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Original poster

The litter tray is outside now and inching further away from the back door but ...

16 replies

Spidermama · 15/05/2008 22:31

... how do I get them to stop pooing in it and go and do it somewhere better. I have two girl kittens who'll be one in July. I really thought by now they wouldn't need the litter tray. We have a decent sized back garden backing onto a brillant railway cutting for them so what's the problem?

How should I proceed?

I've tried cold turkey (taking the tray away) and the house smelt of wee again. They also pooed in DH's cellar porch.

Any tips would be very much appreciated as it's seriously unpleasant having a litter tray with turds in it in my garden.

OP posts:

snowleopard · 15/05/2008 22:33

Are you sure you don't want the tray? Our cat doesn't poo in a litter tray - she poos in the garden, which is totally reasonable of course but does make it harder to get rid of. Is there a distant corner where the litter tray could go?

Washersaurus · 15/05/2008 22:35

I'd keep the litter tray tbh - its gotta be better than the poo in your lawn/border/veg patch etc.

We had an indoor cat until recently and used to keep our litter tray in the cellar, and we put a cat flap on the cellar door. My elderly neighbour had a cat flap on her shed!

ButterflyMcQueen · 15/05/2008 22:35

are you putting soil in the tray not bought litter

that is transitional step then take tray awawy

Pannacotta · 15/05/2008 22:37

Try putting some of the used (wet) litter in the garden where you want them to go and see if that works.
I did this after we moved house when one of our cats was still using the litter tray after the cat flap was in and it seemed to work.
Also you could try the Feliway plug in things these are good at helping them stop weeing in the house, you can get them from your vet.

Original poster

Spidermama · 15/05/2008 22:37

I had two cats as a kid and I never remember seeing their shits in the garden. I think they did them further afield (perhaps in other peoples gardens . I thought my cats would utilise the wilderness of the railway cutting. In fact I'll be honest that was the deal when I got them, which they don't seem to want to stick to.

OP posts:

noddyholder · 15/05/2008 22:37

Keep it outside for a week and then take litter out and put just paper in it and then take the whole thing away and keep them locked out for a whole day til they get it!Sounds cruel b ut I love cats but can't do litter either.

Original poster

Spidermama · 15/05/2008 22:38

OK good. I'll mix soil and litter in the tray ...then move the mixture to the wilderness or somewhere it can be easily dug in and gradually ease off with the litter.

Great. I have a strategy. Thanks.

OP posts:

snowleopard · 15/05/2008 22:39

Yes we have a handy railway cutting too. Not happening. The best it gets is that she poos in the front garden, which we don't use, under nice concealing bushes.

Original poster

Spidermama · 15/05/2008 22:39

Why paper in it noddy?

OP posts:

prettybird · 15/05/2008 22:45

Is it a litter tray with a lid? My dad has been going through this process recently with thier two cats/kittens. After moving the cat litter tray outsdie, he then dug over an area of the garden and put the lid on that - and has been moving the lid around. You could do the same - and porgressively move the lid closer to the railway cutting.

Dh and I need to get organised and do the same thing for our two. Maybe after dh's exams.......

Original poster

Spidermama · 15/05/2008 22:47

No lid. But digging is a good idea. Every time my dh digs a part of the garden all the neighbourhood cats come and make use.

OP posts:

noddyholder · 15/05/2008 22:58

They don't really like it spider and so their feet get dirty and they go elsewhere.Could you leave them out overnight even once?

Original poster

Spidermama · 15/05/2008 23:57

OOoooh I don't know. I'm sorely tempted but there are some big mutthas out there with torn up ears and mangy fur. My girls are gentile. I would lie awake imagining them scraping for all they're worth at the cat door with some mangy Tom trying to shag them thinking, 'Mum, Oh Mum, why have you forsaken us?'

OP posts:

SmugColditz · 16/05/2008 00:07

If they've been snipped no toms will try to shag them, because they won't smell good.

Original poster

Spidermama · 16/05/2008 00:08

They have been snipped Colditz but they're so beautiful.

The Toms are more likely to chase them in and try to fight them perhaps.

OP posts:

cutekids · 16/05/2008 00:15

OMG!My little puddypies are nearly 14 and we still have a cat-litter tray!!!!I'm one of these unusual people who likes my cats to come IN at night rather than go out so i've always kept their litter-tray handy in case they're took short...! I don't have a problem with it to be honest. I empty any BIG POOHS out into scented nappy bags and keep the litter approx.2/3 days before changing. To be honest, they only really use it at night or when it's too cold to piss/pooh outside!!!Funny really,cos they "trained" very quickly indeed...I used to pick their front paws up and pretend to scrape. Maybe that's what you have to do outside to persuade them to "go" in the garden/neighbour's garden(!)etc.?

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