Right ... it's been a nightmare, but there is light at the end of the tunnel ... we've gone from the Red stage to the Amber stage and BACK to the Red stage again. The kids had a phobia with a big(-ish) hole with what looks like a swimming pool(!) at the bottom of it. We'd put the Amber on - kids will poke around, look thru the hole and refuse to do ANYTHING (except Scratch has taken to peeing in the bath of all bloody places!) ... and after a couple of days of "nothing" then I'd start to panic and put the Red stage back and *boom* Sniff'll be doing his "thing" (omg I swear he pee's and poo's like a dog - THERE IS SO MUCH!!!)
After much prodding from Paulie (ouch) ... I found via the Net that others had the same problem - their kids refusing to progress from the Red stage *argh!*
So ... 2 fundemental issues ...
1) the kids are uncertain about doing their business over a big(ish) hole
2) the litter (crystals) hisses when it hits the water (during their digging routine) which I gather is very off-putting
So ... now we're back on the Amber stage ... LOTS of treats and encouragement ... AND a piece of webbing over the hole - and we've got progress YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*sigh* omg ... so much for "8 weeks" ...
This was using cling film ... not good - can still see thru it ... and on digging, their claws would cut thru it!
(I'll take a pic of the webbing we're currently using once the kids are used to it - which I hope is SOON!)
