I know a lot of people don't believe in outdoor cats. But I would like mine to use the cat door and go outside to use the toilet.
He is a kitten about 14 weeks old. I have the litter tray outside on the patio now and he uses it there but won't go in the garden…
Any tips?
Yeah sorry, going to chime in here also to reiterate, for the sake of Australia's lovely native birds and small creatures, could you like, not have your cat outdoors unless it is an enclosed space, op?
If you do this, you're ignorant, or an (profanity). If you still do this after being told cats kill 10k native animals/sqkm a year, you're an (profanity) (https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/the-staggeri…).
Back atcha.
Thank you!!! I will try this next
If the above doesn't work in one go, try moving it slowly everyday until it gets to the designated spot
go outside to use the toilet
you could also not be lazy and train the cat to pee & poo in the toilet.
Have you ever trained a cat to use the loo?
Easy. Use a loo ring….
tried, can never get them to use it since litter is too shallow
would go in thebath tub instead
Easier than getting it to flush.
Lead by example. You go in the garden.
Kitten see, kitten do.
Nothing like asserting your dominance.
Will try that one
He is a kitten about 14 weeks old. I have the litter tray outside on the patio now and he uses it there but won't go in the garden…
He doesn't see the garden as a litterbox. Its probably got bark in it and isn't enticing. Cats like litter or sandy things. So try my pool shell idea.
The fact that he is using it on the patio is good. At least it's outside, the smell isn't a huge issue, and it's easy to clean. It's better than having it in an enclosed space like a laundry room.
Thanks for your reply. I will do some work to make it more enticing for him outside.
Given it's illegal (in almost all local council areas) to let your cat outdoors/off your property at dawn/dusk/overnight, you'll still need to have a kitty litter tray inside somewhere… right? RIGHT?
Please don't be one of those careless owners who lets their cat kill native wildlife, scratch up people's cars, and defecate in their neighbourhood kids' sandpits
Well, it should be!
@ForkSnorter: Or strays that are the offspring of escaped house cats. Which is a big problem in itself.
@ForkSnorter: Feral cats are not "escaped" house cats. They are born in the wild and have never been socialised with humans.
the descendants
Yes. Not escaped house cats, but born in the wild descendants of house cats.
ou'll find tis mostly FERAL cats that are the problem
You will find that you are incorrect.
Would love to know what council you are in :)
Yes. I am in Redlands City Council and cats need to stay on your property or you get fined.
I don't know what all my neighbours did but their cats love going to the toilet in my garden.
Those motion detecting sprinklers work a treat
Lol sorry to hear that.
Cats are naturally clean animals and as a first choice will use soil/sand provided it is soft - inside or outside.
If using an inside tray use the kitty litter stuff as that will dry out the feces and neutalise the odour.
If you're okay to see your kitten dead either by poisoning and/or flattened by a vehicle, feel free to let them out.
They'll eventually start peeing and pooping in nearby gardens to claim territory. Think it comes with age.
Counter opinion: Don't get a pet if you can't or won't look after it responsibly.
If you let the cat outside, make sure it is in a cat enclosure or the cat is tied to a lead so it doesn't kill native wildlife, scratch up people's cars, and defecate in their neighbourhood kids' sandpits
defecate in their neighbourhood kids' sandpits
Exactly why I said OP should build their own or put in a shell in.
I have an enclosure attached to the house. Wildlife seems to be able to get in, but can't get out. Makes it really easy for my cat to catch.
Sounds like your enclosure is non-compliant.
Good to see someone is a Site Inspections fan
You only need to have your cat as an indoors cat if you care about *council fines *the safety of local wildlife *the safety of your cat
I know a lot of people don't believe in outdoor cats.
They exist. I've seen them.
Ensure your cat doesn’t roam off your property. Create some area with loose soil so it is easy to dig. Bury some of the soiled cat litter in that area. Go roam around with the cat near that area.
Our cat prefers the garden, he's too scared to jump the 2.5m fence or even leave the yard when the door or gate is open so he's safely an indoor outdoor by his choice & has never roamed.
But from experience, with a cat that now won't use a kitty litter tray & only uses the 50m of wrap around garden that we have to toilet - it's the worst. The garden absolutely stinks & it's disgusting & embarrassing, we've had to remove all the top soil to be replaced, not to mention they dig & bury their poo so no matter how many times we've gone to clean the garden there's still more & our dogs will find it to eat it if we don't get it in time 🤮. I love to garden, but I can't touch our backyard garden now until all the soil is completely removed & new soil added. And heaps of our plants have now died. And I have little kids so add the stress of needing it to be cleaned up so the can play outside.
I'd honestly stick with the kitty litter tray on the patio, be grateful that your cat will use it outside so it's not stinking up your house, at least you can empty & clean a kitty litter tray. Your cat using the garden will be a nightmare. Maybe you could create a nice kitty litter cupboard or something to hide the tray?
Dig a new garden patch, they are attracted to the loose dirt. If you go as far as buying seedlings they will for sure go there. I have always had outdoor cats.
The comments and votes on this page are wild. Keep them in at night, but no dog or cat should be confined in a house their whole life, get outta here.
Most councils don't mention day or night when they stipulate that cats aren't allowed outside unattended or without an enclosure - it's 24/7 and for good reason.
I suspect most councils say cats aren’t allowed off the owners property rather than they have to be confined to a building. Our cats don’t have an “enclosure” but they also can’t get off our property.
I would be much happier if my neighbour kids were forced to be locked up inside, but no, that would be "cruel and inhumane". For some reason it's not cruel and humane to do it to a much loved pet.
Euthanize the cat. Invest in some taxidermy. Put it on the kitchen bench. Problem solved.
This is the way. Taxidermy is becoming a lost art too, so added benefit is continuing the skill!!!
Unfortunately a lot of pet owners have a problem wrapping their heads around one important concept, their pets are animals. They seem to believe pets somehow become immobile and soundless when they're not about. Then like magic these animals re-animate when the owner comes home. So what's to train they think because from what they see they act perfectly.
Cats are inherently lazy. Over the years I have noticed that when you dig up a part of the garden, that is where they will go to the toilet. Certainly our garden beds are very hard/root bound in some places so they will go wherever it is easier to dig their hole.
Pot plants are the worry - one in particular will use pots. We have to ensure that our pots are inhospitable to cat digging.
Absolutely. Planted some strawberries one day and the cat “fertilised” them overnight.
Maybe take a visit to India to study the behaviours of the locals, how they use the streets for waste. The way they do it confidently and powerfully, which is what you need to show your cat. I think it can be a very eye opening experience and inspiring for you and your cat for it to gain enough confidence to do it too.
Cats mimic their parents, which is you. Therefore you should go outside, get the cat to follow you, take a nice dump in the garden while maintaining eye contact with the cat at all times.
Train it to use your human toilet…lots of youtube videos on how
Just clean the litter box brother it's not that hard
I hate to be the person who doesn't answer the question and just tells you to not do it but you should seriously not be letting your cat outside for their own safety as well as that of the local wildlife.