why has my cat started using his litter tray?

[sausagesandwich34]

my cat is 4 yo

has been a bit under the weather recently, has been to the vet and is fine, not on any medication or anything but will take about 8 weeks to get better -but is carrying on his business as usual, eating, drinking 50/50 time inside & out, sleeping on the children's beds

he has barely used a litter tray since he was a kitten, prefering to do his business outside

very rarely if he is shut in for longer than normal he will use the tray but that's probably less than every 6 months

he's now started using it everyday -and then asking to go outside -grr!

how do I encourage him back outside -he's costing me a fortune in cat litter!

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

Perhaps as he is still recuperating he feels a bit vulnerable doing it outside atm. Give it a bit more time?

[RightsaidFreud]

Our boy started doing this, and we found out its because a tom cat was coming in the garden and they kept getting to scraps. He seems to have got over it now, and is going outside again. Maybe check there arnt any other cats coming in the garden?

[RightsaidFreud]

I should add we always have a tray out for him just in case, but he always hates using it (it's almost like he's embarrassed to use it!) so when he started using it, we knew something was up.

[cozietoesie]

We put a 'just in case' tray out for The Lodger and he started using it - in preference. (He would come in to use his tray and then go out again.) Well - warm, easy to dig, safe, always clean thanks to the Litter Fairy (Huh!) - what's to disagree with?

Start looking for recipes for carrot curry - it's real cheap and very flavoursome.

[cozietoesie]

PS- and just thinking about this. Using a tray shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg. What litter are you using, OP - and how are you managing it? (ie changing it etc.)

[sausagesandwich34]

ok it doesn't cost the earth but it's alot more than free

I use the wooden pellets and spot empty when needed and properly clean once a week if it's been used

he doesn't tend to wee in it, it's a number 2 issue!