Tips for previous house cats to 'go' outside?

[MissBax]

Moved house two months ago from a flat. Our two cats were always indoor cats but would like them to now learn how to do their business outside. For the last 3 weeks I've had their cat litter next to the back door and am now trying my damndest to get them to use the litter in the garden. They just flat out refuse and run back into the house. I've tried holding out in the hope that of they get desperate they'll have to use it (it's only just outside the back door so barely a foot from where it was inside), but I end up breaking in fear of them pooing in a corner somewhere.
I was hoping they would get used to using the litter tray outdoors and then I could transition to putting some litter in the flower beds and then eventually not needing to do any of that.
Please help! I can't bear cat litter any longer!

Would you want to shit outside in this weather? I think you'll find that, as they spend more time outside in Spring, they'll start toileting outside more. However you will never be able to get rid of a tray completely as they often don't want to go out if it's cold, or raining, or there's a strange cat in the garden or whatever. Also of course if you don't have a cat flap then you must certainly always have a tray.

Anyway it's better if they use a tray. For a start you won't have irate neighbours who might potentially harm them and, very importantly, you will be much more aware of potential health problems such as blocked bladder, UTIs, constipation or the opposite, worms etc.

I have no answer !
Mine use the tray . They have a big (messy ) garden and DH dug over a soil patch .

They come into the house to use the tray then go out .
Maybe mine don't like the feel of soil?

Though our male has hoiked himself up onto one of my planters (about 3' high , large square , compost but no plants ) , when DH was at the patio table ( watching but not telling him not to !)

Male cat dug about a bit , balanced , had a dump, buried it . All the time looking at us "Yes , I know it is your plant pot .But the compost feels nice under my paws"

My previously indoor cat took a while to get the idea but she now loves our garden and spends lots of time asleep in one of her nests. Even yesterday when it was really cold. She still has a litter tray in case of emergencies or enemy cats in the garden (all other cats are enemy cats according to her) but she hasn't used it in about 18 months. My last cats, who had always been able to go out, used to come in especially to use the litter then wander out again.
They are cats. They will do what they fancy and you will still love them and clear up after them because that is the human's job.

Our cat was an indoor cat when we adopted her - she was three - but when we started letting her out she automatically started to toilet in the garden, no prompting. We always kept two trays, in two different rooms, for emergency use though. If the weather is rotten, she will use the tray. (Plus handy if she needs to be kept in because of eg fireworks.)

DCat was also a rescue that had previously been an indoor cat. She will go outside If the weather is to her liking to survey her palace grounds but runs back in with a panicked look on her face when she needs to use her litter tray.

She then puts in a complaint that the bathroom smells and demands that the staff deal with it immediately.