I bought my daughter an adorable kitten Monday. It was her birthday, and I went out looking for a kitten. I thought no big deal, there are always a glut of cats at the pound, right? Wrong. I guess like every thing else there is a season for kitties. So instead of getting a 4 or 5 month old kitty of an average size, I finally got lucky at the 5th place I looked and found a kitty the size of a guinea pig. She had just been seperated from her mother that same day. Did I mention she was adorable? Well any way the huge litter box with the cover I bought was way too big,so I put a little bin with litter for her to use in front of the covered box.She is totally litter box trained, but I’m not sure if I should take the big box away(I don’t want her to think it’s for sleeping in, dangit), or should I keep it by the box she uses now, so when she gets bigger she will be used to it. Maybe I should just uncover it and take away the small litter box. I don’t know. Any suggestions or comments will be apreciated.
Several of my cats did that once or twice as kittens. No big deal, they stop fairly quickly. One of my cats used to curl up and go to sleep in my pants when I was sitting on the toilet doing God’s work, inside the pants but under the underwear, resting his chin on the leg hole of my underwear. He stopped that after a while too.
It could also be that the little guy grew up in a wireframe cage, and it was more comfortable to sit in the litter box rather than the cage proper. Many kittens do this, though. It’ll get out of it, I’m sure.
Thanks for the replies, but I’m still not sure if I should take the covered litter box away or take the temporary little one away.Or do I leave the setup alone?I’m sure with all the cat people on the boards someone must have an idea. So all in all this is just a long winded way of saying…bump…
How big is the bigger box? Hard to climb into? If so take away the big one until the kitty is bigger. Then you can put the smaller box inside the larger one unti he is used to it, then do away with the smaller box.
i’ve said it before and i’ll say it again:
I hate cats.
Get him a shoebox. Or any type of small cardboard box.
Cats just like boxes. They’re weird that way.
When my youngest cat was a kitten I set up a shoe box on its side, with the lid on the floor, on the side of the box (like making a diorama for school) and he sat in there for hours.
Yep, cats love boxes. Take an old cardboard box, put some blankets in there and kitty will love it.
In the jungle the mighty jungle
The kitty sleeps in the litter box
In the jungle the quiet jungle
the kitty sleeps in the litter box
Everybody Sing…
A-weema-way, a-weema-way, a-weema-way, a-weema-way…
Yeah, like I’m the only one who thought of that. :rolleyes:
My cat did this as a kitten, too. It will eventually get over it.
Why does your kitten do that? It probably feels safer there and until it gets used to it’s new environment will probably continue to sleep there.
Darkrabbit
I admit it that was exactly what was going through my mind when I posted.
But I had enough class not to do it…d&r… 
Seriously man, what the hell is your problem? I’ve seen you do this countless times in any thread related to cats and no one is amused by it. Rule number 1 don’t be a jerk. Do you remember that one?
Kittens should not be sepatared from their mothers until they are approx. 6 MONTHS old - “weaned” is not “mature” - they will learn about being cats by following their mothers.
(former cat breeder speaking)
So - you’ve got a kitten who is EXTREMELY insecure - yes, provide it with a box (with something to make a ‘bed’, like snuggleing up with mom & siblings (as it should be doing) - a cloth (towel?) draped over a side-opening box would be best.
this should be a box separate from the litter box - but close.
eventually, the traumatized critter will feel comfortable enough to explore - make sure it does not get hurt or scared doing so.
SO - NO OTHER CATS ALLOWED NEAR IT!
Six MONTHS?
Actually, that’s the age when they should be fixed-every cat I’ve had was at the very least, 8 weeks. Usually a bit older. But they were always okay-very cuddly and snuggly, but okay.
And certainly not fearful or insecure! (Buffy was climbing my dresser-it’s wicker so she could claw it-the very first night we had her and Gypsy here!)
Not six months!
I’m sorry I don’t know a lot about cats. This is only the second one I’ve ever owned. This cat was two months old Thursday. She is very sweet and affectionate, like I mentioned before she is already litter box trained.She eats canned food but I’m trying to slowly mix it with dry. Is it too soon? I don’t know. I’ve tried looking up different cites on google, but all I’ve found is info on younger or older cats.
So do you think I should take away the jumbo litter box and just put a cardboard box with blankets in its place?There are no other cats in the house so that isn’t a problem, but I don’t want her roaming around the house at night without supervision.She goes in the bathroom.Her food,water and litterbox are in there. I have a greyhound, he pretty much ignores her during the day (except when kitty plays with his tail, then he barks once and gets up and moves, no harm done)The dog has accidentally killed a hamster or two when he was much younger and they escaped their cage.He shows no interest in chasing the cat like he did the hampsters, but I’m not taking chances.
The litter box(es) are fine - just provide a separate place to hide/sleep (cats are den creatures - they need separate places for sleep and elimination)
Most mammals recognize the young of other species and seem to make allowances for them (except for those species they know as food). Still, I would not leave the kitten and dog together (call me un-trusting).
Think of it this way:
a two-month old kitten has all the social and defensive skills as a 4 year old human (OK, an approximation). It requires the same level of protectiveness.
Ideally, keep the kitten on as-close-to-real-meat as long as possible - IIRC, cats require 18% protien in their diets, and the kitten probably still has its milk teeth (called ‘baby’ teeth in humans)