Encouraging former outdoor cat to use a litter again

[Randallthecat]

Our cat stopped using the litter tray once we let him outside and prefers to go to the toilet in the field next door.

We are moving house and obviously he needs to be kept in. How do I encourage him to use the litter again?

I’ve got it out but he flatly refuses to even go near it. He was excellent at using it when he was a kitten, never had an accident but just doesn’t want to use it now!

Any tips on encouraging him to use it? Thank you

You'll probably find he uses it with no problem when he can't go out. Mine use it fine in the cattery despite not using it at home.

Oh that’s encouraging, thank you.

Yes mine will not use hers for months on end during the summer. Given the option she will always go outside. But as soon as she is kept in she will use it again no problem.

He’s absolutely refusing to use it which is annoying. At the moment we can’t confine him so I’m really hoping he will use it once confined!

Make sure it's scrupulously clean. If it's not been used in a while (or especially if it has been used by any other cats at all) I would give it a really good scrub. Scents matter a lot to cats.

You might also be able to try him with a different type of litter.

As previous posters have said though, he might just need to be desperate to use it. We have outdoor cats but they aren't allowed out at night, and they kick up a right old fuss when they have to use the tray.

I had this exact problem. And it gave me really sleepless nights. I even spent £400 on a catio that we could use by the window for him to go out still. I bought some stones and mulch to see what he would like. Stressed about it for days.
I also bought a litter tray with natural litter.

On moving day we couldn’t get him to go out the window to use the catio at all. I was so worried. In the middle of the night I heard a noise and it was him using the litter tray even though he had not used one for over ten years. The relief was amazing.

But he was really stressed in the house so after a few days of moving I let him out and he came right back.

But I did the same as u. I put it out before. But he never used it as he had his normal way of going to the loo.

We had building work done last year and had to keep the cats in for a month. Our elderly cat hadn't used a litter tray for about a decade: she'd had one available, but refused to use it and insisted on going outdoors. We just put out a litter tray, blocked up the back door and she immediately knew what to do, no accidents or dirty protests whatsoever.

Just to update - he used it after about 24 hours. He was clearly desperate and waited until the middle of the night. He’s been so good about it.

Thanks for all the advice.