How to litter train 24-day-old kittens when mama isn't teaching them?

Mother cats typically will clean their kittens and ingest their stool to keep the area clean, however it shouldn't cause GI upset. Hormonal changes, changes to diet, underlying illness, parasites, etc, however may cause GI upset or diarrhea, so if it continues, having your vet take a look in person is best to rule out causes and provide treatment that is safe for mom and babies. The mother cat should start to litter train the babies once they are old enough (usually around the time they start to try solid foods around 3-4 weeks of age), however as they get older, you can start bringing them to the litterbox as well to encourage them to use it.

Fortunately, most kittens figure out how to use a litter box consistently pretty early in life with minimal training. Since kittens typically prefer to eliminate on loose substrates, including litter, they are often quite happy to head straight to the litter box. When first introducing the litter box, begin by confining your kitten to a small room or to a large crate with a litter box when you are not interacting with them. After meals or playtime, place your kitten in the litter box, as they are likely to go at these times. Be sure that your litter box is fairly shallow, as tiny kittens may struggle to physically get into a litter box with high sides. Small treats can also be given as a reward each time a kitten successfully uses the litter box.

They can be introduced to the litter box anytime. The mom should be teaching them to use it. You need to make sure it is shallow enough that the kittens can easily get in/out of it. Because of this they will probably make a huge mess. Usually they will not eat the litter. If you find this to be a problem you can use shredded newspapers as litter until they are older.

It is possible that the kittens just need a little bit more time to figure out the litter box. Three weeks is still quite young and they may not fully understand what the litter boxes for. I would recommend enclosing both kittens in a small area with one to two litter boxes that are cleaned daily. In most situations kittens will figure this out relatively quickly. There is also a litter additive called Cat Attract that may be helpful in enticing Laila to use the litter box for pooping. I would also ensure that Laila is able to get in and out of the litter box provided with minimal difficulty. Using a litter box with low sides may be beneficial. If this continues to be a problem I would recommend consulting with your veterinarian as she may have an underlying medical condition such as parasites exacerbating this issue.

Cats are actually pretty easy. Provide a clean litter pan in a quiet, out-of-the-way area. When you get the cat home, place her directly in it so she knows where it is immediately. If she does have an accident somewhere in the house, don't punish her, but pick/wipe it up with a clean cloth or paper towel and put that in her litter box. The scent in the location you want her to use will help her make the connection. If you punish her she probably won't understand why she's being punished and this could make her eliminate inappropriately out of spite. Make sure the litter box stays clean and fresh and it will be more appealing to her to use.

Mother cats usually teach their kittens how to use a litter box by example. So, if she is using the kitten's litter box, she is likely trying to teach them to use it as well. I would not discourage her from using the box as it may cause her or the kittens to start having accidents in the house instead. If you are planning on having the kittens be outdoor cats like their mother, then making sure they are vaccinated and old enough to go outside first is best. They can then follow their mother and explore outside more to learn to do their business outside as well.

I recommend first to have the kittens examined by the vet to make sure they are healthy and free of infections or parasites. If they are healthy, I recommend to start littler box training. Here is a link which may help: https://www.petcoach.co/article/litter-box-training-for-your-kitten/ Similar to crate training a puppy, I recommend to keep the kittens in a small room with their litter box. They can come out for breaks while being supervised but otherwise, they should be in their room. This includes sleeping there since you are having trouble with them urinating on your bed. Also make sure you are using a large, uncovered litter box with a clay-based clumping litter that is easy for the kittens to climb into. The box should be scoped at least twice a day for right now. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.