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The litter tray

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Original poster

Litter trays - boring question of the day!!

24 replies

Chunkamatic · 27/04/2018 19:43

I'm due to bring 2 cats home tomorrow and I'm doubting everything right now! And a lot of my anxieties are about the litter tray!!!

Would you mind telling me where you keep the litter tray? I'm hoping that they will go outside eventually but been advised for them to stay in for 4 weeks. Our garden is fully enclosed but I'm right in thinking that they can't go and toilet in the garden, aren't I?
I have put the tray in the corner of our kitchen nearest the back door. But it feels wrong having a poo zone in the kitchen (it's away from food prep area).

They are 2 sisters that have a very strong bond. I've decided to go for 1 large litter tray for both of them but I'm now a bit concerned. Are they likely to use the same tray (they've been in a rescue for a couple of months so will have had to share trays there)

Lastly, how do I encourage them to use the tray when they first get here? Or will they know?

I'm feeling really nervous and think I'm allowing it to manifest in these concerns!

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 27/04/2018 20:17

You shouldn't have to show them the tray, as long as you have the same litter as they used wherever you got them. You may want to change it over time, but it's one of the familiar things that will settle them more quickly as well.

They need to know that the inside of your house is now home, so you keep them in for a few weeks to ensure they don't run off to look for their old home. Fully enclosed doesn't really mean cat proof, you'd be surprised at the small holes they can get through, or the height of fences they can climb.

I kept mine in the living room for the first few weeks so the litter tray was in there, and has just stayed there since. Depending on the tray type, litter you use, and with regular cleaning, it shouldn't smell Smile.

Good luck with your new mistresses, and remember pics are a Litter Tray must! Grin

DownAtFraggleRock · 27/04/2018 20:21

lots of people put them in a downstairs loo. I would show them the litter tray when they get there, just to be sure.

we had one in the kitchen of our last flat, as you say, as far away from the food as poss, next to a sofa.

try a covered one - seems a bit less like a poo tray Grin

ScreamingValenta · 27/04/2018 20:23

Mine are in the utility room, but when I didn't have a utility room I kept them in the loo.

DumbledoresApprentice · 27/04/2018 20:27

Ours is in the ensuite to the spare room. When we have guests it gets moved to the dining room. There is another one in the utility but she prefers not to go in that one.

Original poster
Chunkamatic · 27/04/2018 20:47

Thanks all. My house doesn't have many places I can discreetly leave the litter tray and the kitchen/diner is the only place with a hard floor. There isn't enough space in the downstairs loo.

It'll be ok. Don't think I'll sleep tonight!!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 27/04/2018 21:27

Mine is in the kitchen too. I have an xl one for both to use

adaline · 27/04/2018 21:51

We have three trays for two cats - you'll need more than one.

One is in the bathroom, and the others at opposite ends of the living room in discreet spots. They use all three and when one got broken and not replaced, they went on the floor instead of sharing a tray!

dementedpixie · 27/04/2018 21:57

We tried having multiple trays but they still just used one so took the other away again. They mainly do the toilet outside now so rarely use it now

Original poster
Chunkamatic · 27/04/2018 22:05

Oh might have to wait and see. All the litter trays seemed massive I can't imagine having 3 in my house and them not getting in the way!!!
If they start to go out after a few weeks do you just take the litter trays away eventually or do they still tend to use both?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 27/04/2018 22:12

I still keep the litter tray as if its bad weather they may prefer to use it rather than go outside. Also good for night time as I keep Mine in overnight

minniemoll · 27/04/2018 22:13

I have one tray for three cats, they can go outside during they day if they want but they're kept in at night. They all use it with no problems. It's in the kitchen, but away from the cooker, sink etc.

Good luck with your new arrivals - how exciting!

Original poster
Chunkamatic · 27/04/2018 22:26

Thanks for the advice. Last question: if I decide to move the litter tray after a while will it cause all manner of problems or do they learn quickly?

