The subject: 6 week old male Siamese kitten - abandoned by Mama at 3 weeks old, adopted by surrogate Mama almost immediately. Had 1 littermate who had to be euthanised (poo & pee hole was one and the same). I do not have this kitten in my home, it is residing with the foster ome until I can pick him up (13 hour drive). The foster home has one large dog (gentle with cats), 2 adult humans, 1 adult male cat (good tempered, easy-going), 1 adult female (not so much).
Issues: Poops beside the litterbox, or under the desk on the carpet, pees anywhere in the house. Constantly making noise, unless he is eating. Not exactly a "pain nise", more of an attention-getting fevered screech.
Diet: canned food only. Was eating kitten milk, but because of runny poo, she stopped the milk. Had a few kibbles last week, but I am firmly against kibble, so she stopped feeding it to him, canned only. (I think Friskies or some garbage like that is what he is eating ow. We figured that since the foster home is in such a remote location and unable to acquire good brand of canned food, he'd be ok for a coule weeks until he gets here, where our cats have a 95% meat diet, including raw)
Routine: Foster parents work on shifts and are gone for 9 hours a day. During work time, kitten was free roaming the house but due to litterbox aversion, he has been locked in the bathroom alone with a ltterbox, food & water, toys for the duration of work hours. Not making any difference in litterbox habits, he still poops on the bath rug or whatever else is handy, rather than the box. As soon as they get home & let him out, he runs to the living room and poops or pees on the carpet there. No signs of another pet bullying the kitten. He seems to have abandonement issues. He is simply not GETTING how to use litterbox.
I have recommended that the foster mom take the kitten to the vet & have him checked AGAIN to rule out any medical issues, even though he was given a clean bill of health only 2 weeks ago. I have also recommended the foster Mom try every possible litterbox training technique I have ever heard of to encourage the kitten to use the box & establish good habits, but nothing is working.
This kitten is supposed to be in exchange for services I am providing the rescue group, but if he has medical issues that will require hefty vet bills, or even, recomended euthanasia, we don't want him.
What are your tips/advice for litterbox training a kitten who has already established bad habits?
What are your concerns/theories regarding the screeching?
What are your suggestions for the noise?
Thank you very much in advance.
I understand that the kitten should be checked/examined/tested by a DVM to rule out any medical problems, and that nobody here claims to be a vet, but you all have experience with cats & alot of you seem really understanding of cat behaviour, so I am hoping for any suggestions/advice while we wait for the vet appointment.
Issues: Poops beside the litterbox, or under the desk on the carpet, pees anywhere in the house. Constantly making noise, unless he is eating. Not exactly a "pain nise", more of an attention-getting fevered screech.
Diet: canned food only. Was eating kitten milk, but because of runny poo, she stopped the milk. Had a few kibbles last week, but I am firmly against kibble, so she stopped feeding it to him, canned only. (I think Friskies or some garbage like that is what he is eating ow. We figured that since the foster home is in such a remote location and unable to acquire good brand of canned food, he'd be ok for a coule weeks until he gets here, where our cats have a 95% meat diet, including raw)
Routine: Foster parents work on shifts and are gone for 9 hours a day. During work time, kitten was free roaming the house but due to litterbox aversion, he has been locked in the bathroom alone with a ltterbox, food & water, toys for the duration of work hours. Not making any difference in litterbox habits, he still poops on the bath rug or whatever else is handy, rather than the box. As soon as they get home & let him out, he runs to the living room and poops or pees on the carpet there. No signs of another pet bullying the kitten. He seems to have abandonement issues. He is simply not GETTING how to use litterbox.
I have recommended that the foster mom take the kitten to the vet & have him checked AGAIN to rule out any medical issues, even though he was given a clean bill of health only 2 weeks ago. I have also recommended the foster Mom try every possible litterbox training technique I have ever heard of to encourage the kitten to use the box & establish good habits, but nothing is working.
This kitten is supposed to be in exchange for services I am providing the rescue group, but if he has medical issues that will require hefty vet bills, or even, recomended euthanasia, we don't want him.
What are your tips/advice for litterbox training a kitten who has already established bad habits?
What are your concerns/theories regarding the screeching?
What are your suggestions for the noise?
Thank you very much in advance.
I understand that the kitten should be checked/examined/tested by a DVM to rule out any medical problems, and that nobody here claims to be a vet, but you all have experience with cats & alot of you seem really understanding of cat behaviour, so I am hoping for any suggestions/advice while we wait for the vet appointment.