Ophelia(help Me With This Cotton Ball!)

Opi-the-furry-conductor

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Okay I know little Ophelia is still young so I'm not condemning her. She is about oh maybe a month in half now. I started litter training her the minute I got her. I know she's still a baby so I always keep an eye on her to see if she needs to go. I also encourage her to go as soon as she wakes up and after oh every 4 hours or so. I've even seen her go to litter box even without me coaxing her. I always keep the litter box clean and I have a separate box for Opi cause I know you have to have one for each cat. Her litter box is the right size for her and everything not scented litter either it's plain. Some days I have no problem with her at all and she goes potty all by herself and I may have to catch her maybe once. Then just some days she refuses to use the litter box and I can't understand why o_O. Even when it's right in front of her she will just go on something like my shoe,backpack,shirt,book or one time my hubby was working on a computer he left it unplugged opened and she found it went in and did number 1. I can't understand why she's giving me such a hard time. It's almost always my stuff to that she goes on <.< is this little cotton ball trying to tell me something? I've rescued kittens before and litter trained them all and never had this problem. I even had to bottle feed one and had no problem with litter training. I don't have a whole lot of experience in this stuff I guess. She's a pet shop cat and she had a litter box in her cage when I was looking at her in the pet shop. Opi was a semi feral street cat and was about a month in half or so when we rescued him I never had this problem with him. She's my first pet shop cat and she's a moon faced Persian I've never had one of those so is this the problem? How do I keep her from ruining my stuff :( and doing her business in the right place?
 

Columbine

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She's still very young, and it takes some kittens longer than others for litter training to fully click. The breeder I went to had the kittens and momma cat in their own room, and had something like 6 or 7 big litterboxes all around the room (which was a small double bedroom in size). The idea is to make it almost impossible for the kitten to make a mistake, and also for them to be close enough to a box at all times so they don't get caught short. Young kittens aren't always very good at thinking ahead (just like small children), and if they're over excited or really focused on something (e.g. a game) they can not realise they need to go until it's almost too late.

I'd keep things off the floor as much as possible for now, and have lots of boxes/trays available for her. If you don't want to spend a lot, big foil roasting trays make great, cheap disposable litter trays for small kittens ;) If the floor is hard to clean, put puppy pee pads down whilst she's learning. They make clean-up a breeze :)

Try Dr Elsy's Kitten Attract too. I've not used it myself (I'm not even sure if it's available here), but i know other members here have had fantastic results with it :)

Good luck with her, and stay patient.
 

mservant

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Your question of whether this little kitten is trying to tell you something sounds spot on to me - even if it is as simple as she is confused about where it is OK to 'potty'. It could also be like maggie101 suggests, that she is trying to tell you she loves you, and wants to leave a scent on your things.
Having as many litter trays as you can and make sure everything else is tidied away is the first thing to do. (Mouse came from a home where there were 3 litter trays in one room and that was when he still had his cat mom showing him what to do!)
Also, think about whether there is any common thing about what she uses other than her litter tray, although from what you say above Im not sure there is. Sometimes cats prefer something soft and warm, others a flat hard surface and will scrape all the litter away from the base of a tray before they use it.
When she does use something other than a tray is Opis around? It is always possible she feels anxious even if another cat is watching her and a more private spot is required for her tray.
She is still very young and many kittens would still be learning from their mothers so remember this as you try to show her where it is OK for her to use. Good luck. :vibes:
 

ArchyCat

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See if you can find "Cat Attract". Supposed to work pretty well for litter box problems. Another poster has said the same company also makes a "Kitty Attract" litter.
 

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My question is are you keeping the litter to clean she doesn't go there because there is no sent to tell her it is okay to go there
 

maggie101

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I was just thinking the same thing. My litter boxes smell like litter boxes because I don't clean them every day. I do scoop every day
 

LadyTammy

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. Animals need sent markers to tell them where to go. That's why when I get calls about house braking a dog first thing I asked is where are you putting the mess that they leave you the answer I get is in the trash no No you take it outside where you want them to go and about a week later problem solved
 

tarasgirl06

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Okay I know little Ophelia is still young so I'm not condemning her. She is about oh maybe a month in half now. I started litter training her the minute I got her. I know she's still a baby so I always keep an eye on her to see if she needs to go. I also encourage her to go as soon as she wakes up and after oh every 4 hours or so. I've even seen her go to litter box even without me coaxing her. I always keep the litter box clean and I have a separate box for Opi cause I know you have to have one for each cat. Her litter box is the right size for her and everything not scented litter either it's plain. Some days I have no problem with her at all and she goes potty all by herself and I may have to catch her maybe once. Then just some days she refuses to use the litter box and I can't understand why o_O. Even when it's right in front of her she will just go on something like my shoe,backpack,shirt,book or one time my hubby was working on a computer he left it unplugged opened and she found it went in and did number 1. I can't understand why she's giving me such a hard time. It's almost always my stuff to that she goes on <.< is this little cotton ball trying to tell me something? I've rescued kittens before and litter trained them all and never had this problem. I even had to bottle feed one and had no problem with litter training. I don't have a whole lot of experience in this stuff I guess. She's a pet shop cat and she had a litter box in her cage when I was looking at her in the pet shop. Opi was a semi feral street cat and was about a month in half or so when we rescued him I never had this problem with him. She's my first pet shop cat and she's a moon faced Persian I've never had one of those so is this the problem? How do I keep her from ruining my stuff :( and doing her business in the right place?
Cats never act out of "spite" -- that's the first thing to remember. Yes, she may be scent-marking to tell you she wants you for her own, but I think based upon her age and the fact she started out in a "pet" shop, that she may have been separated from her mom too early. Mother cats are scrupulous at teaching their babies about hygiene, in most cases, because cats in the wild need to know this to survive. Your kitten may not have been fully trained; love, patience, and consistency are key in teaching her where it is appropriate to "go". Other posters have given excellent suggestions to try; just always remember that she is not doing this to spite you!
 

maggie101

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The kittens I was taking care of on my porch used my flower pots as litter. Did they learn on their own to go in my pots or from watching their mom go under a tree and sorta cover it? I found a tiny 5 week kitten in a hole. She automatically knew how to use the litter box. Why use puppy pads if cats like to mark the spot by scent? They will keep going on the puppy pads. Too many questions.
 

