new kitten

Hi! So, we adopted a kitten and we were told he was litter trained however since he has gotten to his new home he has only peed in his litter box, but has pooped twice out of it on my husband’s clothes. He is still hiding and has only let us touch him once since he got here. Is this normal? How can I teach him that he can use the litter box also for poop?

Hello! It's not unusual for cats to show nervousness by defecating in strange places.  Perhaps, for example, he has chosen the place he has chosen because he associates your husband's smell in that time and place with being a territory mark or a threat (probably through no fault of your husband's).  This may prove a good place to put another litter box.  I would try putting more litter trays in different places with different substrates, particularly places not overlooked by people.  It's worth trying different trays and there should always be a choice of more than one tray per cat.  Some cats prefer trays with a cover on. Have a read about cats and toileting in our blog, and chat to your veterinary team.  The i-catcare website is also a good place to look.  It's a complicated subject but the right intervention early can be helpful.

Other things to think about include, how easy is the litter tray to climb in and out of for a cat that needs the toilet?  Would putting the (already soiled) clothes in the litter box help?  - sometimes it can. You also asked whether it's normal for your little boy to be nervous.  Well, cats are as different as people, but for a small kitten to be moved to a strange place on his own is a huge thing.  Providing lots of places for him to hide and carrying on with your normal business may be a good idea; always provide food in the same place / time, so he gets to know where and when to look for it. Best of luck - I hope the resources help - and please let us know how you get on.