Help with elderly rescue cat and his toileting habits please.

[carolinescustard]

Stop reading if you are eating! We rescued a stray male tabby about 3 years ago.
For a skinny chap he produces massive poos and lots of them.
For the last few years they really have taken over the garden! Our garden.
Anyway, he always does the either in the middle of the grass - or, now in the new house - by the back door.
It is foul. For years now we haven't been able to use our garden. We can't keep on top of it. The smell and the amount makes it an all consuming nightmare!
So... latest idea has been to buy him a lovely new fancy litter tray. With lots of space to kick and hopefully cover them up. Something he never does outside:(
We'd like him to only go there - no more garden at all.
I'm going to dig up all his previous offerings- and put down fresh bark.
I don't want him going back there - what advice is there with this problem? What can l plant in pots to deter him? I heard lavender, but seeing as you can buy lavender scented litter tray freshener , l doubt it is that effective?
He is a good boy and will use a tray - l just can't have him sabotaging our garden anymore. We have young children , l don't want them stepping in it anymore. I don't want to have to smell it anymore l'm done!

I totally get where your coming from, but it's natural for cats to go outside and they don't always cover up. My boy used to use the borders and my girl the grass - we had to do poo removal before cutting the grass.

All, you can do is offer him a tray inside and see if that reduces the times he goes out. The other option is to remove it each day, so that reduces the risk.

Thank you Tiger
I'm hoping his new covered tray might help. :)
I just want to use the garden...

Can you make him an outdoor "tray" in the garden? Try to limit them in a corner.

I'm not sure an established 'outdoor pooer' will use a litter tray unless there is no access to outside.

We did think about that soup it was my first choice. My DH thinks it'd get too wet. This new fancy one looks quite waterproof?
It really is quite a small garden ( l'm pleased about that) as the last one was so vast ... it was even worse. We ended up sitting on our front step - and my daughter used to arrange all her toys on a blanket!
It really is tricky. I've owned so many cats ( over the years) this one produces turds like nothing l've ever experienced!
Thank you.

Are you sure it's your cat and not foxes?

I'm just watching a fox shamelessly shitting in the middle of my lawn which is why I ask.

l'm almost 100% sure it is his behind causing all the mess.
almost l mean l've seen him bot down there... l notice today, that, one part of our fence has the earth lower down --- as if something could squeeze under?
Would a cat poo where a fox would?
I remember the smell of fox poo from our dog days - revolting!
The fox on your lawn is very blatant !

My dog has to be on a long line in the garden or he escapes.
The foxes know exactly how long this line is and stop where he can't get them.
And then shit.

They are beyond blatant!! :o

sorry - but l guess we just have to laugh.
I see all these gardens with perfectly manicured lawns , bistro sets and gorgeous flowers... then l look at mine. Like a wasteland , dominated by shit!

I feel your pain - dog, cat and foxes here. And probably badgers.

the clue here is you said you are going to put down fresh bark cats love pooing on bark , one thing you could try is putting tin foil under the bark its waterproof and cats are supposed not to like treading on it

Thank you issey that is really helpful. I had no idea!I will definitely try.
I will do foil ... mulch... flower pots - massive ones!

I would have thought fresh bark would like manna from heaven - whole garden now a giant litter tray!
Maybe orange or lemon oil as a deterrent?

weed true l should probably be grateful he chose a smaller spot really!
Right. Foil - mulch - sprinkle with oil - plants on top!
I wonder what actual plants are safe , but that cats despise?
I think the oils will be lovely actually.

Something spiky? Sea holly? Gorse? Berbiris?

I'll google those. Thank you. Hopefully a local nursery migration have them?
His new litter tray is massive l hope he gets more satisfaction using that instead!

*might have them.

also in the areas where you plant (spiky plants) inbetween the plants put small round ended (like lolipop sticks) standing upright as when he bends down to poo the sticks will not be very comfortable and he will learn quickly oops thats not a good idea to go to the loo there, bit by bit reduce the area of garden you let him use and he will learn that the left over area is his to use

cats - thank you. I will try that too!
anything l'm so over the domination !