Please, please help, kitten/ litter tray

[Just2MoreSeasons]

Can anyone help? We have an 8 month old kitten who isn't toilet trained properly. We have a litter tray in the bathroom (I would rather he just go outside) but as well as using that he sometimes poos in our under stairs cupboard. I really don't know why he doesn't go upstairs but I think I know why he doesn't do it outside. The neighbours cat seems to 'bully' him for want of a better word.
Also our bedroom stinks. It's an unpleasant, little bit sweet sort of a smell. I think it may be cat pee. We usually keep the door shut but obviously pop in and out and last night I saw a small wet patch on the bed (it didn't smell of anything though).He have seen him wee on this bed before too. I have used simple solution spray all over the carpet, lower walls, skirting, curtains etc as I just can't work out where exactly the smell is. Seriously the litter tray is 5 meters away! I can't move the tray as my young toddler is straight in it trying to eat it .

How the hell can I sort this? How can I know for sure the smell is cat wee?
How can I stop him doing it? I would seriously rehome him (he's very cute and I'm sure a home would be found quickly) but my 6 year old would be devastated . And I think I would be pretty sad too [ sad]

Thanks lurked the beginning of a plan is forming. Move litter tray to cupboard, mix some soil in (less and less over time?) put cat flap on cupboard door.

Will kitten understand the tray has moved or should I keep the old tray in the bathroom for a while too?

I really want no trays at all (whine) do you think there's ahance when he's bigger that I'll be able to get rid of them??

When I've moved the tray I put the cat in it in the new location and show them how to take through the litter - they get the message. You might be wise to have a second tray so he can continue to also use the first one he recognises?

You could try two at first. And yes, I've gone from full soil to litter by mixing and slowly decreasing the amount of soil.

My (now ex) feral had a tray of soil under Dd's bed, but that was about being nervous rather than clean, so she graduated to the other litter tray we already had for other cat on her own when she got braver.

If you get a covered tray the toddler won't get at it will they?

As long as you show the cat the tray it should know where it is.

You mentioned an old cat,t he smell might still be around, feliway should work with this.

I agree re litter tray - too small, too exposed a position, and the plastic prob off putting. Cats like dark quiet. Private places to poo. In that cupboard should be ideal.

I had a really tough time with my kitten and the litter tray, she would wee on the bed & poo in the litter box but we could never get her to do both in the box!

Maybe try taking the plastic liners out of the box, our kitten hated them. We had to go with tough love in the end and ban her from the bedroom until she learnt (broke my heart, she was the tiniest little 3 month old kitten and would cry to get in there), but eventually she learnt where to go. Maybe try restricting his access to places he likes to pee?