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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

Cat will not poo outside if it's raining. At end of my tether.

27 replies

Germ1250 · 15/09/2016 23:04

We have 4 cats, bro and sis + two (now adult) kittens of the sis. She will not poo/wee outdoors if it is raining. With autumn on the way it will only get worse.

She has no illness, no mobility problems, is only 5yo, it just seems like she doesn't want to do it in the rain. We have had to pull up the carpet in the living room, the one carpeted room in the house, as she had made it stink. I am embarrassed to have people round here.

Don't want to have a litter tray again as the other cats will go back to using it too (and the house will stink even more).

I am at the end of my tether. If it was due to illness or fear of other cats I could understand it, but the fact that she only does it when it rains suggests that that's not the case. What can I do?

OP posts:

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LaurieFairyCake · 15/09/2016 23:12

Well I'd get a litter tray. If not inside sort out one that can be sheltered in a dog kennel outside and clean it out daily.

With the greatest respect would you like to shit in the rain and dig it over in the mud after?

bloodyteenagers · 15/09/2016 23:15

Cat litter doesn't have to smell. You just need to scoop the shit out, and change the litter regularly.
Don't blame her tbh. I wouldn't want to have a shit outside either.

PovertyPain · 15/09/2016 23:18

You're going to get slated for letting your cat out to poo in other people's gardens, don't you, OP? I'm just going to sit here, with my feet up and wait for the cat haters to arrive.

Germ1250 · 15/09/2016 23:19

Admittedly I wouldn't fancy it myself, either!! But the others don't appear to mind. What's your analysis - is she just a bit of a princess?

OP posts:

Germ1250 · 15/09/2016 23:20

Poverty, I'd be overjoyed if she just shat in my garden!!

OP posts:

bloodyteenagers · 15/09/2016 23:22

My analysis. She's a cat. They do what they want. Just like us, they all have their own preference.

LaurieFairyCake · 15/09/2016 23:23

Yes, your darling cat has a preference - that's why we all love them so much - because they're imperious bastards who want everything their own way

So sort out a litter tray useless human !

anyoldname76 · 15/09/2016 23:25

get one of the enclosed litter trays, decent litter and clean it daily

sparkleglitterdaisy · 15/09/2016 23:25

Our cat never goes outside , only ever uses the litter box . Some of my cats have been happy to go outside others have not . Our litter tray doesn't smell , I scoop it daily , clean & change it twice a week . I can't imagine not providing a litter tray . To be honest I think it's cruel not to meet your cats needs .

bloodyteenagers · 15/09/2016 23:36

Also without the tray, what happens if they are ill and cannot go out? Or in the winter when the ground is frozen? Or Spring when it's snowing ?

Germ1250 · 15/09/2016 23:44

I do not want a litter tray if it can be avoided. We had one, we were changing it every 2 hours, as the other 3 cats would shit in it. It means if we go to work/out for more than a few hours we will be cleaning up shit when we get back as it will get full and they shit next to it. It will be worse than it is now, as we will be clearing shit up all the time, instead of just when it's raining because once she/they have it when it is raining, they'll expect it when it's not. Any suggestions of alternatives are welcomed. In lieu of any other options, yes, I guess we will have to put out a litter tray. It will be a backwards step (albeit one we may have to take).

OP posts:

Germ1250 · 15/09/2016 23:48

When they're ill, we accept that accidents will happen/they may not be able to go out. We haven't had a problem with the others with respect to the weather (it really does not get very cold here) but if and when there are extremes, of course they'd be forgiven!

Cats and their humans did manage before litter trays were "a thing"!!

OP posts:

RubbishMantra · 15/09/2016 23:55

Get a couple of covered trays, (ones with a lid on), and good quality litter. Scoop shit and clumps ASAP - problem solved. After all, dog owners are fined for letting their dogs crap where they please without picking it up.

I prefer my cats to use their trays than track shitty, muddy paw tracks through the house.

I thought it was a given, having a cat = having a litter tray or 2.

RubbishMantra · 15/09/2016 23:59

Are they all neutered?

Germ1250 · 16/09/2016 00:02

Yes. All of them.

OP posts:

RockinHippy · 16/09/2016 00:23

Try a covered litter tray outside near the door for her ?

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/09/2016 06:55

Just get a tray. It's easier and less smelly than cat shit on the carpet.

LaurieFairyCake · 16/09/2016 07:42

Didn't you like my suggestion of a litter tray in a dog kennel ?

You need a covered one.

Artandco · 16/09/2016 07:52

You need a tray though, how can you have cats and no tray?

You need more than one tray though per cat, hence you say it was full after a day. The rule of thin is roughly one tray per cat plus a spare, so you really need 5 trays. That way they won't smell as they have space to cover

If the cats are outside maybe add a small kennel with a litter tray in also

neonrainbow · 16/09/2016 07:54

With 4 cats you need more than one litter tray

Allergictoironing · 16/09/2016 07:57

We had one, we were changing it every 2 hours, as the other 3 cats would shit in it. It means if we go to work/out for more than a few hours we will be cleaning up shit when we get back as it will get full and they shit next to it.

I feel there may be just a touch of exaggeration there! Either that, or you had the smallest litter tray in history. All 4 cats pooing every 2-3 hours? Litter tray full after half a day, every day? My 2 indoor cats go about once a day each on average, and when they decide to both go either overnight or when I'm out there's loads and loads of space left for more if they feel like it.

Look into bigger litter trays, having more than one, and decent non-smelly litter. Mine are on wood pellets and you wouldn't know they had pooed if it wasn't for the litter being piled up over it. The lumps get taken out twice a day if needed, and the litter fully changed weekly - the only smell I get is sometimes just before bin day the remains I've put in the bin will whiff a bit.

FuzzyWizard · 16/09/2016 08:00

Your cats all clearly prefer going indoors. I can't blame them, I wouldn't want to go outside in the rain either. As others have said you need multiple litter trays for 4 cats.

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Umblubblub · 16/09/2016 08:09

I had a similar problem with one of my cats, she's a bit of a diva. If there was no litter tray, she would poo and wee on the playroom carpet. Eventually, we put a microchip cat flap in the garage door so only she can get in there to use the litter tray, and the others can't get to it. If your cats are chipped maybe try something similar? Might sound a bit OTT and expensive, but cheaper than buying yet another carpet!

ProfYaffle · 16/09/2016 08:11

Agree with pp, you have to get a litter tray. Dealing with poo is just part of having a pet plus it's got to be preferable to trashing the carpets hasn't it?

We got an out door litter box for our cat, dry and waterproof inside, could be a solution placed right by the cat flap?

www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter_litter_boxes/litter_boxes_nofilter/litter_boxes_without_filter/137335

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 16/09/2016 08:16

Agree with pps, you need a tray. I've seen suggested on here putting them in the understairs cupboard with a catflap on the door.

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