How to litter train my scared new kitten pooping outside the box?

Hello, and congratulations on your kitten! My understanding of Cat Attract litter is you should not need to add any additional dirt or litter. You can definitely try putting her poop in there, so that she can learn where it is supposed to go. I would also make sure that the litter box is in a quiet area of the house, scoop it out daily, and try to add a second litter box in another area of the house (if there is space). You can also try out a different litter type for the other litter box, in case she really doesn't like the clay-based Cat Attract litter. I would also look into a product called Feliway, which you can place in the main room (where you do not want her to pee). It is a natural feline pheromone designed to mimic the natural marking glands of a cat, thereby reducing their desire to pee/mark their territory in other areas of the house. I'd also make sure to wash any pee'd on areas with an enzymatic cleaner to erase any urine smells which would make her want to go back and pee there again. I hope this helps! This is an exciting but challenging time. I hope Scruff eventually adjusts to the indoor life!

Provide a litterbox or two for them. Use litterbox attractants to get them to investigate the box. If they go elsewhere, you can use a tissue to soak up the urine or pick up the stool and place them in the litterbox. Monitor the kittens for cues they are going to go. This can include circling, pacing, lifting the tail or sniffing about. Place them in the box immediately. Be patient and be consistent. Use an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle to thoroughly clean soiled areas.

I love that you have already switched to the unscented litter as that can be a big problem for many cats. Putting the litter box in the shower is a great idea. I would also make sure to clean up the spots he went outside the litterbox using an enzymatic pet stain cleaner to ensure he does not keep smelling urine/feces there and think that it is akin to a litterbox. Other things, like cleaning the litter box often, having multiple litterboxes which are different types of boxes, and trying different types of litter (such as fine-grain litter) may also help you figure out what type of litter Mittens likes. While it certainly sounds like Mittens is having trouble getting used to his new litterbox, it is important to remember that internal diseases (like organ, hormonal, or orthopedic diseases, among other possible causes) can cause Mittens to have a hard time making it into the litterbox so it is important to take Mittens to your vet for evaluation to make sure we are not missing something else that is making it hard for Mittens to make it to the litterbox. I have attached a link to an article with more great suggestions below. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-train-your-cat-to-use-a-litter-box/

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.

This can be a difficult problem to figure out. Some cats prefer to urinate in one litter box and defecate in another, so if he only has access to one box the first thing I’d recommend is adding a second box. If you haven’t tried Dr Elsey’s Cat Attract litter it may be worth trying that specific brand. Finally, if he seems to prefer fabric you could try lining a litter pan with a disposable potty pad. If at any point his stool doesn’t look normal (i.e. If you see diarrhea, mucous, blood or if it seems very firm) I’d recommend rechecking with your vet. Good luck!

I would be interested to know whether or not Sophia is even going near the box at all, or just eliminating anywhere she feels like it. It sounds like you may need to try and isolate her from the other cat for a while and set up a litter box trial. My advise would be to keep Sophia in a bathroom or a small room for a couple of days. Set up two to three litter boxes in there. Each litter box should have some different qualities (different types of litter, cover vs uncovered, different amounts of litter etcetc). If you choose to use a bathroom, I would also remove anything in there that is soft or squishy that your kitty might feel like is a good place to eliminate. Two or three days will be sufficient in terms of time to see how she reacts to this. In terms of litter, there is a company called Catattract who gives a 100% guarantee or your money back concerning the effectiveness of their litter. This is something you may want to try eventually. The stuff isn't cheap but I have had some great luck with it so far. If you need a more detailed or in depth behavioral consultation, let me know and I'd love to help you out.

Use a litter box attractant. You can purchase one from most pet stores. If she defecates under the bed, remove the stool and place it on the litterbox. Block her access to the bed. Use tin foil or a carpet runner flipped upside down (pokey side up) to keep her off the bed.