Advice please: Can I train them to give up the litter tray?

[Sparklingsky]

My two 11 month old kittens wait to come inside to use the litter tray then go out again. While I appreciate how organised their toiletting is, I'd much rather they found a good spot outside. We've only got a small garden/mainly patio so further afield would be best.

Is there a way to get then to poo somewhere else? I can't have a cat flap installed in the doors we have. My last cat just used to wait at the door for someone to open it, do his business outside and return later for tea. These kittens don't go far and one tends to prefer inside mostly (asleep) But they both go out daily if it's not raining.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Are you serious? You actively want to get your cats to shit in someone else's garden

What pinkcan said!

The fact that they use the litter tray is a GOOD thing, it means you will spot any problems with urine or faeces, which will help you catch certain medical problems early. It also means they won't piss off neighbours by toileting in their gardens. And they won't go in yours.

You should also install a cat flap.

If you can't be bothered to empty and clean the litter tray or fit a cat flap, you shouldn't have got cats.

As far as I'm concerned having a litter tray is part of having a cat. Are they kept in at night? If so, how would you like to not be able to use a toilet all night? My cat is kept in and sometimes uses his tray and that's fine. When he's out he uses our (very small) garden but I'd much rather he did that than go off and use the neighbours' gardens!

If you can't have a cat flap (and I bet you could - they can be installed in any type of door, even large double glazed patio type ones - they can also go in walls/windows ....) then you can't get rid of a tray. Cats always need to have access to some sort of toileting arrangements.

Also cats often don't like to go outside if it's raining, or the ground is hard, or there is a big scary tomcat in the garden, so really it's difficult to ever get rid of a tray even if you do have a flap. But if you are not going to have a flap then I don't understand how you are even contemplating getting rid of it.

My last two outside-going cats both came inside to do their duty. (Or mostly did it before they went out.)

It didn't bother me in the least. I could keep a weather eye on their health via the workings of their innards and it saved any difficulties with neighbours over the state of their flower beds. Besides which, they actually preferred it that way - cats sometimes feel vulnerable toileting outside and prefer to use a clean, safe and warm environment before heading out to get the craic. Fine by me.

Mine does anyway. He has a tray but prefers to do it over the road in a front garden so everyone can watch.