New House - Territory Issues!

[pattimayonnaise]

Hi All,

We moved a few weeks ago and initially my cat was intrigued about the new garden and wanted to go out. It's quite a "doggy" area and there are also a few other cats about. She's already got into a couple of fights with another cat on the street and now won't go out at all. She's not going to the toilet inside, which makes me concerned about her holding it. I'm thinking it may be best to reintroduce the litter tray and I hope that as it gets warmer and the doors are open more (we'll get a cat flap too), her confidence will grow and she'll be happy to go out.
Does anyone have any tips? I don't know what to do about this other cat that seems to want to fight over the territory, but I am not keen on her becoming an indoor cat, I don't really have anywhere contained to put the litter tray. Thanks!

A litter tray immediately'.

You're enormously lucky that you haven't had any 'accidents'. (Unless you have and you haven't noticed them.)

Yes, I think we have been lucky but I'm aware that's likely to change if she keeps on refusing to go out! I'll have to dig it back out of the garage!

I'd do it right now - everything else can wait until she 's more comfortable.

How long has this been?

She's been funny over the past week and when she goes out she's hiding on the flat roof rather than going into the garden. I did catch her going to the toilet in a high up plant pot, but it's not ideal. I'll grab some litter on the way home, I feel awful at the thought of her being too scared to go!