Hello Everyone,
I am having a bit of an issue with one of the two kittens I adopted this past saturday (4 days ago). One of them only sometimes uses the litter box and he will not drink water on his own. He does eat on his own (wet food only).
So, I want to give the full story first. Sorry for the long post!!
I adopted two kittens from a shelter, one is about 5-6 weeks old and the other slightly older, probably more like 7-8 weeks. Both are still very young and from different litters.
The youger one, 'munchkin', is much smaller and more calm personality wise. Hes adorable and loves to just snuggle on my lap with occasional bursts of energy where he chases the older one, 'fluffington', around the living room. Fluffington has MUCH more energy and is a little crazy kitty. He is also more agressive and initiates play fighting and chasing much more. They both love to play with their toy rats and hang out on the cat tree or play with eachother in the cat tunnel. Munchkin can get a little annoyed at fluffington for the constant 'kitty attacks' and tries to hide from him but sometimes he starts it and chases fluffington, so I dont feel like he is nervous or anything (the first day he was though, as expected when they got used to the new environment). They also sometimes nap in a ball together.
Fluffington (the older one) drinks water during the day and eats dry food when he is hungry and the wet canned food I leave for him twice a day with no problem. Munchkin does not eat the dry food at all nor does he drink from the water dish. I know he knows how to because he did once for me when I enticed him by mixing a teeny bit of baby food in it to give flavor. He only took a few sips though. To get water into him I need to either mix with a little baby food and put in a syringe with water and he drinks no problem from the syringe, or I need to mix water in with his canned food. I worry about him being dehydrated during the day. Any suggetsions? Is it just because he is little? How much water do you guys think he needs? I may be overthinking this but I worry..
Now, for the litter issue. I have a litter box in the living room where they stay. Fluffington uses it no problem, not one accident. Munchkin however, uses the box sometimes but sometimes decides to use the couch or blankets on the couch or blankets in the cat carrier. The first day, I realized he was scared of the litter box because it was not like the one at the shelter. So, I bought a new one with unscented litter and it worked-- he used the box. But, then the second time he peed on my blanket. I cleaned my blanket and kept an eye on him for the next few hours, reminding him where the box was by putting him near it and scratching at it after he drank-- he went in it again. But the next day he had an accident on the couch cushion. For the past few days, it goes on like this. Sometime he uses the box, sometimes he uses a blanket or blanket on the couch.
I have read all sorts of tips and tricks on this and I cleaned the couch THOROUGHLY with 'woolite pet urine remover'.. I even removed the cushion he first peed on from the room and all the blankets have been washed, so I can't see it being the scent. He knows where the litter box is and the room isn't too big so I dont think it is that he would'nt "make it" to the box. How can I help him to stop this? So far I would say its been about half accidents and half liter box use. I want to give them the run of the rest of my apartment (one bedroom, not too big) but I am scared to until he is totally potty trained. Any suggestions?? I am at a loss at what to do! I even tried buying a play pen and leaving him locked in the playpen in the livingroom with the litter, towel, a few toys at times in the day when I couldn't activly watch him or when I know he just drank/ate and will need to use the litter. THis worked, he did only use the box, but he cried the entire time being in there to come out. Meanwhile, fluffington I had in the other room and he cried for munchkin too!
Any tips please. I would really appreciate it.
I am having a bit of an issue with one of the two kittens I adopted this past saturday (4 days ago). One of them only sometimes uses the litter box and he will not drink water on his own. He does eat on his own (wet food only).
So, I want to give the full story first. Sorry for the long post!!
I adopted two kittens from a shelter, one is about 5-6 weeks old and the other slightly older, probably more like 7-8 weeks. Both are still very young and from different litters.
The youger one, 'munchkin', is much smaller and more calm personality wise. Hes adorable and loves to just snuggle on my lap with occasional bursts of energy where he chases the older one, 'fluffington', around the living room. Fluffington has MUCH more energy and is a little crazy kitty. He is also more agressive and initiates play fighting and chasing much more. They both love to play with their toy rats and hang out on the cat tree or play with eachother in the cat tunnel. Munchkin can get a little annoyed at fluffington for the constant 'kitty attacks' and tries to hide from him but sometimes he starts it and chases fluffington, so I dont feel like he is nervous or anything (the first day he was though, as expected when they got used to the new environment). They also sometimes nap in a ball together.
Fluffington (the older one) drinks water during the day and eats dry food when he is hungry and the wet canned food I leave for him twice a day with no problem. Munchkin does not eat the dry food at all nor does he drink from the water dish. I know he knows how to because he did once for me when I enticed him by mixing a teeny bit of baby food in it to give flavor. He only took a few sips though. To get water into him I need to either mix with a little baby food and put in a syringe with water and he drinks no problem from the syringe, or I need to mix water in with his canned food. I worry about him being dehydrated during the day. Any suggetsions? Is it just because he is little? How much water do you guys think he needs? I may be overthinking this but I worry..
Now, for the litter issue. I have a litter box in the living room where they stay. Fluffington uses it no problem, not one accident. Munchkin however, uses the box sometimes but sometimes decides to use the couch or blankets on the couch or blankets in the cat carrier. The first day, I realized he was scared of the litter box because it was not like the one at the shelter. So, I bought a new one with unscented litter and it worked-- he used the box. But, then the second time he peed on my blanket. I cleaned my blanket and kept an eye on him for the next few hours, reminding him where the box was by putting him near it and scratching at it after he drank-- he went in it again. But the next day he had an accident on the couch cushion. For the past few days, it goes on like this. Sometime he uses the box, sometimes he uses a blanket or blanket on the couch.
I have read all sorts of tips and tricks on this and I cleaned the couch THOROUGHLY with 'woolite pet urine remover'.. I even removed the cushion he first peed on from the room and all the blankets have been washed, so I can't see it being the scent. He knows where the litter box is and the room isn't too big so I dont think it is that he would'nt "make it" to the box. How can I help him to stop this? So far I would say its been about half accidents and half liter box use. I want to give them the run of the rest of my apartment (one bedroom, not too big) but I am scared to until he is totally potty trained. Any suggestions?? I am at a loss at what to do! I even tried buying a play pen and leaving him locked in the playpen in the livingroom with the litter, towel, a few toys at times in the day when I couldn't activly watch him or when I know he just drank/ate and will need to use the litter. THis worked, he did only use the box, but he cried the entire time being in there to come out. Meanwhile, fluffington I had in the other room and he cried for munchkin too!
Any tips please. I would really appreciate it.
