Any tips for my aunt on how to litter box train a kitten?

[purr]

She lives in Ontario and my cousin found a small 2 week old kitten IN HIS VAN when he got off of school. He has no idea how the little guy got in. He thinks someone put him in his van and didnt know how long he was in there.

I never had to litter box train a kitten, mine were already trained when I got them so I have no idea how to do it. Could anyone give me some recommendations that I can pass onto her? She said he looks only a couple weeks old - really tiny. He hasnt gone the bathroom since he brought him home around 5.

many thanks :)

[China_cat]

1. If it's only 2 weeks old, it won't use a box at all

it'll have to be stimulated in order to urinate and defecate. Use a warm washcloth after eating and gently wipe the genital area until something happens. You may also want to do this in between meals, too. At that age it's got to be on a bottle or feeding syringe so it's not much more work than wiping it's face clean.

It won't be ready for litter training for at least another 2 to 3 weeks.

[purr]

2. She said he was eating soft food - I asked her for a pic

but her camera isnt working right. She THINKS 2-3 weeks old and says she may be wrong (which I wouldnt put it past her lololol :) ). If we werent hundreds of miles apart I'd probably would be able to give a more accurate age.

She says hes about 9" long.

[China_cat]

3. If it's eating, even soft food

it would have to be 4 weeks at the earliest. 9" long (does that include the tail?) would probably be more like 6 to 8 weeks old but possibly had never been weaned. A vet would be the best bet for estimating age.

As for teaching it to use the box...use a small one with low sides that the kitten can get into easily. Put it in there after every meal and even move its paw to scratch around in the litter. If she finds an 'accident' someplace else, she should put it in the box and leave it on top where the kitten can smell it. Also, don't put the box too far away from it. A kitten upstairs and the litterbox downstairs isn't a good idea. If necessary, 2 or 3 small boxes in various areas will be more likely to be used.

[purr]

5. She borrowed her neighbors camera..

Heres Boots!




I sent her your message about the cat box. Thank you :) Hes adorable!!!!

[havocmom]

7. Definately NOT two weeks old! More like 6-8 weeks old

Follow the advice about small, low sided boxes, and not too far from kitten. Once the furbal uses the litter, not much trouble finding it again, so long as it is not a long trip. ;)

Very pretty kitten, but easily 6 weeks and likely a bit older than that, unless that is an extremely small person holding it.

Tell your aunt to get some of that rice cereal for babies to have handy. Young kittens getting different foods sometimes get loose bowels for a day or so. The rice cereal flakes, mixed with a little warm beef broth is a quick and easy way to tighten things up if necessary. Don't want dehydration as that can be very bad very fast in such a small critter. Having the rice baby cereal on hand can be a life saver.

And baby food meats are good for little cats. Can be mixed with a bit of water or broth too. I generally keep a few jars of strained turkey. Even old cats usually will be tempted by it if they are not feeling well. Babies usually love the stuff. And if you ever have to give a cat meds, that jar of turkey will be your friend. ;)

Wish you Aunt well with her project. Experience has taught me the best fur friends are generally the ones who find you when you aren't looking. Let us know how things go. Feel free to PM if you need to.

Thanks for the pics, VERY sweet little cat. Lovely eyes. Perhaps it was sent for a reason. Time will tell.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

[chookie]

9. If that kitten is only two weeks old....(which it isn't)

...it's mother would have every right to give it the biggest guilt trip laid on any kitten ever. Imagine giving birth to something that big!

The others are right -- this little kitty will be no trouble at all to raise. And it's going to be a beauty!

[China_cat]

10. Yes he is adorable.

Looks a lot like my Larry. From looking at him I'm going to up my age estimate even further, 10-12 weeks. And I'd bet that she'd find it can handily eat dry food. Still, vet time. She needs to make sure this darling doesn't have FeLeuk or FIV, especially if she has other cats.

[chookie]

8. Textbook answer.

I was going to say what China cat just said.

Follow her advice and you will have a perfectly trained little kitty.

[Jamastiene]

11. Yep. Beat me to it.

That's exactly how you can do it for now. Later, confine the cat to one room with food at one end and the litter box at the other end. That's one trick. Or just make sure he knows where the box is located. Usually, they go instinctively as long as they are aware of where it is. All of mine have.

[CottonBear]

4. Call a vet. Take kitten to vet. Then, buy litter box, food, dishes and

put baby in a safe, warm place. Feed and care for as per vet. When old enough, put in litter box and move his little legs about in a pawing/scratching manner and praise. The little one will know what to do. Make sure litter box is low enough to get in for the little one.

[Lithos]

6. The others are right

A 2 week old kitten barely would have it's eyes open. You will also have to stimulate (light rubbing with kleenex to mimic a mother's licks) the uro-genital area to get them to defecate. It's necessary - they do not go on their own until about 4-6 weeks at the earliest. It still takes them a few weeks to get coordinated enough to use a litter box. But they will pick it up on their own if you just put some of their poop into the litter box so they can associate the smell and place.

L-