Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hi all!

I got 2 adorable little kittens but one is a real mischief maker. They are 11 weeks old and as soon as I got them home, I kept checking they were using the litter tray and they both were. I was really pleased cos they are soooo teeny but were still managing to hop in and out of the tray. Trouble is, lil Vinnie has decided to go behind the couch and poop. Not all the time, but 4 times in the past week! I can't really udnerstand his reason for doing this as he only does it sometimes. Most of the time he happily goes in the litter tray. We have been rewarding him more when he does go in the tray and I have put down tin foil behind the couch in the hope that the rustling and the feel of it will stop him going behind there. One idea I had was that maybe he is too excited about leaving the room when we are all in there - it's like he doesn't want to miss anything that might be going on!

Any ideas why he might be doing this, and how to break the habit?

Hi, Heather, this can be a difficult one! I've had numerous mucky kittens in my time (as well as incredibly well behaved ones) but in the end (with one exception who was just plain awkward) they did get there...to the tray I mean lol.

In my experience there can be one or more basic causes:

The tray is too far away and the kitten forgets
The tray isn't private enough (hooded trays are a boon)
The kitten has an accident and thereafter thinks its ok to use that spot because he's marked it
The kitten dislikes sharing a tray with another cat
Nervousness - kitten loses control because it's not used to its surroundings yet
Some kittens can just be lazy!

My youngest cat objects to a tray if it has only ONE WEE in it - even if it's her own. And Madam insists on deep litter, fresh out of the packet. Awkward little git!

I've tried all kinds of things, from putting down tinfoil and orange peel, to a Feliway plug-in, but the one thing that's worked for me in every case is to watch the kitten like a hawk, and head it off before it manages to do the dirty. I learned this from a Siamese who trained her kittens just that way. If she thought a kit needed to go, she would pick it up and dump it in the tray. The kitten would oblige. Or she'd even go and scratch in the tray and call her brood for a tutorial!

It does rather sound as you say, that Vinnie's enjoying himself too much in the room with you to bother to go and use his tray. Is there any way he could have a tray in that room, even temporarily (though they do get used to having a tray in the same place.) Also, it sounds as if he sees the space behind the sofa as his own dark private nook (or bog.) Is there any way this could be blocked off for a while?

You may observe certain behaviour on his part indicating that he needs to go - some cats mew loudly for instance. This is useful. And yes, I do agree, when they do use their tray, extravagant praise!

When I'm tray training a reluctant kitten/cat it can get a bit tedious, following it about and supervising it, and the house may start to look very odd, with dark corners packed with bubble wrap or cardboard boxes, but it has worked for me.

Other people may have better ideas though - but hope this helps for now - good luck

Thanks for all the great tips!

The problem we have with our couch is that is on raised feet so blocking it off fromt he sides, kittens can still crawl underneath - little rascals! I have put tin foil down underneath the couch so as soon as I hear it rustling I am pulling the couch out and grabbing the boys before they squat! This has proved quite effective...although not ideal! Haha!

Still lots of praise after they have gone in their box. They are working their way through a family packet of gammon!!!

We are 4 days poo free at the moment, long may it continue!

Quick alert - the gammon is too salty for them, particularly when they're so young, and may cause kidney damage! Tiny bits as an occasional treat maybe, but please, don't let them eat any more, however much they seem to like it. It really isn't good for them. Same with bacon. Even ham should only be given in very small quantities as a treat only.

Re the litter problems, make sure you're keeping their tray clean, and ideally provide two, as many cats don't like toileting in a soiled tray. You could also try putting a food bowl behind the sofa, as many cats won't toilet near food, for obvious reasons. Meanwhile, you could at least try putting a litter tray there so that he gets the message to toilet in a tray, not on the floor, then gradually move it back to where the main trays are.

But NO MORE GAMMON!

Hi Heather, congrats, sounds like you're getting there - hope the bad lads behave themselves for you in future

I had one kitten who would NOT be trained - she'd make a mess in her tray but, though neutered, she'd spray like a tom. She was naughty from the start - her first nickname was 'Cookie' - short for 'Cooking Fat' lol and she was always a very forceful character and had plenty of space and freedom but neither psychology or training changed her ways...her second nickname was 'The Leopard' and very apt...in 15 years the Leopard never changed her spots...