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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Getting rid of the litter tray?

16 replies

MollyBloomYes · 15/12/2021 21:25

Dcat is 2 years old. Access to outdoors at all times through a cat flap. Had a litter tray initially when we first got him before he was allowed out (got him as a rescue at 10 months old) but he happily toilets outside. I genuinely can't remember the last time he's used the tray but the litter inside is pristine and I haven't changed it for god knows how long (I do check it obviously but seriously it might as well be freshly laid!)

Thing is, it's quite a bulky tray, plus bags of litter, scoop, bags etc and I don't have the biggest house. I'd quite like to get rid of it or at least put it in storage but am I mad to do so? This is my first cat so I'm very new to it all but I just don't think he'd miss it. When I read up on everything the conventional wisdom seemed to be to always have a tray in the house in case the cat was scared to go outside but this cat is fearless. If anything he's the one seeing any interlopers off from the garden rather than cowering in fear. Even dogs barking from outside the fence don't phase him (fence is high so he can hear them from the garden, not see them and gives not one shit)

Does anyone else have a litter tray free home? I do appreciate it might need to be reintroduced when he gets older and less able or inclined to get outside but I could get a smaller one then and have it by the door where the dcs tiny coat stand is right now because presumably by then they'll be able to get their bags upstairs into their room rather than shedding everything as soon as they come in because they'll be grotty teenagers by then and have all sorts in their bags they won't want me to have easy access to Wink

OP posts:
HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 15/12/2021 21:28

Don't get rid of it completely, my Dcats go outside (mostly in a designated old raised planter in our garden). However in times of illness or bad weather I am always glad if the litter tray. My Dcats hate going out if its raining hard or very windy so having the litter tray as a back up is essential, as it was when DCat had to be kept in following illness

Curiousmouse · 15/12/2021 23:08

Try it and see what happens.

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/12/2021 07:07

Nooo don’t, you’ll find a damp patch on something difficult to wash.

You know how contrary they are.

Starlitexpress · 16/12/2021 07:47

Mine refused to use one after discovering the great outdoors, wouldn't even use it when we had some snow......contrary little madam!

GoodVibesHere · 16/12/2021 08:00

I had a cat for 18 years, no litter tray (apart from when she was a kitten). She just always did it outside, she was very reliable.

Beamur · 16/12/2021 08:03

As soon as my cats started going outside they stopped using their trays. I keep one in the shed in case of illness/bad weather. They're not keen on snow, apart from one who treats snow like dirt (less good when it thaws)
It hasn't translated to accidents indoors. If they do pee/poo indoors they tend to go in the bath which is easy to clean up afterwards at least!

icedcoffees · 16/12/2021 08:08

I think all cats should have access to a litter tray at all times.

He may not have used it for months, but it's getting cold and with the weather being bad, you don't want him stuck in the house with nowhere to go but the floor.

And once they start going on the floor, it can be hard to get them to stop as they keep going back to the same spot.

Litter really doesn't take up that much room, surely?

belimoo · 16/12/2021 08:32

If you have somewhere to store it then I would do just in case you need it at some point. Our old cat never used a litter tray so we didn't have one out but she needed an operation after being hit by a car and suddenly became an indoor only cat while she recovered from her injuries. It was an upsetting time and I wouldn't have wanted to be sourcing a litter tray at the same time.

Babdoc · 16/12/2021 10:45

My previous cat didn't have a litter tray - he preferred to go outside even in a blizzard.
But when he was 21 years old, he developed dementia, and began toileting inside a cupboard in the kids' old playroom, which I didn't discover until I wondered where the smell was coming from - the room had been unused for years.
I would put your tray away, but be prepared to reinstate it when your cat becomes elderly.

helpfulperson · 16/12/2021 11:43

When my two reached this stage I moved from the three big trays they needed when indoors all the time to one small tray that lives with litter in under a side table for emergency use. They know its there and the only time they have used it was during the recent storm.

RavingAnnie · 16/12/2021 15:19

Until recently, I have never had a litter tray for my cats (other than as kittens) and have never had any issues with toileting indoors or not wanting to go outside.

Unfortunately my cat has started being terrorised by a neighbourhood cat so we've had to reinstate a tray - she still didn't toilet anywhere in the house but we didn't want her to have to go outside unless she wanted to.

I'd get rid of your tray personally.

MollyBloomYes · 18/12/2021 22:43

Oooh lots of mixed opinions! I'm fully aware I'd probably need to dig it out again when he gets older, I've no qualms about that. In all honesty I mainly want to get rid of it because it's in the perfect space for where the dog crate could go when we eventually get a dog....but we're not getting one for at least three years so the DCs have matured enough to be left alone while I take it for a walk! Utterly ridiculous but I do like to plan ahead and know I've covered all bases so the dog dream can happen!

He couldn't give a shit about bad weather, he'll be out in the blowsiest and wettest of storms and not bat an eyelid. And then come in and want to rub all over me to share how lovely abd wet he is Grin

But I take it all on board. I guess I won't know unless I try but urgh, cat wee on soft furnishings is definitely giving me pause for thought!

OP posts:
Twillow · 18/12/2021 23:01

We had a cat for 16 years when I was a child...no litter tray and no cat flap either. He was put out for toileting and that was that!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 19/12/2021 23:48

Our cat always toilets outside but we keep two litter trays just in case. She had an upset tummy a few weeks ago when we were both out and she went in the bath!

DramaAlpaca · 19/12/2021 23:53

We got rid of the litter tray when we realised our cat was no longer using it. It's there in the attic if it's needed in the future, but for now we don't have one.

Brusca · 20/12/2021 00:02

You could switch it out for a small 'emergency' tray for just in case, either permanently or as a transition. For my last 2 cats the only time they didn't/couldn't go outside was if we had snow.

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