Can I get rid of the litter tray

[onlywanttosleep]

We got a 3 year old rescue cat about 9 months ago. She has a litter tray and no accidents. As it's got warmer she's been using the garden more and more to the point where it's about 4 weeks since the tray has been touched. I'm inclined to encourage this and get rid of the litter tray altogether but am sure that when it gets colder/wetter she'll want it again.

The question is if there's no tray and it's cold will she go outside anyway or pee inside in a corner. I guess the only way to find out is to try but if anyone more experienced in cat keeping can give me a steer I'd be grateful?

My new cats are mainly indoor just started going out (supervised) still using their tray.

Our previous cat had a tray but never used it unless she was confined to the house ( illness, vet visit , going to cattery)

She must've held her bladder overnight , she was locked in but the tray didn't get used (though we did have a couple of mishaps when she used the bath ! but we think a rogue cat got in to her tray)

She went out in rain, hail, shine , even dug a hole in snow

As a cat owner, I think it's important to keep the option open for the cat so it's not forced to go outside. It can be very distressing if it doesn't have a "place" it knows for its toilet habits apparently. They really prefer privacy as well so I have put the litter tray in a separate utility room which has a cat flap. Not used often but good for the cat to know it's there. Yes, in rain and snow the cat doesn't want to set foot outside!

Thanks. Not sure our cat prefers privacy - her tray is in a corner of the kitchen (small house) and she always seemed to hold the smelliest poos for when we were in there cooking.
This may explain why I'd rather the litter tray goes but we wouldn't have been considering it if she hadn't given up using it lately. She's not locked in overnight as she's never showed signs of catching anything.

Our cat uses his tray once a month, if that. In summer, almost never. But I'd never take it away in case he needs it during the night. It's no bother to me to have it, as it almost never needs changed.

Maybe I'll leave it then. I don't want to distress her.

Our cat only uses the tray if she is absolutely desperate - generally if it’s snowing or really wet - but agree with PP that it’s important to keep one just in case. Like 70 our girl also likes to use the bath on occasion, I think she sees it as a big tray! We recently were away for a few days and the cat sitter didn’t want to let her out - we actually put a second tray in the bath, which she used happily.

If you don't have a cat flap then you can't get rid of it. If you do have one then you shouldn't really get rid of it. As soon as the weather is worse she won't want to go out as much. It's always best to give them an option.

Also of course cats should really be kept inside at night for their safety.

@thecatneuterer off topic here, but I think you are a bit of an expert and might be able to help, relating to your last post. A couple of times in the last few weeks our cat has flatly refused to come in at night. We’re quite far north and on nice days it doesn’t get really properly dark. I know exactly where she is (sitting on the roof of next door’s shed, smirking at me) but no amount of treat rattling will bring her. She doesn’t roam, just the two neighbouring gardens and the one behind, and will always “speak” if we call her - any tips beyond not letting her out? Usually she comes no bother, it’s definitely the nicer weather/light nights. Both times I’ve got up in the early hours to see where she is, and she’s sitting on our wheelie bin outside the kitchen window waiting to come in. We don’t have a catflap.

The situation is probably worse because I am off work (teacher) so the usual routine is out of whack, and I am going to bed much later than normal, although DP is getting up for work and he feeds her at the usual time in the morning. Normally she’s in all day while we’re at work, but with me being off she’s out a lot more.

I don’t feel she’s in particular danger (quiet, one way street, and she never goes out the front anyway, and high walls that it’s unlikely a fox could jump) but I would rather she was in!

I kept our tray, sometimes he uses it, others not

@Judystilldreamsofhorses Unfortunately the keeping of cats inside at night is something I have no expertise in at all as I, very hypocritically, don't do it myself. With over 20 cats the logistics would be just impossible. Also it's relatively safe (London terrace, all back gardens onto gardens and no easy access to roads) and I have a flap. So when I tell people to do it it's a case of 'do as I say, not do as I do' .

You can try keeping her hungry and only give her last meal after she has come in at night. Alternatively get a flap and set it to 'in only' after a certain time, along with feeding late. That's all I've got.

We don’t have one for our 2 cats. They stopped using us as soon as they were able to go out so we got rid of it.

Bentnecklady you may well find that in a few years you will need to bring it back. As cats age they often become reluctant to go as much and many owners suddenly find their cats start urinating inside.

@thecatneuterer thanks for your helpful reply. Our setup sounds quite similar to yours, so the chances of her getting onto a road are slim. A flap isn’t an option because we have a utility room between the kitchen and back door, so we would either need two flaps, or to keep the utility door permanently open (NE Scotland, so far too cold!). We do occasionally give her “supper” just before bed as a way not to gave her trampling on our heads demanding breakfast at 6am on a weekend, but there is no way she would tolerate dinner later than 7pm on the DOT! She always has access to biscuits, but sees them as a last resort.

Last night she was waiting at the door when I went to get her about midnight, so perhaps her night on the tiles/bin wasn’t all that. She also had an exciting time in the evening with a mouse, so I think she was tired out!

Judy - my cat flap is accessed through the cat toilet extension (don't ask) which has been built onto the kitchen. So I indeed have two flaps - one into the extension from the kitchen and the one to the outside in the wall of the extension.

@thecatneuteter we are in a period property with original beautiful internal doors, so I am loathed to go down that route - I admire your dedication though! It probably sounds daft, but I like knowing she’s safe inside when we’re at work. I am hoping this will pass once the weather does. (She’s five, and this has literally just been in the last couple of weeks.)

She’s pure white which means even if she won’t come in, it’s generally easy to know where she is - how she manages to catch anything, I have no idea!

We have kept the tray but only for illness as a PP said. Our cat came in Dec and has used outside in Jan, Feb etc.