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Potty training!

Got a new, young, furry love in your life? This is the place for you to ask all of your questions - big or small! Just remember that you are receiving advice from other cat owners and lovers... not professionals. If you have a major problem, always seek the advice of a vet or behaviorist! Most important is to remember to have fun with your new fur baby.

  
Bonnie and- Clyde

1206331		 
 
Purred: Wed Sep 14, '11 3:23pm PST 
We adopted two litter mates, a boy and a girl, two weeks ago. When we brought the babies home, Clyde (boy) was perfectly happy and at home, we haven't had any problems with him, accept for his being rowdy and a spaz. Bonnie, on the other hand, was very skitish and scared when we brought her home.
We were having issues with Bonnie using her box(for #2 she seems to mostly do well with #1) so we secluded her in a single room for about a week so that she would acclumate to the house and her box. We started letting her out just around the up stairs of the house with complete access to her box, then we started letting her downstairs when we were with her. She was doing really well so we started letting her have the run of the house. She is like a regular kitten in every way except she isn't using her box 100% of the time. She will use it sometimes and not others. She was going in one specific area so I put a box where she was going but she seems to be going next to the box instead of inside.
Another thing that we have noticed is that she isn't going when there isn't someone home. We have seen no evidence of her going when we get home but as soon as one of us is home she will go on the floor.
We really want to have a happy clean home with both of our babies, but we don't know what to do.
Please help!
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Ralphie & Randy

1201140		 
 
Purred: Thu Sep 15, '11 6:28am PST 
Since she seems to know what the box is for and has no problem using it to pee, I wonder if the litter could be the problem? I understand that cats can be picky about their litter. If you're using a scented litter, it may be overwhelming for her when mixed with the scent of her own waste, making her avoid the box.

I've also read that some cats won't pee and poop in the same box - they need seperate boxes for each type of business.

There is a litter called Dr Elsey's Kitten Attract Litter that is supposed to encourage kittens to use their litter box. It's mixed with some kind of herb (catnip, maybe?) that is attractive to cats, but is not an artificial scent. I haven't tried it, but others have had success with it.

I would start by both getting a second box for her and trying a new type of litter, either an unscented kind or the Kitten Attract, and see how that works. Be sure to scoop or clean all of the boxes regularly, at least 2-3 times per day in my opinion, so she always has a clean place to go. Best of luck!
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