Cat Business

[milly143]

How do I get my cat to start doing his business outside? He is 7 months old now and has been castrated. I keep the litter tray in the conservatory because I don't really want it in the house but the heat makes it wiff a bit and I just want to get rid of it all together. He is always outdoors, not really an indorr cat unless its raining but he doesn't seem to want to go anywhere other then the litter tray.

[burnhal]

Have a cat the same and I havent found an answer- but regarding the pong- what kind of litter do you use? The paper based white granule stuff stinks to high heaven of ammonia when used. The brown wood based stuff is a whole heap better and seems to absorb the smell and you hardly notice it.

[Chillum]

If it's your cat, it's your crap. Please keep it to yourself, and don't encourage it to pollute the surrounding gardens.

[milly143]

It was only a question!!!!!! Jesus.

burnhal - I think it is clay based with odour control, plus I use a scented powder designed for cat litter odour but it still wiffs.

[mystress]

Hi milly,

I think it would be amusing,and somewhat educational, to put AB Posters who want their cats to poop outside,together with those guys on AB who are sick and tired of neighbours cats pooing in their gardens.That would be some ding dong match!

Just what milly do you hope to achieve by your cats pooing in the garden? Cats poo becomes highly infectious after approx 24 hours, and will not be nice to dig up when you are gardening(especiallybad near Veg or Fruit).Also if you have visiting children it's not good for them to risk coming  across cat pooh!

You certainly will not encourage good relations with your neighbours if your cat poos in their gardens,we have many posts on AB about this.

I have several Cats,and although we have a large garden (2 acres) they never poo outside.I use Pettex Litter which clumps(with the wee) & very rarely smells.I have a "mini" dustbin lined with a Supermarket carrier, and put the clumps of wee in this,when the bag is full it goes in the garden, and when there are a few they go to dump,or in a black bin bag for the dustman. The solids are removed into a kitchen paper towl and flushed down the loo.

If you want to have a nice garden,and friendly neighbours then please persevere with a Litter Tray!& whilst chillums post might be a bit blunt,I do appreciate his point!

PS If you are concerned about the smell, then move the tray to someweher cool,and think about investing in a covered tray.Have a look at one here:~

http://www.tlcpets.com.au/Shop/Cat%20Items/Litter%20Tray/litter20.jpg

[Chillum]

Apologies for my bluntness, but having to constantly lift out handfulls of someone else's cat crap, and keeping my children away from certain areas of my garden, really cheeses me off.

[mystress]

No need for apologies Chillum,I think AB is all about different opions,and if you post (as milly has) she cannot always expect opinions the same as hers!

[dmsjps]

Hi milly, don't know if you've tried it, but what about putting the litter tray outside? Try it just outside the conservatory doors at first (I know it's not nice for visitors to see, but neither is it being in the conservatory) and then as he gets used to it, gradually move it further away. You could then start mixing litter and soil together and eventually he may start going in the garden and leave his litter tray altogether. As other people have mentioned though, you'll have to make sure any little ones don't want to make mud pies where he's been!

[smurfchops]

When my cat was around six months, I put the litter tray outside and then I put some of the litter granules on the earth in the side border.  I stood him in his clean granules, held his front paws and made the 'covering over' movements they make when they have done a poo - he seemed to know that he must do his toilet in the earth outside and the litter tray was eventually banished. Praise him when he has done a poo or a wee outside, and you can soon say goodby to your litter tray.   Cats, unlike dogs, always cover up their toilet when they have finished.  Cullum, I dont know how large your garden is but try putting orange peel on the earth, cats dont like the smell and it might keep them away.  There are probably other things you could try putting on the earth, or even just running down the garden might put the frighteners on them.  I have squirted water on neighbours' cats who come in my garden, some of them just want to fight with my cat, they seem to know when you dont like them, run after them and clap your hands loudly, it seems to work! Good luck.

[mystress]

milly,

That is the other problem.

If you neighbours cats smell your cats poo in your garden,they will come to regard your garden as one to be used as a giant outdoor litter tray!

Think on't.

[dmsjps]

Well looking at the replies, you could do a 'best of both worlds' to keep everyone happy: put his litter tray in a small dog house, then he won't poo in anyone's garden, he won't poo in your house and he'll still have his beloved litter tray!

[dmsjps]

Oops, that sounded as though I was being 'funny' and I wasn't; I mean't put it in a small dog house - not with a dog in it! - so that he has shelter to do his business in, but you can access it easily, it isn't on show in the garden all the time and hopefully smiles all round!

[chrissy77]

Hi, Milly.
I think these guys are being silly! My cat uses a liiter box, but only because she's an indoor only cat. Cats are very tidy and they bury their poop. As long as I've been alive, I've never, ever, even once, come across a pile of cat poop outside. And, how many people have ever died or even become sick from eating veggies that were grown in a garden where a cat has pooped. It's nature!!! Where did anyone or anything poop before we had the luxury of toilets and litter boxes?
So, on to your question... You might try putting the litter box outside for a while and taking the cat to it often. Once he's used to the idea of going outside, you could do away with the litter box.
Another idea is to simply remove the box all together. Cats don't usually like to go on the floor. He might have an accident or two, but it won't take long for him to get the idea.
Yet another idea is, when you see him headed for the box, follow him. Just as he steps into it, pick him up and take him outside.
If none of these work for you, the clay clumping litter that mystress suggested is what I use. It keeps the odor down as long as you scoop it every day. Also, you don't have to change the litter as often.
Some people should find more important issues to fight for! If all the cats in the world used a litter box, all other animals would still be pooping outside. If we didn't have toilets, WE'D be pooping outside! Of coarse cat poop is toxic! All poop is toxic! It's poop!
Good luck to you. Enjoy your new kitty!