My rug is not a toilet!

Someone sent this to my box and for cat owners, this could be a problem solved for you……My 6 yr. old female cat has begun defecating occasionally on throw rugs within a few feet of her covered litter box! The litter box is not new and she will do this even when the box has been freshly cleaned. HELP!

Your cat is doing one of three things:

• She either objects to something in the litter tray (this may have been something that happened in the past and is now simply an association).
• There is an outside disturbance and your is marking her territory/ relieving anxiety (more likely to be the case if this is happening near a window or door).
• She prefers the carpet substrate.

You need to clean up your rugs thoroughly using an enzymatic cleaner. It might also be preferable to remove the rugs for a while, if possible. If not, use deterrents such as citrus skins laid over the rugs. If you suspect another cat in the vicinity, close all window blinds to prevent your cat seeing the other one and have a word with the cats’ owners.

Replace your litter trays with new ones, preferably of a different size. I like to encourage owners to buy bigger ones than the typical small ones available in most stores. Make sure you are using a deep layer of litter and cleaning it often. When all else fails, some owners have had success in getting their cats back into the litter tray by placing off cut of carpet in there! With time, you can sprinkle litter over the carpet and gradually increase this until the cat learns that this is the best substrate for toileting.

how to care for your kitten

Kittens are so wonderful! But they do take some special care.

Weaning. Mothers usually begin to wean their kittens at about 4 weeks of age. By 8 weeks of age, the kittens are eating solid food. Older kittens who are still with their mothers may occasionally nurse, but this is more for comfort and reassurance than for nutrition.
In general, kittens should not be removed from their mothers until they are at least 8 weeks of age. Kittens seperated from their mothers at too young an age require special care.

here are some of the things you need to know.

Milk. Do not give your kitten cow's milk - it can make them sick and give them diarrhea. You can obtain mother's milk replacer for young kittens at many of the pet stores in the area. When the kittens are 8 weeks or older, they no longer need the milk but may enjoy it anyway. Milk that has been specially processed for cats to consume safely is available from many local groceries.
Water. Keep clean, fresh water available to your kitten at all times. The bowl should be low enough for the kitten to able to drink from it easily. Some kittens enjoy playing in the water and even tipping over the bowl, so you may need a heavy bowl. Place the bowl when it won't get dirtied by litter etc.

hang on for the rest information.

via; www.paw-rescue.com