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 27/04/2018 22:30

Mine is in the kitchen. Tucked away where a dishwasher could go. I've got nowhere else for it to go.

Toddlerteaplease · 27/04/2018 22:31

I have one large one for two indoor cats. Briefly tried two, but it wasn't used.

ilovesooty · 27/04/2018 23:56

Mine is in the cupboard under the stairs.

viccat · 28/04/2018 14:18

Where will the cats first stay when they arrive? If they are at all timid, it's best to keep them in one room or one area of the house at least. And then obviously their litter tray in that room.

One issue with being near the back door is that they might find it a bit exposed, if it's near the cat flap or near a window/UPVC door where other cats can see in. Ideally you should have one per cat plus one extra, and at least one tray on every level of your home. Have you looked at covered trays, they are more discreet?

GuildfordMum101 · 28/04/2018 14:27

"One tray on every level" - Yuk, yuk, yuk....... never upstairs.
I think most people keep them in the kitchen/utility room, we are lucky and have a conservatory, so all our new cats have stayed in there with a litter tray until they are ready to go out. I have always sprinkled a bit of used cat litter around the garden and shown the cats where it is, and never had any problems with them going out to the loo straight away. Cats are very intelligent, and revert to nature very quickly. Outside is definitely best for them in the long run.

NekoShiro · 28/04/2018 14:55

Definitely get a covered tray, I can't imagine having an open tray and being able to accidently watch my cat poop and pee inside the house.

Mines a corner tray and is currently at the top of the stairs, my cat will pee in front of the door if her litter tray isn't there, I think its a marking near the front door kinda thing, this has happened in two houses now so we just live with the fact that she needs her loo at the top of the stairs or else she goes pee crazy.

Want2beme · 28/04/2018 15:15

Some cats will tell you where they want the litter tray to be located - they have a pee on the floor and keep going back there! So, you'll have to put it in that place. Not all cats do that, though. Put the tray in a private area if you can, as cats like privacy. I've got 3 trays between 2 cats. One of my cats goes outside during the day, but she does come in to do nos 1&2 during the day, so I've just always kept litter trays in the house and I clean them each time they're used. Just to give you an idea, 1 tray is in a quiet spot in the kitchen, the other in an out of the way spot in the living room and the 3rd tray is in another living room that's not used that much.

Hope you enjoy life with your new furry ladiesSmile

Original poster
Chunkamatic · 28/04/2018 18:40

Thanks all. They are here and are hiding in the living room so I've put the litter tray in a corner of that room for now. Are we meant to just leave them alone or can we go and sit in the room if we leave them alone and let them come to us?

OP posts:
viccat · 28/04/2018 23:23

GuildfordMum I hope you don't have an upstairs toilet/bathroom then, how awful it would be if your family went for a poo upstairs...

OP, you can spend time with them in the room but if they are shy and hiding it's probably best to keep that room calm for now - no screaming or excitable kids in there for now.

Original poster
Chunkamatic · 29/04/2018 00:01

Thanks viccat. We've mostly stayed in the other room as I couldn't guarantee calm children, one seems to be growing in confidence. The other has spent 8 hours under a table 🤔.
Tomorrow is another day!!!!

OP posts:
LapdanceShoeshine · 29/04/2018 00:10

OP, if there isn't a spare room you can shut them in for a while with litter tray, food & water then what you're doing sounds fine Smile

3 cats & 3 trays here, all covered. All 3 do go outside, but I prefer them not to poo outside if poss - I don't like cat poo in my own garden (plants are in pots) & I don't think the neighbours would either.

I use Cat's Best Oko Plus litter, which is expensive to buy but lasts for an astonishingly long time & hardly smells at all.

2 trays are in back room, which is open to kitchen & also has french windows where cat flap is. One is XXL, which all 3 prefer for pooing (it's much taller than the others). They do also occasionally use smaller back room tray to poo.

3rd tray is in hall & I think they only use that if they're shut out from the other 2.

used to have a 4th in shower room upstairs, off back bedroom where they like to sleep, but they stopped using that so it's gone.

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