiny. The vet was impressed with how well the mother cat took care of her kittens, there were no fleas, mites and they were very clean.

I can't really close off the litter box because I have another cat also but the cardboard box sounds like a good idea. It's worth a try.

Thank you!

[ginnyinWI]

7. Kitty might want a bed to call her own

After all, she knows that her littler box is her own...

My cats absolutely LOVE these beds: http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Kitty-Fashion-Splash-Watts/dp/B00403MXBM/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1345831051&sr=1-3&keywords=heated+cat+bed

It plugs in and uses just 4 watts to keep itself at 104 degrees--cat body temperature. My short haired tabby sleeps in hers day and night. It's cozy, and she knows it is her space.

Well worth the money spent! You can even wash them: the heating element zips out and you just toss into the washer. Air dry.

[HeiressofBickworth]

8. This could be territorial

Do each of your cats have their own litter box? Some kitties don't like to share. Your little one could be staking out territory. I've read that you should have one more litter box than you have cats. We have 4 cats and 4 litter boxes.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. With two cats in the house,

you should have three litter boxes. It is possible that your kitty is being territorial of that litter box. I have a feeling that this will stop at some point....it has not been very long since this kitty came into your house and it might take time to get used to being there and away from mom and siblings. I don't think it is anything to worry about. Just tolerate it. Cats will be cats, you know.

[applegrove]

10. Maybe she likes the sensation of having kitty litter on either side of her, as if she

was sleeping beside her brothers and sisters. I could be as simple as that. My cat is 7 years old and sometime I find her asleep between two boots, as if she is still in a litter of kittens, all in a row, nursing their mother. Is kitty litter warm too like her brothers and sisters would be? Just a guess.

[japple]

11. I would give her a small litter box of her own.

Also, I would make a soft little nest box for her since she's so small. Maybe something fleecy. I'm currently using a old pair of fleece pajama pants for 2 little foster kittens to sleep on.

[LoveMyCali]

12. So far

her favorite place to lay seems to be on top of the couch pillows and it's worse than having a baby in the house. She doesn't sleep! I haven't slept in days. I will try putting something fleecy, maybe some old flannel pajama pants of mine in a box for her.

Here she is on top of "her" pillow.

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