Is it possible to train a 7 year old Siamese to go to the loo outside?

[SilverCharm]

He has a tray....but he is so messy! Every time he goes, he kicks it all over the place....I did get him a tray that was covered and he hated it.

No...he prefers his open one so that he can do a poo, then boot it across the bathroom.



I want him to go outside. We're getting a catflap soon....so he will have free access outdoors...any advice please?

[jumpingjackhash]

Hi, our cat is half Siamese and we put a cat flap in last year, when she was 11/12 and she now only ever does her business in a litter tray when the weather is truly howling! She'll even brave snow (she's a total wimpy princess) to crap in her favourite spot in the corner of the garden.

If your cat goes outside anyway now to mooch around or 'play', i'm sure he'll pee and poo out there too (if only to mark territory).

[cozietoesie]

Have you thought of putting his tray inside a large shallow cardboard box? (My Mum used ones that came for bananas but I'm not sure if you can get those nowadays. Maybe cut down a few tele boxes or something similar in size with a Stanley knife?)

[AlphabetiSpaghetti]

I had a Siamese. He was the only cat I knew who always came in for the loo. Even if it was hot and sunny and he was having an 'outdoors' day. He'd make a special trip to come in. We ended up fashioning a curtain around his tray. Strange beast. I miss him. :(

[SilverCharm]

Oh I HOPE he's like yours jumping and not like "spaghettis* !!

[cozietoesie]

Alphabeti - Likewise.

My only Siamese who went outside always came inside religiously to use his tray. Sun or shine.

Sorry - SilverCharm.

[jumpingjackhash]

My parents have a tortie who will only pee and poo in her litter tray, coming in from the garden especially to go to the loo!

Do give it a try with the cat flap though!

[tabulahrasa]

My Siamese comes in to use the litter tray too.

[Lougle]

Could you clicker train? Do cat's respond to clicks? Who knows

[Lougle]

Oh yes you can!!

[cozietoesie]

Well it's understandable, really. The litter tray is fresh, self cleaning (as far as the cat's concerned!!), warm, safe, protected etc. I mean - who among us would pee behind a bush in the garden when it's raining? If we didn't have to that is.

Even my on and off lodger started to use his tray out of preference and he'd brought himself up on the street.

Not looking good SilverCharm; although not much fun if yours really is playing footie with poos in the bathroom. I'm wondering, though, how often you groom him? Sometimes long cat hairs (or dog hairs - if you have one) can get mixed up with poo in the gut so that one stays 'connected' to inside and they shake and run around to dislodge it. Maybe that's what's happening?

[SilverCharm]

Cozie I groom him every day. He makes me.

MEEEEOOOOOOW!!!!! Means "Get my brush and worship me you lazy baggage!"

[cozietoesie]

Ah well- Maybe the cat flap will work. But if he keeps on wanting to do it inside, try the cardboard box thing. It worked for my Mum's boy because it contained all the litter and any 'extras' in one place.

Best of luck!

[prettybird]

You can give it a go. Make sure you have some nicely dug over ground (freshly turned veg or garden beds are usually particularly attractive ). You could even put some cat litter where you'd like him to go always assuming he doesn't prefer the nice clear veg bed and put him on it and "move" his paws to show him what you expect.

Not sure if it would work - we've always had Siamese who go outside (although we do also have an inside litter tray) and that's what we did to train them when they first started going outside as kittens.

[AmberLeaf]

Try putting down some weed on litter on a nice patch of soil in a discrete corner of your garden.

You can definitely teach an old cat dog new tricks!