We have a new bengal kitten (12 weeks), that we have had for about 3 weeks. We did the initial keep him in a smaller space (our master suite, with the litter box in the bathroom) and he did great with the litter. Absolutely no problems. Now that he has free rein of our main floor, if he is not in the master bedroom he goes to our powder bathroom or the tile in front of it to poo. This has happened many days in a row, and no matter how much I try to keep an eye on him to remove him to the litter box if he looks like he has to go, he manages to go without me noticing! He has only done this with pee once, thankfully on my son's coat (gross, but easy to throw in the washer and clean!).

At this point we're keeping him in the master suite as much as possible unless I'm actively holding/playing with him, but I don't like him being cooped up and not having as much space to play. My husband has suggested putting a second box in the powder bathroom, but it is a tiny bathroom and also the one that guests use, so I'd really rather not if I can avoid it. Any suggestions?

Sounds like he definitely needs more litter boxes around the place.
Perhaps a covered one for the guest bathroom may not seem as confronting.

It’s actually kind of understandable: you taught him to do his business in the bathroom, and now he’s confronted by this oddity: a bathroom without a litter box. When you have a problem like this with a cat, you just need to experiment. If long-term having a litter box in that bathroom is unworkable, the try putting a second litter box as close to that as possible. A second thing to try would be that instead of training the cat, train the humans: that door stays closed. But if you do that you’ll just have to see if he then just finds another inappropriate place to go, or if he goes back to the other bathroom.

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The little monsters 3

If you got your bengal at 9 weeks, that was just a tad early. I can't tell from your post if you got him at 12 weeks and he would now be 15 weeks, or he is now 12 weeks and you've had him for three weeks. Much of the skills are taught to a cat between 9 and 12 weeks.

That being said ... one NEVER moves a litter box. Especially with a kitten that is still learning. It would be like moving a potty chair for your toddler that you are trying to potty train. The best thing is to ADD litter boxes and then you can slowly move the one out of the bathroom as the kitty uses the other litter boxes. You cannot blame your kitty for this. They go by instinct and what they are taught -- and if this kitty was taken early, then the kitty simply did not learn properly.

In addition, when you now expose a new kitten to your entire house, they are going to be overwhelmed at the amount of room. Usually at the breeders, they are in birthing rooms which can be spacious, but certainly not as much room as a new home. A lot was going on with your kitty. Taken away from mom and siblings and the only smells the kitty ever knew, to a new home with new smells, new people. Think about it. It is extremely stressful to the kitty in many cases.

If your home is particularly large, you need at least two litter boxes and if you have multi-levels, you need more. The easier it is for your kitty to reach a litter box, the better the outcome in using the litter box.

Do not punish your baby as he doesn't understand and has no idea that he has done something wrong. He has to pee and poop and the easier you make it on him, the happier he will be in using the appropriate spots.

In addition to the other suggestions, be sure to use enzyme pet cleaner on the spot he has been pooing. As long as he can smell it, he will remember it as a prime location to do his business.

Thanks this is all really helpful! We have not been punishing, just moving him and reminding him where the litter box is. Thankfully we have had no issues since my last post!

We did get him young--9 weeks--so I knew we were still in a training phase, but I didn't want to create a habit that we couldn't break. Turns out he is very vocal about needing to go if we're paying attention (we also have 5 kids under 10, so sometimes we miss the obvious cues ;) )--and I have been able to catch him beforehand and move him to his litter box successfully. Our house is multilevel but the main floor is pretty small--hence not wanting the second box on the same floor. But we will be adding boxes to the basement and upstairs. As of right now he rarely ventures up/down the stairs but I know that is coming.

I've also been just taking him with me when I go to the restroom (his box is next to the toilet). I have heard that other bengals sit on their people's laps when they're going to the bathroom; he just hops in his litter box and goes when either myself or husband goes. Definitely a funny trait.

Thanks for confirming you got him at 9 weeks. Way too young! So much of this falls on YOU. I truly believe if you can add the litterboxes, it will be so much easier on him. He should become better trained and as he gets older will use the boxes just fine. And the fact that you have children -- a bustling household, no doubt. Just a lot going on and adding a kitten that will be a perpetual 2-year old his entire life -- well, get ready for the adventures! Most will be great.