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By
Nancy Wigal
There are
several things you need to do to help the mama cat train her kitties
to develop good cat litter box habits. While the kids may try to
follow mom's example, here's how you can help cement that success.
First, since kittens are so physically small and they're still
developing coordination and agility, it's critical that you, the
human mom, make sure they can easily get in and out of any cat
litter box. The easiest way to do this is buy disposable aluminium
roaster pans from your grocery store. Kittens grow as fast as weeds
in the summertime, so this is a temporary, but completely
justifiable purchase.
If your regular litter boxes are too tall for the babies to climb in
and out, they'll become discouraged and they'll select the easiest
spot (for them, at least) to eliminate waste. Once they get this
idea in their little heads, it could be hard to get out. So, don't
give them the excuse!
The type of litter you use for kittens can be dangerous. Since
kittens are so darn curious, they test everything with their mouths.
If they eat clumping litter, this could kill them. Use a
non-clumping litter for several weeks. It won't be any easier to
watch them taste test the non-clumping litter, but neither will it
be dangerous.
Depending upon the size of the litter, you'll need at least two, and
possibly several roasting pans. Since the babies all pretty much eat
at the same time, they'll feel the call of nature in a group as
well. You can ensure successful cat litter box habits by making
certain there are enough boxes to accommodate a group elimination
activity.
Young kitties don't have great control of their bladder and bowel
functions. Place all cat litter boxes in close proximity to their
living quarters. Keep the pans away from their food and water, but
don't place them out of the same room, if possible. The closer the
pans are, the better the chances are the babies will make it to the
box in time to let loose.
Also, make certain that mom is teaching the babies by the time they
are five weeks old. If mom seems to be falling down on the job, you
must step in during week five of their lives and start the training
process. Shortly after the little ones have fed, take them to the
litter pan, and place them in it. You may need to gently take a
front paw, and scratch for them. Fortunately, almost all cats
"get it" very quickly. Your coaching period should be
relatively short.
By working with mama cat, the two of you make sure the babies
develop good cat litter box habits for life.
About the Author: Nancy stopped the cat urine odour problem at her
home, and kept the kitty that caused it. "18 Ways to Stop Cat
Urine Odour Problems" saves you money, time and frustration by
solving your cat urine odour problem - permanently. http://www.stopcaturineodor.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice. |
