Conference misery::feline_v1

    Andrea-
    
    how old is midnight?  When I got Nippa, she had been abandoned, and
    bottled raised, and 5 weeks old.  Since I was in college, not supposed
    to have pets, had an over abundance of empty beer cases, and a slight 
    lack of funds......I cut the bottom off the case box to about an inch
    or so, and put some litter in it.  I also *HAD* to scoop it right after
    she was done, or the RA's would have known.
    
    so, maybe the box is too big for her now, and a smaller box might help?
    
    Michele 

    Michele,
    
         Midnight is now about 5-8 weeks old now.  She seems to be able to
    get into the box without any problems.
    
         I've watched her and there are times she goes straight into the
    box to do her business, and other times when she's looking right at it
    but goes where she's sitting instead :-( !!  I'm not sure why - maybe
    she doesn't always realize when she has to go??
    
         Maybe the big "boys" will be able to teach her ... instead of her
    teaching them to break litterbox!!  Ouch!
    
    					- Andrea
    
    P.S.  I could put boxes *everywhere* I suppose, but since she'll go
    even when looking straight at them, I don't think it's a problem of not
    knowing where it is or how to get into it.  Eeeek!!

    P.P.S.  She has gone into beer cases before.  Could it be that the
    small boxes I have for her are *too* small??  They are about twice her
    size ... and Bigfoot is so miffed at her presence that he takes his
    *large* body and uses *her* boxes!!!

    Andrea -
      Try using a couple of more boxes for now.  It could be that she's
    reluctant to invade the bigger cat's space.  We had that problem with
    Dundee when he was about 10-12 weeks old.  He'd pee on the rug in front
    of the box but he'd poop in the box.  The vet asst suggested I start
    another box, (we'd only had one and now had 4 cats) and that worked.
      Nancy

    Rusty did this when he was first brought home.  I just moved the
    box to the spot he kept using, and he then used the box.  He was
    5 weeks old, and he was not used to good food, either.  It gave
    him the runs until he adjusted to it, and sometimes he didn't 
    make it to the box.  And now, if the box is not clean, he will find
    someplace "clean" to go.  Are you feeding your kitten milk?  This
    will cause diahrea, too.
    
    L-

         I put another box down and she's been using that.  I'll try
    putting down a few more boxes.  My next question is ... if she gets
    used to having so many boxes will I be able to wean her down??  Or will
    she do it herself??  The boys are using her boxes too - they're getting
    spoiled ;-) ;-) ;-) !!
    
         I've been giving her Lactol, a mother's milk substitute, but I
    stopped giving her that on Sunday.  I've been giving her Nuform (2%
    milk) which the others like.  She doesn't seem to want water and I
    figured the Nuform would be more water-like and would eventually get
    her to drink water (I hope!).
    
         She seems to alternate between firm (but moist) stool and
    diarrhea, though at least she isn't going all the time so I guess it's
    more extra-soft stool than diarrhea.  She goes in on the 17th for shot
    #2 plus checkup plus stool sample.
    
         Thanks for the help!
    
    					- Andrea

you should stop the milk if she has soft stool - kittens are so small that
they can dehydrate much too fast.  The stool is a symptom that she cannot
handle the cow's milk....which is common in weaned animals.  If you give
her moist food, she may not drink much, but she will drink when thirsty.
Just make sure there is water in a "lowrider" bowl so she can get to it
easily, in a spot that makes her feel secure, and try using bottled water.
Some cats will not drink tap water due to the floride and chlorine in it.
It simply doesn't smell "clean" to them.

         Okay, I'll try the water-only regime and see how that goes.  I did
    see her go near the water bowl yesterday, although she didn't drink.  I
    usually mix water in with her food, though, so I guess she'll get
    enough water that way.
    
         Thanks!
    
    					- Andrea