need help with new kitten

[macska7]

On Thursday afternoon we adopted the nicest most adorable kitten a 4 month old girl, Harley. (She purrs really loud.) We took her to the vet, she is fine, and healthy. She eats with good appetite.
But she doesn't want to pee/poop at all. We are using the same litter as the shelter, keeping the box in a quiet location, but she has no interest. I could not find anything out of the box anywhere. At some point she must go somewhere, but what else can we do? I certainly I don't want to do a demonstration for her in the box! Any suggestion?
The last time she peed was right after the vet visit into her carrier. No poop anywhere. Thanks!

 

[lifeverlasting78]

Hi Macska7!
Congrats on your new fur-baby! She sounds absolutely darling!!

If you can't find any evidence of her going to the bathroom around the house, I would take her back to the vet ASAP. I know you said she was just there a few days ago, but was she going to the bathroom then? When was the last time is was obvious that she peed/pooped? Maybe she has some kind of obstruction that requires immediate medical attention. Hopefully not!! I'm hoping others have some less serious theories to help you out!

I just thought of something... is there anything in your house where she can "dig", like plants or something? Cats like to go where they can dig and bury their business. If she is going in the house and she is okay, the one tip I did learn that worked well with my kitties was that you pick up your kitty and put her into the liter box just once, and they're supposed to know from that day on where it is.

Good luck with your little kitty!

 

[Vee]

Kitties that young usually go pretty soon after they eat or drink.

I hope the kitty is fine and just doing her business at some mystery location. Wont it be funny, gross, and a relief all at once, to find past business? Though something tells me, your nose would have led you to it if this is so. Earth is a good suggestion so I would second looking into indoor potted plants

Perhaps you can call the place where you adopted to ask about her toilet habits back then? That may be a clue as to where she may be going, if she is going.

I am relieved that she peed in the carrier. She had some interim respite even if she needs a vet to solve a problem.

 

[Jaffas]

Definitely take her back to the vet she you can't find where she might be going. It could be a blockage. Sometimes cats do hold it in if they don't feel comfortable with their litter box but eventually they have to go somewhere. Does it seem like she's in pain? Do you see her trying to pee but unable? If so go to the vet now.

 

[kathryn]

If you can't find any evidence of her going to the bathroom around the house, I would take her back to the vet ASAP.

I agree.
I also agree with checking out potted plants!

There is a litter or litter additive called "cat attract" that lures cats to the litter box. You can often get it from a vet. I don't know what's in it, but it works (I had a cat who wouldn't pee in the box. Unfortunately, all 5 of the cats I had at the time wanted to use the Cat Atrract box, and it got rather expensive. I found another solution.)

 

[Reese777]

If your kitty has a bowel obstruction, you'll know it pretty soon because she'll get sick. One thing to watch for is if she continues to eat/drink heartily. If she IS, then it's coming out somewhere!

If she peed in her carrier she may not be litter trained yet. I would check under and behind all furniture for evidences of poopies because they are very sneaky sometimes!

If she doesn't go in about another 24 hours and you can find no evidence, of course, call your vet for advice.

 

[mojolisa]

confine her to a small room

Can you confine the kitty to a bathroom or laundry room when you are not around to watch her closely? Maybe you can do this at night. Leave her in the room with a litter box, food, water and a few toys. Remove anything that can harm her. If she doesn't go all day/night, take her back to the vet.

 

[macska7]

Well, finally she made a foot long real healthy looking poop --- right into our bathtub. Should I get a covered litter box? Should I put it back in the bathroom? It is so funny, now I'm so relieved (so is she) but now it's a new problem. ha-ha

 

[HaveFun]

I agree with checking back with the shelter. We adopted a kitten last year (3 mths at the time) and she took right to the litter box. Hope kitty is ok and congratulations

 

[kathryn]

Well, finally she made a foot long real healthy looking poop --- right into our bathtub. Should I get a covered litter box? Should I put it back in the bathroom? It is so funny, now I'm so relieved (so is she) but now it's a new problem. ha-ha

Covered boxes are tricky.
You have to keep them scrupulously clean, or they smell bad, and kitty won't use them.

Again, try the Cat Attract.

If there is space in your bathroom to keep the pan, I'd try that as well (with the cat attract).

You didn't say if she's declawed (I hope not!), but cats who are declawed sometimes have an aversion to using litter.

A FOOT LONG poop? All in one piece? That is bizarre. She certainly was holding that in!

 

[Vee]

I am relieved for both of you.

 

[jennifer-in-mi]

Your kitten is going through stress from the assimilation of her new environment. She will get better as time goes by. Just give her lots of love to let her know that she is good. Cats do adjust to new places and to changes in behavior.
Keep an eye on her and praise her for eating and for relieving herself. Also, praise her for the love gifts that she will be giving you too.

 

[mojolisa]

Well, finally she made a foot long real healthy looking poop --- right into our bathtub. Should I get a covered litter box? Should I put it back in the bathroom? It is so funny, now I'm so relieved (so is she) but now it's a new problem. ha-ha

To discourage her from using the bathtub as a litter box, you can try leaving an inch or two of water in the bathtub/sinks. Most cats will avoid getting their paws wet, and this should keep her away.

After feeding, pick her up and place her in the litter box. Gently hold her paws, and make scratching motions. You can also try a gentle massage down her back, all the way to the tail. I've heard that this can stimulate bowel movements. Kitties should learn good litter box habits from mama, but it's harder with rescue/shelter kitties because they are often abandoned. Just watch her closely, and you should be fine.

Also, I highly recommend toilet training. But you can only do this once the cat is 100% litter box trained, and it still takes a lot of patience. Totally worth it in the end.

 

[macska7]

Thank you guys for all the help. No, she is not declawed. She, for some reason, doesn't like the texture of the original litter we bought, she'd rather jump over the box than step in it. Later we bought that "Feline Pine" that feels like sand and is very soft. We'll see. She is just so adorable and affectionate. Harley

 

[macska7]

Covered boxes are tricky.
You have to keep them scrupulously clean, or they smell bad, and kitty won't use them.

Again, try the Cat Attract.

If there is space in your bathroom to keep the pan, I'd try that as well (with the cat attract).

You didn't say if she's declawed (I hope not!), but cats who are declawed sometimes have an aversion to using litter.

A FOOT LONG poop? All in one piece? That is bizarre. She certainly was holding that in!

Thanks! We will definitely look into Cat Attract. It seems that they even have a version for kittens called Kitten Attract. I hope that will help.

By the way, it wasn't really a foot long. I exaggerated a little but it was a surprising amount for such a little critter!

 

[ripley33]

When we got our kitten she peed outside the litter box and we soaked it up with kleenex and then put that in the box and the next time she pooped she did it in the box. Easy-breezy.

Laura

 

[macska7]

I definitely will buy Cat Attract today, there is a store nearby that sells it. I wish she peed, I'd soaked it up to, but there is no sign of pee anywhere. Too bad I forgot to save the poop yesterday, we could've put it it in the box too. She just has no interest in the box at all.