No cat flap, no litter tray?

[MissHoney85]

We have two cats who are allowed outside but only via the door when we let them in or out, no cat flap. We recently moved house and one of the main things we wanted was a cat flap, especially so that we could do away with the litter tray.

However, now we're here we're wondering if the cat flap is such a good idea as they would probably bring dead (or nearly dead) things in and roam the corridors at night disturbing us.

Currently we shut them in the living room and an upstairs room which adjoins it, which is where the litter tray is. This arrangement works quite well, we except for that the litter tray absolutely reeks. No matter how often we change it, they immediately do something foul in it - almost deliberate scent marking. It really spoils our lovely new house.

I can't really think of a solution other than just taking the litter tray away and hoping that they can make it through the night without needing the toilet. Does anyone else have a cat who stays in at night with no litter tray?

Ours mostly go outside, but we couldn't do away with the litter tray. Girl cat barely uses it, but not cat won't go outside if it's raining (or too windy. Or if there's people out there 🙄).

Could you try a covered one with a flap and loads of air freshener?

Cat flap wise, we can lock ours at night but girl cat is a night time adventurer and can busy through it even when it's locked so we just leave it. Yes, lots of dead (and alive) things. Boy cat isn't as clever and will just stay indoors if it's locked.

Yes we already have a covered tray 😩 Thank you though!

I would keep the litter tray in case your shoes or bed become a replacement.

The fact that they use it means you need it.
You absolutely need to give them free access to the outside, or a litter tray (or both).

Which litter do you use? Some mask odours far more effectively than others.
I wouldn’t like to cross my legs all night. Cat flap or tray are essential.

They absolutely need a litter tray over night.

You can get a flap which locks overnight to stop them bringing in birds etc

Try different litter until you find a less smelly one. Are you using clumping litter and disposing if the poo immediately?

Of course you still need a tray especially if there is no catflap. Mine rarely bring anything in tbh.

Use different litter. Clumping litter means pee and poo can be removed easily

The alternative to the litter tray is that they shit in other people's gardens, which is unpopular.

My two come in from outside to use their tray and then go out again. I'm not sure what they'd do if it wasn't there. A litter tray is part of having a cat though.

We have a covered litter box and very rarely in 5 years have we noticed a strong smell from it. We also have no cat flap, and our cat goes freely in and out the back door/ window all day and eve, then in for the night about 8pm.
I'd be worried having no litter tray. Maybe look at older soaking litter to fill the tray

Ouder* not older

It depends on the cats,we didn't have a cat flap and once they learned about the outdoors,they shunned the litter tray completely,even for overnight toilet.They were free to roam the house at night and were coming to my bedroom around 5am to loudly announce that they want to go out,although they were most of the time pretty patient to wait until 7 when I was ready .In 8 years there was only one accident,when one of them decided to shit on one of the dogs favourite sleeping spot.

I have four cats and deal with cat poo removal as it happens. I find the best low-odour litter is the wood pellets. It's not fair to keep a cat in all night without access to a litter tray unless you want them to pee in your house.

And let them roam the corridor at night. They are nocturnal/crepuscular creatures.

Not all cats bring stuff in, mines far too lazy to do that !

We don't have a cat flap and our cat only uses the tray in absolutely dire straits (even in the snow in February she refused it and DP had to dig her a "toilet" in her usual spot in the garden) but I would never get rid of it. Last year she was sick/had an upset tummy through the night and actually pretty much contained everything in the tray.

Thanks everyone, we will give the clumping litter a try.

We can't really let them roam the corridors at night as they both (one in particular) will scratch and shout loudly at the bedroom door to be let in, and we can't let them because of the baby. The living room and adjoining room are fairly big though so hopefully it's not too unfair on them.

OP we shut our cat in the kitchen at night, otherwise she's in our bed at 5am looking for her breakfast - she is absolutely fine! She actually sleeps in a cat-bed, and she is always in it when whoever is up first goes through in the morning.

When I lived at home the cat we have went outside to do the toilet and we just let her in and out. That's how she was from a kitten so we would let her out at night for a pee before bed then she would sleep through the night. My dad is an early riser though so he would always be up and able to let her out by 7am max. We never had any issues with accidents. She's really old now though and still lives with my parents so they got her a litter tray so that she would always have access to somewhere. She uses it occasionally but prefers to go out.

No they can’t do without a litter tray and access to outside all night. On the odd occasion one of mine has accidentally got trapped in a room with the door shut overnight he has peed in my handbag and shit in a shoe box - 3 times now you would think I’d learn but he’s a master at sneaking in just as I’m closing the door so I don’t notice. Little bugger.