Columbine

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Puppy pads don't encourage cats to pee on them at all (and I've had them down a lot in the past for various reasons, so this has been well tested here ;) ). They just protect the floor and make clean-up much easier if kitty does go outside of the box :) (you remove soiled pads as soon as you find them, and replace with clean ones).
 

maggie101

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Just curious. My mat is rubber by pet fusionson so it's easy to clean. Odd that she doesn't like the non stick litter box so she goes over it. My other cats use it
 
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Opi-the-furry-conductor

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She's still very young, and it takes some kittens longer than others for litter training to fully click. The breeder I went to had the kittens and momma cat in their own room, and had something like 6 or 7 big litterboxes all around the room (which was a small double bedroom in size). The idea is to make it almost impossible for the kitten to make a mistake, and also for them to be close enough to a box at all times so they don't get caught short. Young kittens aren't always very good at thinking ahead (just like small children), and if they're over excited or really focused on something (e.g. a game) they can not realise they need to go until it's almost too late.

I'd keep things off the floor as much as possible for now, and have lots of boxes/trays available for her. If you don't want to spend a lot, big foil roasting trays make great, cheap disposable litter trays for small kittens ;) If the floor is hard to clean, put puppy pee pads down whilst she's learning. They make clean-up a breeze :)

Try Dr Elsy's Kitten Attract too. I've not used it myself (I'm not even sure if it's available here), but i know other members here have had fantastic results with it :)

Good luck with her, and stay patient.
Well I tried the multiple tray thing but my other cat Opi decided if it's ok for her then it's okay for me. Imagine a 6 month old kitten using the potty in a tiny tray that's 3 times smaller then him. So I had to just get one designated area for her because I don't want Opi thinking it's okay to go in these places and get use to it then when I take the pan away he'll think it's still okay to go there. That's happened before with him. So I don't want to confuse Opi. Thanks for the idea though.
 
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Opi-the-furry-conductor

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Your question of whether this little kitten is trying to tell you something sounds spot on to me - even if it is as simple as she is confused about where it is OK to 'potty'. It could also be like maggie101 suggests, that she is trying to tell you she loves you, and wants to leave a scent on your things.
Having as many litter trays as you can and make sure everything else is tidied away is the first thing to do. (Mouse came from a home where there were 3 litter trays in one room and that was when he still had his cat mom showing him what to do!)
Also, think about whether there is any common thing about what she uses other than her litter tray, although from what you say above Im not sure there is. Sometimes cats prefer something soft and warm, others a flat hard surface and will scrape all the litter away from the base of a tray before they use it.
When she does use something other than a tray is Opis around? It is always possible she feels anxious even if another cat is watching her and a more private spot is required for her tray.
She is still very young and many kittens would still be learning from their mothers so remember this as you try to show her where it is OK for her to use. Good luck. :vibes:
Opi is sometimes around he's adopted her pretty much lol. Saturday I saw him carrying her around in his mouth lol xD was so hilarious and cute my husband saw it to we bursted out laughing. He's 6 months now so he pretty big compared to her. Anyway I always keep an eye on him when he's around when she's using the potty. I make sure he doesn't get close to make her nervous. She never has an issue when he's around when she's going potty. Actually now that I think about it she always has no problem when he's there but when he's not there she's doesn't want to go in her potty until she has sight of him. Thanks for that info I think this might help.
 
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Opi-the-furry-conductor

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See if you can find "Cat Attract". Supposed to work pretty well for litter box problems. Another poster has said the same company also makes a "Kitty Attract" litter.
Thanks for the info but my country doesn't have this and I'm unable to buy it online abroad taxes cost an arm and a leg here. But thank you anyway.
 
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Opi-the-furry-conductor

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My question is are you keeping the litter to clean she doesn't go there because there is no sent to tell her it is okay to go there
Hmmm yes I do keep it very clean but never wash it with soap or anything just rinse it very well with water cause I know scent is important. Perhaps it's is still to clean for her. Thanks for that info
 
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Opi-the-furry-conductor

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Cats never act out of "spite" -- that's the first thing to remember. Yes, she may be scent-marking to tell you she wants you for her own, but I think based upon her age and the fact she started out in a "pet" shop, that she may have been separated from her mom too early. Mother cats are scrupulous at teaching their babies about hygiene, in most cases, because cats in the wild need to know this to survive. Your kitten may not have been fully trained; love, patience, and consistency are key in teaching her where it is appropriate to "go". Other posters have given excellent suggestions to try; just always remember that she is not doing this to spite you!
Yes I know they don't act out of spite that I think she's trying to tell me something <-< was only meant to make you guys laugh mostly. There was truth in it though I thought perhaps she was trying to tell me something but not in a mean way. I know this adorable little cotton ball doesn't act out of spite. Thanks for letting me know though. She gets lots of love and patience. Yes she was to young when I took her to the vet when we first got her I was told she was only 1 month
 
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