Kitten fouling

[carolrhart]

We got a new kitten last week. When he is kept in my daughter's room with his litter tray, he will use it fine, but when he is let out into the living room (in the evening when we all get home) he urinates and defacates behind the sofa and on our very expensive rug! Is this because he is freaked out by the size of the living room and is afraid to make the journey to the litter tray (he spends most of the time hiding when in the living room, but is much bolder and friendlier in 'his' room). Should I keep him in 'his' room much longer? Am I expecting too much too soon?

[Litchick]

Hmmm...when we got our new kitten we only kept her in "her" room when we were not at home...the rest of the time she was free to roam.  By the end of the week, she was much more comfortable.  I don't think you need to keep her in there all the time, but how about putting another litter pan behind the sofa??  Just give him more time -- it's all so new and yes, scary to him!  Just keep showing him attention and affection and he'll eventually get used to you and the house.  You didn't say how old your kitten is, but if he is still very young it will take time -- think of how big and scary everything must seem to him!  He's still just a baby!  :)

[carolrhart]

I think going into the living room is still too much for him - he squeezed past me last night, and in the 10 seconds he was in the living room, he managed to pee in the same spot behind the sofa!  However, we have allowed him access to the hallway and he seems to like that because he can race up and down the stairs, and he is fine at using his litter tray out there.  I don't want to put a tray behind the sofa because I don't want him to think that it's okay to pee there.  I think the best thing at the moment is to introduce him to parts of the house gradually, with the living room being the ultimate goal!  When he's in 'his' room and the hallway he's fairly affectionate and will come up to us, but in the living room he's very skittish and nervous.  He's only 8 weeks old, so still a baby really!

[Sammy Snake]

As he seems insistant on using the carpet as a toilet at the moment, you could try putting a litter tray (or some newspaper) behind the sofa as a temporary measure and gradually move it further out the room each day - eventually he should continue to use the tray wherever you put it and not the carpet!

[Litchick]

Yes!  I absolutey agree with Sammy -- while it's not okay for him to pee behind the sofa, at least you will have protection and then yes, gradually keep moving that tray until it is where you want him to eventually always use it.

Our baby will be 12 weeks old on Saturday!  :)