CAT MUMS! Help! Why won't she give up the litter tray!!!

[StinkEye]

We got 2 kittens last October, introduced them to the outside world about 4 months ago. One of the kittens totally got it, and now uses the garden as her toilet (we have a cat flap). The other one refuses. She will go outside, spend plenty of time out there, and come back in and use the tray. We're starting to put the tray outside and she will use the tray when it's out there, but what with the rain, it's been hard going.

Any advice at all to help get rid? The stench of her poos (she doesn't bury them!) even when they are immediately removed is doing us in!
Am i missing a really simple trick?

Is there somewhere in particular in the garden you want her to toilet? If so, put her used litter there.

Get a hooded tray? I sympathise my cat is 11 and still uses a tray for a while I got her onto the gravel in the garden then moved house had to keep her in to settle in, back to square 1

Its because she will feel vulnerable going to the loo outside. You can get outdoor litter trays that you could put just outside the house that might make her feel safer.

Cat mums?

Well put it this way, would you prefer to poo and wee in the cold and rain, outside, or in a nice dry safe litter tray?

Our cats have always had trays despite going outside.

Because she doesn't want to get a cold wet bum?

Thank you EskewedBeef, we have tried this and she gave it a good sniff, but didn't take. Will try again.
Belle89 - hadn't thought of a hooded tray, will try that. Thank you.
bodgeitandscarper - going to google these now, thank you.
Tortoiselass - i grew up having cats and we never had trays once they were adult, so was just hoping/imagining the same scenario.

My to senior boys have, and always have had, trays. One will only use a tray - I have watched him over the past years come in from outside to use the tray.

You should shut your cats in at night so they should always have access to a tray. Cat poo is grim but it’s no less grim outside than in a covered tray.

I'm not a cat 'mum'; I'm a cat neighbour and I'd be DELIGHTED if my neighbours cats used a litter tray... instead they come into our garden and poo in it. So please, if you like your neighbours, and if you don't want it in your house, do get an outdoor litter tray..!

We have four cats who all go outside - they all still quite often come in to use the tray (at least it reduces what they leave behind in our neighbour's garden).

Scaryteacher, that's exactly what she's doing at the moment.
Wolfiefan, we will always have a tray for when they're closed in at night, but would rather she went mostly outside - it's honestly the worst smelling poo ever.

Would you rather they went outside in your neighbours garden rather than yours too?

It won’t smell any better in your neighbour’s garden.

I feel you Hubbes39, we have many local cats who also use our garden as their loo, but so far my cats stay in the the perimeter of our garden, so i'm not concerned about them going in neighbours gardens (although saying that, one of our neighbours has abandoned her garden, so not sure she'd notice!)
Thank you Grumpy - it's good to know there can be a balance of going inside and outside for the cats.

The smell lingers for a bit but it goes if you flush it immediately. Scented candles help too.

Part and parcel of responsible cat ownership I'm afraid.

If her poo smells that bad then are you feeding her good enough food? Better quality food = much less smellier poos in my experience.

LittleLong, i'm afraid i'm going blow your theory - she eats really good (read that as expensive!) food - and the other one who is on cheap food, oddly her poo didn't smell half as bad.

Mine still uses his at 10. It’s no problem.

We've got an outside litter tray. Much easier and much less smelly.

But Fluffy it might not be a problem, but it's not the most pleasant thing really is it.
Keepaddingpets - out of interest which one do you have.

All cats should ALWAYS have a litter tray available at all times. Ideally a tray per cat at least if you have multiple cats.

You will be glad she uses a tray if she develops health problems and you will easily realise something is wrong observing her litter tray habits.

Removing the tray and forcing her to go outside is more likely to lead to problems such as her starting to wee and poo in the house on your carpets or furniture.

I prefer an indoor tray as I can keep an eye on any potential health problems, like blood, frequent pee-ing, change in bowel movements.

I had a cat who would rush in to use her tray and then wander out again. She also made an awful smell and any treats with dairy in made it much worse. She had a digestive problem but we never managed to pinpoint what it was. I used to open the windows a lot.

You might find a different diet would help, as in eliminating certain foods and seeing if it affects the pong.

@stinkeye buy this : www.zooplus.com/shop/zooplus_exclusives/cat_litter/tigerino_canada

I have indoor cats and their litter tray never ever smells. It was recommended to me and I've recommend it to tons since. It's amazing!

Just realised I linked to the EU site but they have a UK one!