Why Won't My Kitten Poo in Her Box????

We have an 18 year old cat that we have always had problems with until I made her a litter box of her own, in an area, by itself, and it doesn't have litter in it....it has a doggy pee pad in it. She use to get in the litter box and use the bathroom and then shake her feet like they were filthy. She would step out of the box and use the floor. Until I tried the doggy pee pads, I wanted to choke her. She is 18 years old now and still using her pee pads.

Hope this helps,

K.

Have you tried using a different kind of litter? You could also ask a veterinarian, or a pet store (such as PetSmart) employee for advice.
I am a long-time cat owner, and I've had lots of pet issues, but never this particular problem. Good luck!!!

i had this problem with a litter of kittens my kitty had a few years ago. i was never able to resolve the problem. I was told that the kittens had already started going somewhere else (behind the caddy corner entertainment system, with all the wires) so they smell it there and thats it. my mom says this can happen and you have to put her box where she usually goes and then move it little by little to where you want it to go. try out yahoo answers as well they always have good answers.

L.,
I have been raising 2 little kittens that we decided to keep since somone dropped then on our doorstep the day they were born. Since I havd to be mom cat I had to to A LOT of research. When they were old enough (about 4 weeks) I put them in the box right after they ate there meal or water. Then I would get them by there front paws and help them making a scratching motion in the litter. If they din't go I would wait a few and put them back in and do it again. Also be aware that 5-6 weeks is still very young and kittens/puppies should be at least 8 weeks until adoption. So your little kitty is still very you. Mine were fully trained by 7 weeks and are know about 3 months old. I also still keep a little box in the bathroom at one end of the house and the other regular one in the mud room for a little while. Keep the litter clean or she may be discourage from going in there. I initally left it there because when they were just learning if I left then I could lock them in there and minimize the area they could go in should they decide to go. This all sounds like a lot but hang in there.
B.

I breed cats so I go through the kitten stage very often. First- she was taken away from mom too soon, kittens need to be atleast 8 weeks old before leaving mom. If that is not possible (or too late in your case) then you have to train her to go and where. It isn't until 6-8 weeks old that our kittens are using the box. We use any when scoobable litter, it is alot smaller of a grain. You need to find a spot where you want the litter box and lock her in the area for 3 days. Only letting her out when you are playing with her or she is otherwise supervised. Then after 3 days she can come out all the time but take her to her litter box often but you need to try to be on her level as much as you can. You can also make a trail of treats to her litter box. It may take a few weeks for her to get it but remember that she is still a very small baby.

Also do not rub her nose in her poop, that is not only gross and unhealthy but also does not work. Would you rub your kids face in poop? She is too young to understand what she did wrong.

We had the same problem with one of our kittens. Someone reccomended using Dr Elsey's Kitten Attract litter. We tried it and it worked! He has not gone outside the litter box since we switched litter (and it's been about 6 months now). It is more expensive than other litters, but it absorbs odor really well, clumps nicely, and it is worth the extra expense to us! Hope this helps. Good luck!

P.

We had a kitten that did the same thing. We put ours in a crate with her litter box. We crate trained her just like we did our dogs. It only took about 2 days and she was litter box trained with no problems after that.

We were recently at Petsmart & I overheard a clerk telling a woman about a new cat liter called Cat Attract, that is designed to draw your cat to the cat box. It even comes with a brochure on how to deal with cats that don't use the box.

She was having an issue with her cat as well & he said while you have to change it out more often that standard liter, it should do the trick.

We also had a kitten who had been taken away from his mother too early--about 5 or 6 weeks old. Our vet's solution worked. We put him in a small room (a half bath where the litter box was located) with food and water, toys, etc, and didn't let him out until he realized what the box was for. Of course we went in to play with him but didn't let him out of the room. It only took one overnight before it worked, and he never again used anything but his box until he got diabetes at age 15. It seemed a little cruel at the time to confine him, but our vet suggested it was better to do that than have an ongoing problem.

I'm not sure, this is something the mother should have trained her. If your kitten was given to you too early, it may not have been trained yet. You could smudge her nose in it each time she poops and continue to throw her in the cat litter or lock her on a back porch w/a litter box to see if this helps. Please go to ask.com
type in litter training,kitten litter training, or something to that nature. I hope this helps, good luck! Hey, I personally hate cleaning a litter box, maybe each time you catch your kitten, rub her nose in it and put her outside, it will be great if she learns to go to the door when she wants outside to take care of her biz...

