Kitten being neutered next week - how do I introduce her to the big wide world outside?!

[umiaisha]

We are planning to get a cat flap but not until after christmas.

How does she learn to wee/poo outside instead of in the litter tray as I would love to get rid of it?

In the past the way we have done it is to start off putting some cat litter with a little bit of soiled [wee] litter in it on an area of the garden that you are happy for the cat to use as a loo.

The idea is that the cat will smell its own wee and know that that's the place to use, once they start using that spot you can do away with the litter being put there.

keep the tray initially, once she/he gets the hang of it you can think about taking the tray away.

Having the cat 'go' in one spot of the garden makes poo removal duty much easier.

I'll be doing this soon too, so I'm interested in other ideas too.

I can't help on that one really. I always provide trays and my cats can choose to use them or go outside. You certainly can't take the tray away until you have a cat flap which your cat is comfortable with using.

Lots of cats don't like to go outside to wee/poo if it's raining or very cold, or if the ground is frozen, or if there's another scary cat in the garden etc etc. You may never be able to get rid of having a tray completely.

Oh yes, a catflap is a must if you have any hope of them only going outside to wee etc.

You shouldn't. Because once she's going outside she will start going in your neighbours' gardens too. Keep the litter tray rather than turn your neighbours' gardens into your cat's toilet.