How to Get Three-Week-Old Kittens to Pee

Kittens are unable to urinate or defecate on their own when they are born and their mother must stimulate them to urinate and defecate, which she does by licking their genital area. The kittens will not survive if this isn't done, so if the kittens are orphaned or the mother is too ill to care for them, you will have to attend to this matter for them. They begin to gain control of the muscles needed at around three weeks of age, but some start a little sooner and some start a little later. By four weeks of age, all kittens should be urinating and defecating on their own, but do not stop assisting them until you see each one urinate and defecate in the litter.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft cloth
  • Warm water
  • Non-clay kitty litter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a soft cloth dampened in warm water to gently swab the kitten's genital/anal area. The cloth can be a washcloth, paper towel, soft gauze or cotton ball. A circular motion is fine, or a gentle swiping motion (in one direction). Hold the kitten on its back wrapped in a small towel. This will help keep it still and safe while you clean.

    • 2

      Continue swabbing for about 30 seconds, or until you see that the kitten has urinated and defecated. Generally, two stools daily and urinating multiple times a day is good, but there may be times with only one stool per day, or even no stool. There should always be urine. If the kitten does not urinate or defecate in about 30 to 60 seconds, stop and try again later.

    • 3

      Clean the kitten with a clean part of the damp cloth, once it has finished urination or defecation.

    • 4

      Apply a tiny bit of petroleum jelly to the area if the kitten seems to be irritated. Adjust your stimulation so it is a bit softer, if the area is getting irritated.

    • 5

      Add a handful of litter to a corner of the bedding to encourage the kittens to try to use it. Once the kitten is able and ready, it will instinctively want to bury or scratch in dirt when it goes potty, so if the litter is available, you'll see they start to use it.

    • 6

      Place the litter into a shallow litter pan once the kittens are using it well and moving around outside their box. Depending on the size of the area they are playing in, you may need more than one litter pan -- kittens do not have the ability to hold it while they go across a large room or house to find the litter pan.