To think about getting a cat but not wanting to do a litter box?

[Nolitterbox]

We had a cat that died about 8 years ago, she was not an indoor cat - but hardly ever went outside. Really only to sunbathe! The good thing was: no dead wildlife. The bad thing was: litter box. I hated it. It was a bane of my life the whole time.

I have a really strong sense of smell and can always smell them when I go to people’s houses who have them and I really dislike them. Also, our house is very small - there’s nowhere “tucked away” it could go.

I told DH we could get a cat and not do the litter box thing. He isn’t so sure. It’s a dealbreaker for me!

So:
if you have a cat and a litter box, vote YABU
If you have a cat and no litter box YANBU

Get the car but have them on decent food as they are not as smelly

If you get an older cat from a rescue, you'll only have to have the litter tray while it gets used to it's new home. Once it's outside - job done (so to speak) If you want a cat don't deprive yourself over this. A month (at most) of ugh! followed by a lifetime of slavery. Remember the cat tax!

We have an outdoor litter tray with a hood just by the back door. Means we don't have the smell inside but don't have to retrieve poo from all over the garden (garden's cat proofed so the cat never strays)

If you don't have a tray, the cat still poos but other people are cleaning it up for you.

We have a cat and no litter box now but when we first got her we did have to have one while she settled in and wasn't allowed out at first. Could you cope with it for a few weeks?

I've owned or part-owned 5 cats; only one has been an indoor cat and she's the only one who needed a litter tray. So YANBU.
If you have ££ there are very fancy automatic litter trays now which immediately deal with waste so no pongs.

Have a cat and litter tray. I do think you need one even if they usually go outside.

I don’t smell anything from dcat’s litter tray, we use clumping litter and it’s easy to clean.

The issue with cats though is you will have almost certainly have some kind of toilet issue at some point anyway. With Dcat being long haired, she gets poo stuck and that is a bit grim, especially the time she tried to get rid of it by scraping her bum along the carpet.

The joy of our cat more than makes up for those moments though.

Long as you completely cat proof your garden so that it can’t get out and shit all over everyone else’s gardens, fine.

If you aren’t prepared to clean up an animals poo then you shouldn’t have an animal

In my experience cats are ok without a litter tray during their prime years of life, but they really do need one once they become elderly. So I think YABU.

My two prefer to do their business outside (in my garden before someone rages), but i do have a litter box in the utility for emergencies. The type of litter you buy can impact the odour hugely.

This 👆

Where do you think the cat will crap if you don’t have a litter tray ?
Probably your neighbours garden, YABVU

Not fair to let your cat poop all over other people gardens.

Get the litter tray. Keep it clean. They don't smell. (We have 2 trays neither smell....scoop each day - wash and replace when required.)

You think you can’t stand the smell how do you think those of us who didn’t want pets as we didn’t want to deal with poo feel when we find it in our gardens? I echo what others have said cat proof your garden or don’t get one

I would think it would depend on the cat! I have two, one never uses the litter tray and only wants to go outside but the other always uses the litter tray in winter and when it's cold and wet. He won't go out in the rain.

I have a really strong sense of smell and can always smell them when I go to people’s houses who have them and I really dislike them.

My husband is the same. We put the litter tray outside under cover.

Is there any way that you could do that?

Would you like to live in a house without a toilet?

IMO all cats should have access to a litter tray. Providing a safe, clean place for toileting is just a basic part of cat ownership.

My experience is that while young cats may be quite happy to go outside, older cats aren't as much - and the last thing you want is for your cat to pee or poo on your bed because you've failed to provide them with an alternative.

Also if you can't cope with wee and poo confined in a litter tray, how are you going to cope with them bringing in half-dead animals, or vomiting hairballs, or having accidents when they get sick or old?

Please cat proof your garden if you get a cat and don’t have a litter tray so that it can’t get out and poo in other people’s gardens.

The cats on our street seem to enjoy using our front garden as a litter tray and it’s really unpleasant when you go out to do some gardening and come across piles of poo everywhere. I’d sooner empty a litter tray than end up with poo on my hands whilst pulling weeds and they’re not my cats to give me the choice!

Believe it or not I don't want to deal with cat shit either but owners like you give me no choice.

Well, plenty of people don't bother so I guess it's possible, but our boy always uses his and would be very distressed not to have one.

I do think if you say you aren't going to have a tray, you are essentially saying 'its ok, he'll just shit in my neighbours garden' which is pretty unpleasant.

I put a cat litter tray inside a dog kennel outside (with a wide enough hole to pull the tray through for cleaning) and that works well.

How do you cat proof a garden?

I dont have a cat but I did growing up. They climb! Ours would climb up onto the ridge of the house roof and sunbathe. Do you have a mesh lid over your whole garden or something?

Next doors cat use my front garden as their litter tray, stinks, we end up clearing it up, be the decent neighbour, clean up after your own cat and get an indoor litter box.

@SirSamVimesCityWatch you can get a catio built which is all netted in

100% agree