New kittens - our first cats, any basic tips?

New kittens - our first cats, any basic tips?

Author
Discussion

Jimmyarm

1,962 posts

177 months

Thursday 1st October 2015
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Something people often forget with cats, get them used to meeting new people lots.

My brothers wife has a cat that wasn't really socialised much with other people when she was young and she is a proper bh if anyone but the sister in law goes near her.


Blakeatron

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

172 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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We have a small toilet problem, the first couple of days they both used the litter tray perfectly.

On thursday we found a wee on the floor in the lounge and on a sofa cushion, last night a poo behind the sofa and this morning a poo behind the sofa and behind the sideboard.
To make matters worse as soon as the poo was cleaned up she wee'd where it was!

It is definately her - any ideas what to do?

She does still go in the tray as she is sat in it now - so knows how to use it and where it is!

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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Would this be sign that they want to go out?

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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Have you got a big house? For both my then kittens I restricted their space so they get comfortable with a couple of rooms first.

Blakeatron

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

172 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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They can't go out as haven't had all their jabs yet and they have only been here for under a week!

House not massive and they are restricted to 3 rooms, to be honest they hardly leave the lounge.

singlecoil

33,313 posts

245 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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Will you be posting pictures of them on the cat tree you are going to make for them? I shall expect to see something quite stylish.

Well done for adopting them by the way.

Chris Type R

8,018 posts

248 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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Could it be they're competing for the litter box ? Another one might help.

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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Yes you should have one more tray than you have cats.

ali_kat

31,988 posts

220 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
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Yep, 2 cats = 3 litter trays, and you should remove 'leavings' at least daily

Blakeatron

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

172 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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Ok we will get another tray and try that!

Another poo behind the sofa this morning, and then we have left them all day (7.30-4.30) and both have used the tray and no suprises, very frustrating!

They are coming out more - he comes out but she is more playful


Edited by Blakeatron on Sunday 4th October 17:03

okgo

37,859 posts

197 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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Not sure I buy the multiple trays, we have one tray and two cats, always have. But you need to make sure IMO that its clean, we change litter daily.

The only time we had issues with them stting elsewhere was when they deemed the litter tray to be too 'used' so while another tray may help you could just try new litter more often

Edited by okgo on Sunday 4th October 17:21

lenats31

438 posts

172 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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Blakeatron said:
They can't go out as haven't had all their jabs yet and they have only been here for under a week!

House not massive and they are restricted to 3 rooms, to be honest they hardly leave the lounge.
The ideal time to introduce them to the outdoor life is around 8 months! Their orientation ability is not fully developed before that.

Neuter them and chip them too before you let them run out.

That´s my advice which I have gotten from vets and breeders where I am. No difference to cats in the UK.

lenats31

438 posts

172 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
Blakeatron said:
Ok we will get another tray and try that!

Another poo behind the sofa this morning, and then we have left them all day (7.30-4.30) and both have used the tray and no suprises, very frustrating!

They are coming out more - he comes out but she is more playful


Edited by Blakeatron on Sunday 4th October 17:03
You could try to change the litter too. Maybe they don´t like what you have for them in the litterboxes. It could also be stress-related. But try the other two things first and see if that helps. If not, then we are probably talking stress-related issues

Blakeatron

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

172 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
okgo said:
Not sure I buy the multiple trays, we have one tray and two cats, always have. But you need to make sure IMO that its clean, we change litter daily.

The only time we had issues with them stting elsewhere was when they deemed the litter tray to be too 'used' so while another tray may help you could just try new litter more often

Edited by okgo on Sunday 4th October 17:21
We clean the poos and pick out the big clumps of wee straight away, and have been changing it every other day.

Since being home I have played with them a bit and got them both to come up to me by slowly dragging their toy towards me.
Being satisfied with my effort I sat on the sofa, she jumped up next to me looked me right in the eyes and peed all over the sofa.
While cleaning this up she pood behind the sofa - ffs.

It's only me home so she can't be being scared by anyone else

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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lenats31 said:
The ideal time to introduce them to the outdoor life is around 8 months! Their orientation ability is not fully developed before that.
You propose that a cat be kept indoors for eight months?

Look, the OP is surrounded by a house of stting cats. Let them st outside for heaven's sake, they need to walk in grass and smell plants and dig in soil.

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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Simpo Two said:
You propose that a cat be kept indoors for eight months?

Look, the OP is surrounded by a house of stting cats. Let them st outside for heaven's sake, they need to walk in grass and smell plants and dig in soil.
My kittens were indoor only until they were neutered at about 1 year.

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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Thought a cat was effectively adult at six months?

Mobile Chicane

20,740 posts

211 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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okgo said:
Not sure I buy the multiple trays
Please no-one listen to this 'advice'.

Of course litter trays should be scrupulously clean, however in a multi-cat household at least as many trays as cats are required in order to avoid competition for resources.

okgo

37,859 posts

197 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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Never had an issue with one tray.


ali_kat

31,988 posts

220 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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okgo said:
Never had an issue with one tray.
YOU might not have

But the OP is having problems AND this is the advice from the professionals and anyone that's ever had cats based indoors