Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

To cat or not to cat - advice please?

70 replies

fluffygreenmonsterhoody · 02/12/2017 16:41

I’ve never had pets, beyond goldfish (rip Franck and Russell) and I tend to tolerate rather than adore animals.

DH always had a cat when he lived with his parents, and is desperate for us to get one.

We’ve reluctantly given up hope of having DC2 so a cat would be some company for DS (5) and give him something to look after. He’s lovely with the neighbourhood cats and I have no concerns there.

My main sticking point is, I can’t bear the thought of having a litter tray in the house (bike) but DH is insisting all cats need them, even outdoor cats.

Is this true? Are there any types of cats which would be better to get? We just have AstroTurf in the garden, would this be a problem?

Thanks if you got this far, any advice appreciated.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 02/12/2017 19:51

The cat has to be in overnight due to cat killers, also getting run over.

Poos not the end of the world.

JennyHolzersGhost · 02/12/2017 20:10

Yeah cats don’t like closed doors.

EachandEveryone · 02/12/2017 20:33

You can’t train a cat. I’ve never had to tell a kitten off but maybe I’ve just been lucky. My youngest came to me at 14 weeks which I think is perfect. Your five year old will enjoy playing with it.

Jigglytuff · 02/12/2017 20:38

My cats haven't had a litter tray since they started going out - they just prefer to go to the loo outside if there's a catflap. There were a few poo situations when they were kittens though so maybe an older rescue cat is better although you need to keep them in for a bit. Could you get your DP to deal with the poo?

We do have a lidded tray though which is much better.

I never keep them in overnight - they like to roam

strawberrypenguin · 02/12/2017 20:43

An outdoor cat that isn’t shut in over night will not need a litter tray past the first settling in period.

BeetrootTart · 02/12/2017 20:45

Please keep your kitts in overnight Sad

Perfectly1mperfect · 02/12/2017 20:47

We don't keep the litter tray in all the time. We keep it in the shed and then just bring it in overnight. We sometimes bring it in in the day if the cat stays in whilst we go out but only if we go out for more than 4 hours.

Jigglytuff · 02/12/2017 22:27

I won’t keep them in overnight. That’s like saying women shouldn’t go out in the evenings in case they get raped. I know there’s a psycho cat killer in south London but most cats are safe to roam.

Ollivander84 · 02/12/2017 22:28

It's not south London. It's everywhere up as far as Manchester and more than one a night at the moment
Including Kent, Berkshire, Oxford, Northampton...

EachandEveryone · 02/12/2017 22:29

Mine are in bed and will sleep til 5am. They are free to do what they want in the day when I’m home I couldn’t imagine them going out in this weather. No cat flap here.

Wolfiefan · 02/12/2017 22:30

And if yours is not? And it's not the same at all is it? Cats have no idea that humans can pose such a terrible risk.
My cats are in. We have fireworks going off here now, badgers and foxes roam at night, they're at much more risk of road accident. They go out during the day then sleep at night.

Original poster
fluffygreenmonsterhoody · 02/12/2017 22:37

It seems really split down the middle re: keeping them in overnight.

I guess if we go RSPCA then they can advise us on the best thing for the individual cat.

I do know poo’s not the end of the world. With DC of my own and eight nephews under 7, I’ve managed plenty of it in recent years and I’d just rather not deal with it if it can be feasibly avoided!

OP posts:
Vinorosso74 · 02/12/2017 22:54

A rescue will advise keeping cats in overnight.

dementedpixie · 02/12/2017 22:59

Mine are in overnight. Cats are not nocturnal but are more active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). Mine spend a lot of the night asleep. We have a litter tray but its only recently that they have started toileting outside (just turned 1 year and we've had them from 8 weeks old). I still have the tray in case they need it overnight

Jigglytuff · 02/12/2017 23:11

Mine sleep with me most of the night but get up at dawn. That's who they are

JennyHolzersGhost · 02/12/2017 23:38

Mine sleep most of the night, get up at dawn and trample on my head. That’s why I love them.

Mol1628 · 03/12/2017 05:16

Mine slept with us at night too. Always brought them in for food early evening. They were good though and just meowed at us whenever they wanted to toilet, but generally they lasted all night without needing it.

baritonehome · 03/12/2017 08:29

you need one initially and then it depends on the cat. Mine doesn't need one so we got rid. but most friends with outdoor cat still have them as their cats use them.

kittensinmydinner1 · 03/12/2017 08:53

Had mine from Kitties. Now Three yrs old. Have had cats for 50 yrs never had a litter tray for any cat past 3 months old and going outside. Except my longest lived cat who did need one in her 24th and final year.

Never had a cat flap either as have severe bird phobia. Never really thought about it. If they want to go out - they ask. If they want to come in they knock a door knocker that is fixed low down on the terrace door especially for them. They have all picked this up very easily.
They go out all night and they stay in all night. Depends how they feel. It's what I love about cats. No one can tell them what to do.
I live many miles from the cat killer zone. If I didn't I would get them in by bribery.. (dreamies)

QueenOfAccidentalDeathStares · 03/12/2017 08:55

You have trained your cat to use a door knocker????? Genius!!!!! (Photo?)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread