6-week-old kitten

Hi there, You'll get more replies if you start your own thread; this one is four years old. Kittens learn to use the litter tray by copying their mother – animals learn everything through mimicry (eating, toilet training, hunting, and so on). If you've got a hooded litter tray (the kind with a roof and a door), try taking the flap off first. Next, set up a second tray a bit further away from the first one and use a different type of litter. Some cats can't stand certain textures (my boy is actually allergic to most types of litter), so offer him a second option to see if that's what's bothering him. I had two six-week-old kittens that weighed about 1.5 lbs. We had quite a few accidents outside the tray. The most important thing is not to shout and obviously never hit them. You have to stay calm; when you see him getting into position to go, put him in his tray and gently use his paw to scratch the litter so he understands that's where he should cover his mess. You can also use some kitchen roll to soak up any pee from an accident and put it in the tray – he'll pick up his scent and realise that's where he's supposed to go. To clean up, use white vinegar on the spots where he's urinated. As for the tray itself, you can wash it with a tiny drop of bleach as the smell attracts cats, but make sure you rinse it thoroughly with clean water. Don't forget to worm him every month until he's six months old using a product from the vet, as they'll be able to advise you on the correct dosage. He’ll also need to be neutered when he’s old enough and microchipped. Try to fit in some play sessions in the morning before you leave and in the evening before bed. Also, give him at least one meal of wet food a day; it helps him take in water and is better for his kidney function. Good luck! It's exhausting at the start, but it's pure joy after that.

Hello, I’m writing to you because you'll understand what it’s like having a six-week-old kitten. His name is Oslo and I picked him up a week ago. He was living outdoors in a shed with his mum and siblings. The first thing the lady said to me was "he’s got fleas". I wasn't too impressed, but I took him anyway. She had told me he was 8 weeks old. When I got home, everything went well and he settled in fine. But I think I’ve started some bad habits; every night he sleeps with me and practically sits on my face to groom me. I knew straight away something wasn't right. Then the woman messaged me to give me his date of birth: 18th July. He’s not even 8 weeks old yet!! I panicked, thinking I’d snatched him away from his mum and that he must be miserable. So, I took him to the vet to find out more and to get his first vaccinations done. A kitten his age should weigh about 2.6 lbs, but mine only weighs 1.9 lbs... Anyway, my real problem is that he isn't house-trained. I'm trying to litter-train him, but he only uses the tray when he feels like it, or mainly when I actually take him to it. In one week, I’ve had to wash my fitted sheets and everything else eight times... I do everything I can to make sure there's no smell left, but it’s always the same story. The vet told me that in a fortnight the toilet training wouldn't be an issue anymore, but as I'm at college, I’m out from 8 am until 4 pm. I’m really worried. His litter tray is in the spare room, but the washing machine is right next to it, and I don’t have any other quiet areas without people passing through. Please, I need help—I just want him to be happy and thriving. Thanks! 😊😊

Hi everyone, I adopted a six-week-old male kitten five days ago. My mother-in-law adopted his sister. His sister plays a lot and doesn't sleep much during the day, and she even sleeps through the night, so to speak. Mine isn't very energetic; he doesn't play much, sleeps loads, and if I'm not right by his side, he starts meowing... I try to keep him with me as much as I can, but I can't have him cuddled up to me 24/7. What should I do?

I’ve always had kittens who didn’t know their mums, or hardly knew them at all. I hand-reared a whole litter once after the mother cat died giving birth. Then there were some strays I found in a park. I also took in my current two cats when they were only six weeks old, and most recently, I rescued a "feral" kitten at just four weeks old whose litter was going to be put down. So, these were kittens who hadn’t spent much time with other cats to learn the proper feline social cues. Well, I’ve had no trouble at all. Better than that, actually! They’re very close to us and "talk" to us with big meows during our long chats. They were litter-trained straight away; as soon as I put them in the tray, they got it. They even knew how to hunt mice and birds without me showing them! Mind you, they do play with their claws and teeth, but it’s just like with dogs—you just have to teach them "no". To help with that, we play with balls of paper or little toy balls... that way, you avoid getting your hands scratched!

She’s 8 now, a little old lady. She used to be fine with my brother, my mum and me. But because my dad has a real temper, she’s become a bit skittish and will only really put up with my brother. He’s the only one she wants to sleep with or get cuddles from. She still tolerates my mum. Back when I still lived at my parents’, she always used to climb onto my shoulders to sleep. Just think of them as if they were your own child. But you shouldn't tell them off for every little thing.

I don't think I'm going to give him back to his mum, Selena. By Sunday, he'll have been with us for three weeks. I don't want to put him through another separation. And I'm not even sure his mum would take to him straight away, now that he smells of us. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he's well-trained.

Thanks for all your advice! He bites my feet, I think he's just playing. He tends to do it in the morning when I'm rushing to get ready for work. Or when I stop playing with him, he comes and attacks my foot or hand. Other than that, he's using his litter tray. He's eating his dry food. He gives us cuddles. He's starting to recognise his name. And I even think he recognises our voices :) So, I'm going to stop picking him up by the scruff of his neck every time he does that. And how is your brother's kitten doing @kazumi17? Has she grown much? :)

Hi, It’s completely normal that your kitten might be a bit poorly adjusted; he hasn't spent enough time with his mum and siblings, so he doesn't know how to play without hurting people. The best solution: Give him back to the previous owner and pick him up again when he’s 10 weeks or, ideally, 3 months old! Alternatively (if the owner refuses), you could try placing him with a mother cat who has kittens of a similar age—as long as she accepts him. Or, you could find him a playmate, such as another kitten, so he can learn to play without scratching or biting. If you want to keep him but can't find a surrogate mother or a playmate, and you can't give him back for a few weeks, you must: - Pick him up by the scruff of the neck when he bites/scratches, give him a (GENTLE) shake and say "No!" firmly.

Yes, a firm "no" is plenty. Just doing that every time he starts up again is enough. Mind you, you’ve got to see if he's just doing it to play, which is usually the case. For instance, my cat tends to nip me when we're playing, but only gently. As soon as he starts sinking his teeth in a bit more because he thinks my hand is prey, I give him a firm "no" or "easy!" while pointing my finger, and he stops. My brother adopted a kitten just like you did, thinking she was fully weaned... but it turned out she wasn't even eight weeks old yet. We did some research and showed her how to use her litter tray, not to jump on the tables, and not to scratch the sofa. We also got her to come to us by getting her to recognise the words "dry food" or "dinner" along with her name. Essentially, you’re taking on the role of a second mum once the kitten leaves its real mother, which is why some cats keep their kitten-like habits, like sleeping on your head or chewing your hair and so on. But don't worry, as Zanaya says, "not fully weaned doesn't mean they're bonkers".