Boomer is 12 weeks old and although he self cleans well he needs help with his eyes, ears and particularly his backside!
I have been regularly cleaning his backside and am just wondering how he will learn to do this himself and how long I should expect to be helping him with this? It doesn't bother me and he doesn't particularly mind me doing it but obviously just a bit puzzled as to when he'll start to do this himself.

As you can see by the picture Boomer is very embarassed I'm talking about his back passage!!

Thanks :)

Grace was definitely better at that than Blondie. When Blondie was a kitten, I would have to wipe her bottom with a tissue after a poo, or she would leave a mark when she sat down (ick). She had an issue with soft poo and that lingered for several months. Now that that has cleared up and their poo is solid, they both have clean bottoms and groom themselves to make sure.

Grooming skills are taught by the mother! If your kitty was let go early (before 12 weeks), then that could be the problem. I don't know how you teach a kitten to groom themselves all over. Mine grooms himself for hours a day and covers every inch of his body. Most cats can't clean inside of their ears, however. I'm always pulling stuff out of Raiden's.

Yes Boomer was let go too early really but the lady she came from wasn't expecting to have a litter as she had her Snow male who she previously used to breed neutered but somehow Boomer's litter happened! She worked full time and long shifts so Boomer came to us at 8 weeks old

He does groom himself often and I see him trying to clean his backside but he just doesn't do a very good job at all lol.

I have had moggies who didn't do a very good job with their backside either and I had to clean it -- or trim the fur around that area. I wouldn't want to be cleaning my butt with my tongue either! LOL