L.,
I am not sure what you have already tried, but try picking up the cat and the poo together as soon as it happens, and putting both in the litter box. I think it is best to try and catch her in the act, but that isn't always possible. Then hold her in the litter box and put her nose to the poo (not into the poo or in a bad or angry way- just so she knows its her poo and that it belongs in the box). You might even try raking her little paw through the litter, so she knows what she is supposed to do. You may have to do this a few times, but before long she should understand. Make sure the litter box is in a place where there isn't a lot of activity, you know, for a little kitty privacy. :)
Also, make sure you clean up the inappropriate areas where she has gone with a little vinegar and water. This should deter her from going there again and again.

When we first got a cat growing up we had to keep him in the bathroom where it was just tile flooring with his litter box. After a few accidents he finally got the idea that he was to go in the box. Once he was going in the box he was able to roam free about the house. Maybe try to find a room that is easily cleanable and keep her there until she knows to go in it. Cats usually find the litter box after that.

What kind of litter are you using? I find many don't like the clay litter. Try the clumping kind, kinder on the paws :)
Also, if the litter box is too tall for her, or has a cover, try taking that off. Sometimes they just have to be taught also. It is usually natural instinct for them to use the litter. Often times it is us humans that use the wrong litter, or box for them. Good luck,

Sounds like the kitten was taken away from her mother too young. Get a crate, a fairly good sized one that you can take her to the vet in once she is grown. Put a small litter pan in it, and keep her there except to play one on one with you. She will not want to stay near her litter, and will use the box.
A kitten is too fragile for a 15 mo old, and the poo is very dangerous for baby.

I once heard that if a cat won't stay in their box or won't go in their box it is bucause their box smells bad to them. Not stinky bad, just like chemicals. Their noses are very sensitive, and if you have cleaned the litter box with anything other than warm soapy water (mild soap), the residue may be hurting her if she tries to stay in there too long, like even more than a few seconds. I don't have any cats, but I saw that somewhere, can't remember where, it just stuck with me for some reason. Good luck!

I have tis same problem. My cat just pooped and peed on my coffee table. I have heard to use natures miracle to get the smell out and this is supposed to help with the poo problem, too. Good luck

Hi- I'm not an expert but we have a new kitten, too, and I had some luck with giving her a treat and a lot of petting and encouragement every time she went near the box. It was like a big party every time she actually used it properly. I also made sure that anywhere she had had an "accident" was thoroughly cleansed and odor free so that she would not return to it. I was advised not to punish her for voiding outside the box because this would just teach her not to void in front of me- however my kids (who are older) would spot the signs that she was about to go and would sometimes grab her from under the dining room table and run her to the box- then give her a treat if she did it there. This is a lot harder for you, with a curious and mobile fifteen month old- you're already busy without having to add litter box patrol to your duties! Good luck!

Cats "go" in the same place - they do this by a sense of smell. Your kitten "smells" her potty on the carpet - sofa etc. Get a good pet odor remover product or baking soda may work to try and remove the odor. Keep the kitten "contained" in the room with her litter box for a few days and only take her out to play and cuddle. She will get the idea that this is her potty and not your sofa. It is possible that she may have an infection (UTI or bladder) which makes her have to go anywhere and everywhere so a trip to the vet might be a good idea also. Good luck!

You have to show it what you want it to do. Pick up the poo with tissue and drop it in the litter box on top. Then place the kitten right by the poo. After sniffing a little the kitten should cover it and start going there. You may have to do it a few times for the kitten to get the picture. I dont know if they dont like the feel of liter on their feet or what the trouble is but if you watch a kitten come out of the box they are kicking their paws all the way. It does get stuck between their toes. Hope this helps.

My kitten did this also. YOu need to put the kitten in a small room with only food, water, litter box and bed. And leave the kitten there for a few days. You can go love on her, pet her, etc but don't let her out till she knows where her litter box is. Also if she does mess in the house, put the poo in the box also so she will associate it with the litter box. ( I think your kitten was taken away from Momma too soon they should be around 2-3 months old)

My only advice is that when I first got my kitten she would do the same thing. She actually would slide under a door that I kept closed to do it in the guest bedroom. At first I thought it was b/c she was stubborn and wanted in and didn't want doors closed. that was part of it, at least why she chose that room, but the vet said it was cochcydia (cocksidia is how to pronounce it)- not sure the correct spelling. A bacteria and meds cleared it up. You may want to take it to the vet to have it checked out. It cleared up very quickly. To the day though, she does not want ANY doors closed! ha ha

W.

L.,
You may want to really consider getting another kitten.
Paula

I would try a different litter. She might be paw sensitive. Maybe cat nip in her litter box. If not call the VET. Good luck.