Why does my stray male kitten keep l*****g himself "down there?"?

Question

I brought in a stray kitten who was being pecked at by crows. I think he's a male (judging by the protrusion under his tail) about 6 weeks old. I think he was abandoned very early because he doesn't really know how to relieve himself or l**k milk in the bowl. He also tends to focus his grooming to his private parts, often repeatedly l*****g himself there. Why does he do that? How can I train him to go in his litter tray and stop placing a paw in the milk bowl every time he goes for a drink?

Answer 1

Don't worry about the l*****g, he's just a clean cat.

make sure you put him in his litter tray as soon as you see the signs that he needs to go (usually sniffing around in a corner) once he goes there all the time then you just gradually move the tray closer to the door then eventually out the door, also helps if you empty it in the garden where he is allowed to dig so he knows where to go and won't poo all around your yard!

Answer 2

ADORABL :)!!! well l*****g down there aftr going is very nrmal... its like wiping his butt aftr goin to the bathroom ... if he does it all the time it means he want to get married as in "have s*x"

Milk is not that good 4 him... makes a horribl smell nd diarrhea... so i'd stay away frm milk nd give him tuna instead... to teach him not 2 put his paws IN the bowl is kinda hard... jst gently take his paw ot evry time he puts it in ... or bettr yt take the bowl away wen he does that,, thn put it back .. keep doin this  eventually h**l undrstand.. to train him 4 the littr box is hard... u have 2 show him wat he did first make him smell the p**p... then carry him nd make a loud angry noise ! like showting out "BAD KITTY " nd put him in the littr box thn lock him up in the room 4 a couple of minuts ! Not more cz if he gts hungry he'll suffr ....nd he'll undrstand that this shuld b don there but h**l have a couple of accidents along the way....

Good luck :) nd its a gr8 thing wat ur doin :)

Answer 3

Thats completely normal. Cats always l**k themselves all over as well as down there as they like to be very clean. Some things you just have to get used to like that, and him putting his paw in the bowl of milk (although he will probably stop putting his foot in as he gets older). Well done for rescuing it from the crows =]

Answer 4

-  If the kitten really is 6 weeks old (should easily fit in the palm of your hand with a little sticking over) he probably needs to be shown how to use the litter box.  Make sure the litter box is small enough for the kitten to get in.  Place the kitten in the litter box, use his paws to dig in the litter,  if he can't relieve himself use a warm moistened cloth to wipe the kitty's bottom.

-  Cows milk is not very good for kittens. There is special cat milk formula if he is too small, otherwise they should eat moist kitten food. My cat only drinks by putting her paw in the water. It depends on the cat.  

-  The cat might be constipated as well, maybe why he is l*****g "down there" (The mother licks the kittens to get them to go to the potty.)

I have new kittens Dexter and Deedee we had from 5 weeks and they are now 11 weeks.

-Brian

Answer 5

Difficult question!

If he has been abandoned by his mother it could be because he is sick. I am assuming his general health is okay. If he is cleaning his private parts a lot more than the rest of himself then there could be an irritation or infection so best to have him checked by a vet for overall health.

Please be aware that cats can not digest milk, it gives them an upset stomache and, unless you are fond of diarreah, you should switch to kitten formula or baby milk formula which is rich in vitamins and will not upset the digestive system. At 6 weeks he should be on solids so you can try kitten food.

Training for the litter tray can be time consuming. Young kittens tend to go to the bathroom almst immediately after they have eaten so place him in the tray and gently take his front legs and assist with a digging motion in the sand. He will eventually learn to scabble in the litter and this will encourage him to do his business.

Using a paw to drink is not uncommon. I have 2 cats that will not l**k water from the bowl and instead dip their paws in the bowl. After 5 years I have given up trying to train them!

Good on you for rescuing the little boy.