I just got a new kitten about a week and a half ago (male), and all my efforts to make this cat use the litterbox have failed. I've never experienced this with another cat before. He just won't go in the litterbox at all. What can I do? Any advice would be appreciated!!

How old is the kitten? Was this kitten kept with it's mother and siblings long enough to learn how to use the litterbox?

Was the kitten born outside without access to a litterbox?

What type of litter are you using?

What type of litter box are you using? Is the kitten able to get in and out easily?

Is the litterbox located so it's easily accessible to the kitten?

Does the kitten need to share the litterbox with other cats, who may not appreciate it?

Have you checked to make sure there is no medicial reason involved?

Have you confined the kitten with his litterbox in a small enough area that he basically has no choice but to use it?

Just some things to think about.

Have you confined the kitten with his litterbox in a small enough area that he basically has no choice but to use it?
--I might try that suggestion.

He's about seven weeks old (give or take, I'm not sure). He wasn't born outside, used the litterbox previously w/ his siblings and his mother. The litterbox that I have is the same type he was trained on. There's no medical reason involved, he's very healthy. I am using Tidy Cats Multiple Cats scoopable litter. He does share the box w/ my other cat, but the other cat really doesn't care one way or another what the little kitty does. He has easy access to the litter, and my apartment is pretty small so it's not like he has to go a long way in order to use it. I'm going to call the vet today and see if she can offer me some suggestions, but I'd be welcome to any other suggestions anyone might have!

The confining to a small area so that the cat has to use the box as suggested by spcagal is a good one. I have seen this suggestion on numerous cat and veterinary web sites.

It has been suggested to get one of those “open wire” doggie crates that can be folded up and put away for another day. An 18” by 24” will work well with your 7-week-old kitten. Place feed / water bowls and bed at one end and a cat box that your kitten can easily get in and out of at the other end.

Place the wire crate in the middle of the room where you and your family spend most of your time in. Leave your kitten in the crate for 3 weeks. After the 3 weeks are up…move the litter box to just outside the crate. Every 2 days move the litter box only 1 foot towards the final destination of the box.

If the kitten misses the box…. repeat the procedure again. It is really important that you don’t rush this and move the box too far each time. You don’t want to confuse your kitten. I used this method when I brought into the house 3 feral cats and it worked very well.

[This message was edited by piggins on 05-27-03 at 06:05 PM.]

If the kitten litters somewhere outside of the litterbox you should take the kitten to the litter, let it smell it and then take it straight to the litterbox. Also remember to clean the litterbox often because a dirty box could be the reason that the kitten wont use it.
If the kitty does litter somewhere else, make sure you clean the place well because if there's any smell left in that place the kitty will probably do it there again.

Chipmunk, thanks for your suggestion. I have tried this numerous times with no success. Thanks anyways!

Piggins, great advice! It kills me to think I'll have to do that for three weeks, he's such a whiny kitty and will hate being confined. He won't understand. I'll try it, though!

************Update**************

Well, I got one of the training cages like someone suggested. I put his food in one place, a little litter box in another place, and I kept him in it all night last night. At first he just cried and carried on, and so I put a sheet over the training cage and went to bed. He must've curled up someplace and went to sleep, b/c I didn't hear anything until he woke me up @ six crying. I got up and cleaned his mess up (he'd scattered food and water everywhere) and gave him fresh. I then watched in amazement as he went pee in the litter. Now if I can just get him to do the other, the battle will almost be won. I left for work this morning with him still inside the training cage. This is really upsetting my other cat--they keep trying to play between the bars. My other cat had a temper tantrum by swatting my leg this morning for my effort in keeping the other cat locked up. Sheesh. (ya just can't win) Anyway, I hope it doesn't take too awful long before he sees the light! Thanks for all the great suggestions, I'll keep you posted! (Because I know everyone wants to know how to train a bad kitty)