Cats pooing in the garden...

[mynameisntlouise]

We've recently moved house, at the old
House they had free access to outdoors and did their business elsewhere than my own garden. Out of sight and out of mind!

When we moved they used litter trays indoors for 3 weeks with no issues before the cat flap was fitted, there all going out now but we've had a couple of wee incidents indoors (where the litter trays were, easy mistake to make) and they seem to be weeing and pooing in our garden, but the whole thing is slate chips so it doesn't exactly dig over the poo to cover it. We're having to go out with a bag.

I don't know if they're struggling to find their territory from the neighbours cats, can't find any grass areas nearby or what.

I've heard of the tricks, putting citrus and banana peel down but feel it would be a bit of a Dick move if they then start going on my neighbours slabs instead or something. Has anyone got a designated poo area in their garden for their own cats that's worked?

Forgot to add, my toddler plays out so that's why I'm looking for a better solution than going out with a bag, just in case he gets to it before I do.

Mine tend to run into the house , pooh/pee and run out as noisily as they can so we know .

My male cat likes to balance himself on my tall plantar (nothing growing in it) from time to time .

Either give them a dug over area or a big plantar ?

My garden was overtaken by neighbouring cats (I used to chase them when I had guinea-pigs ) , when mt cats moved in , I persuaded the other cats away with water .
You don;t need to be cruel , a water squoosh will give them the hint .

And I told my neighbours to do the same to mine if they didn't want them in their gardens

Have you still got litter trays indoors? If not, you should put them back. An outdoor covered tray?

Isn’t it better they’re doing it in your garden than in someone else’s who has a young child too? I think the out of sight attitude is so selfish.

Drove me mad when my kids were little and I had to check the garden for cat shit that was harmful to them considering I didn’t even own a cat. I did everything I could to prevent it.

If anything you have the opportunity to dig a patch for them to use and spare your neighbours your cat’s shit.

Put the litter trays back and see if that solves the problem.

Cats are willing to do bad things when their upset about something.

@LokisLover take it you didn’t get as far as my last paragraph? I’m asking if anyone has had success with a dig out patch or if I’d be wasting my time.

Yes a dig out patch is exactly what I was going to suggest. In fact I suggested this to some people who had recently adopted a cat from us (charity) only the other day and it's worked a treat. But I would still keep the litter trays indoors too - cats often don't want to go out.

@thecatneuterer I'll definitely give this a go then if it's known to work sometimes.

I'm just surprised as they all went outside no issues at our old house, but it had a lot of green and wooded areas close by and it's a lot more built up where I am now so I guess they just can't find a good spot!