Hello all! I really really hope you can help me, I adore my kittens and do not want to separate them because of a problem that really should be trivial but...
argh!!!
I was devastated when we lost our cat in July. She seems to have just dropped dead. My little boy was also fairly upset. So, hubby and I decided that we would adopt a kitten, around christmas time. We now have two absolutely gorgeous and playful kittens (brother and sister) called Basil and Sybil.
Sybil is very adventurous, active, cuddly, friendly and LITTER TRAINED! Basil is shy, reserved, fearful and sometimes will use the litter tray. When he does, it's great! But... when he doesn't... It seems that it is every other time that he will not go to the litter tray.
We are using one large litter tray. Could this be the reason? They need one each? We keep the litter tray clean (although they do seem to poop a lot!) but it is clean first thing in the morning and last thing before bedtime. Saying this, I have to rely on hubby for this as I am 7 months pregnant! But he has been good as gold. I can see he is getting to the end of his tether with Basil and really really really do NOT want to have to give up one of my kittens.
The tray is away from their food area (opposite side of the room) and is in a corner to provide some privacy for them (from our little darling of a monster son!)
Tonight (it's about 4.30am!) Kittens were playing in the bedroom, making a racket you'd think would take about 10 people to make in room... After a little while they quietened down and I turned over to go back to sleep. My hand fell on a wet patch... on the duvet (and it definitely wasn't me!)
I am absolutely desperate to get this situation sorted out and I really hope you can help me.

xxx

You definitely need another tray. When i lived at home we had 3 cats. One would always go outside to toilet so wasnt a problem but two shared a tray. We then found the male would sniff at it when he needed to go and if our other had already been he wouldnt go in there. We had to get another and problem solved

I would try another tray and fill it with a different type of litter. if you currently using quite a grainy/gravel type one - try one which is a fine sandy texture.

Good Luck!

~x~

__________________
2 Maine Coon x, 1 Pixie Bob + 1 Norwegian Forest + 1 Tarantula !

R.I.P. Darling Jackson 11/7/09 - 15/1/10
Black Norwegian - died under anaesthetic for neutering
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Yes, definitely get a second tray and if the first one is open make the second one a covered tray and as already suggested try a totally different kind of litter. Sybil isn't bullying Basil is she? He may be a bit disinclined to go in the tray if he thinks he is going to be jumped on by Sybil.

__________________
Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

And, simply, shut them out of the bedroom at night. I find kittens sometimes need to go and they can't / won't make it to the litter tray so they do it somewhere nearer. Peeing on quilts is a very common thing with kittens for some reason (I guess it has the sort of substrate they like, which reinforces the bit about using a really fine litter - kittens' feet aren't all that hard if they are kept indoors)

Liz