Kittens: How do I get them to go to the toilet outside?

[RubyFruit]

My kittens, who are blood brother and sister, are now 6 months old and both been neutered. They go outside the catflap with ease. Love going out.

My only problem is they don't seem to understand they now need to also go outside to the toilet. I removed one of the trays and half filled it with earth and left it outside but they bypassed it, preferring to use the one indoors. I have started mixing earth with the litter with the one indoors. I bury their "no 2's" in the earth for them

All the other kittens I have ever had learned to go to the toilet outside naturally without any effort so I have never had this problem before.

Can anyone offer advice?

[BertieBotts]

Put both trays outdoors, if it's a dry day.

[RubyFruit]

Thanks BertieBotts. Just trying out your suggestion now..as fast as I put them out to go on the (now outside) cat litter tray, they run back in through the cat flap and head towards the spot in the house where the tray once was. Fun times! I run after them and put them on the (now outside) tray again and so the circle is complete

Any other thoughts form anyone?

[stoprunningwithscissors]

I am trying the same with my 2 cats at the moment and am really struggling with one of them.

The one I had success with....I emptied their littler tray in the spot I wanted them to go in the flower bed...he caught on pretty quickly.

So maybe try that - putting the litter outside, rather than soil in the litter tray?

[RubyFruit]

It's certainly an idea.

I'm getting to "desperate stage".

I'll give it a go and let you know how I get on.

[BertieBotts]

It's really difficult at this time of year. Especially as if they're used to having a tray indoors they might prefer to stay in when it's raining. I'm sure they'll get there though.

I would put some newspaper down where the tray was in case of accidents, should make cleaning up easier. You're not supposed to clean up while they can see or use any cleaners containing ammonia, because that signals to them that it's an okay place to mess.

[RubyFruit]

Thanks for your encouraging words BertieBotts - just what I needed to hear!

My mum seems to think it'll all be magically ok come the proper summer time.

I read somewhere that you should clean up and then use surgical spirit which is what I've been doing.

[Sparklingbrook]

My cats were a bit older, but I shovelled the wees and poos out of the tray and put them in the soil in the garden for a few days too so it smelt right IYKWIM.

[RubyFruit]

ah ha! Thanks sparklingbrook. Have only been burying the poos so maybe I'll start adding the wees and see if it makes a difference.

Whoever said the time of year helps was so right. All this rain hinders everything both for me and kittens.

Anyway, I am probably on a false alarm but since a disheartening start this morning and late last night, all has been quiet in the kitty tray dept so am hoping (as I have previously and been disappointed) that, perhaps, they are realising where to go.

[RubyFruit]

Good news...I am not out of the woods yet..there have been at least two "accidents" on the carpet which I spotted...but I have observed both kittens going in the earth over the past few days.

The solution was, indeed, to bury the litter in the earth where I wanted them to go and to sprinkle some clean litter there too. It also involved removing the tray from the house so as not to give them mixed messages about where their toilet facilities were.