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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.

Original poster

Do we adopt this cat or not?

50 replies

Cheeseandlobster · 03/02/2022 08:21

We are due to adopt a cat this weekend. He is a lovely affectionate little boy who climbed on my lap immediately and purred loudly. However there were 2 cat litter trays and the rescue said once he has been in his litter tray he won't use it again if it is dirty until it is clean again and had been going on the floor when he had just the one tray.. Having 2 or even 3 litter trays isn't a problem but we were honest on our form and stated we did not want to rehome a cat that regularly uses the floor as a toilet. Also one of the reasons we decided to go for a cat over a dog is because we didn't want to be a slave to dashing home straight after work etc like we had to be with our lovely rescue boy dog we lost a few months ago.

What would you do? He is so adorable and we will scoop extremely regularly and straight after a number two but would this be enough?

I am just about to go into work but will reply later

OP posts:
Iamanicepersonreally · 03/02/2022 08:25

If having 2 or 3 litter trays isn't a problem, I don't see what the issue is.

MrsWooster · 03/02/2022 08:28

Will he be an indoor cat? If it’s possible to have a cat flap, you’ll find he never uses /doesn’t need a litter tray.
I believe cats should be outdoors and haven’t the energy to reply to a lot of posts about cats being disgusting if they shit outside, so I’m taking the cowards way out and hidibg the thread

Calmestofallthechickens · 03/02/2022 08:31

A lot of cats are like that, it’s not unusual to want a clean toilet to use. They only poo twice a day ish so it’s unlikely to be a huge issue unless you’re wanting to leave him for long periods. We only have one tray and if it’s been used my cat will tell me to empty it - if we are at work she will wait until we get home.

thewomanacrossthestreet · 03/02/2022 08:34

I don't see what the issue is if your happy to have 2/3 trays? It's not hard to clean once or twice a day..

HappyAsASandboy · 03/02/2022 08:34

I would take him as long as you're happy to have a few litter trays and he will have a cat flap to get outside.

I suspect you'll find he dislikes the litter trays so much that he goes outside in a "clean spot" every time. Which is fab. Our cat absolutely hates litter trays so goes outside all the time. We don't have litter trays any more except if he's ill and confined. In which case he's miserable because he has to use a tray!

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/02/2022 08:56

It’s not uncommon for cats to be like that, they like cleanliness.

You can get robotic trays that self clean. Not the crystal litter ones though, that litter is hard on paws and not all of them like it.

thecatneuterer · 03/02/2022 09:08

@MrsWooster No need to hide the thread. You're posting in The Litter Tray so, unless this ends up in Active convos then you're not going to get that sort of unpleasantness here.

I would take him as long as you will have a cat flap, as I'm guessing that will sort out the issue on it's own.

Original poster
Cheeseandlobster · 03/02/2022 11:53

We don't know if he can go out yet as he was rehomed due to being attacked by neighbourhood cats and has some pretty serious scars to prove it. Though of course he will be living in a new area now. The rescue said let him decide later once he is settled

OP posts:
zafferana · 03/02/2022 11:55

The rescue will recommend that you keep him in for a few weeks when you first get him, just so he bonds with you/your home and understands that this is now his home so that when he's allowed out he'll come back. So for maybe 4 weeks you'll need to have sufficient litter trays for him. Is that an issue?

MayThePawsBeWithYou · 03/02/2022 12:00

What about an automatic self cleaning tray

Original poster
Cheeseandlobster · 03/02/2022 14:56

I had no idea that self cleaning trays existed. Things have moved on a lot from when I last had a cat!

OP posts:
MarisPiper92 · 03/02/2022 15:09

Flushable clumping litter helps too. You're not faffing around taking little bags out to the bin several times a day, and because you can pick up clumps of wee the boxes don't need a full clean as often as they would otherwise.

Please get him, he sounds lovely.

MayThePawsBeWithYou · 03/02/2022 17:16

They are quite expensive about £150 from Argos, I will post a link.

MayThePawsBeWithYou · 03/02/2022 17:18

www.argos.co.uk/product/6527398

nordica · 03/02/2022 17:25

Most cats only use the litter tray 2-3 times a day so it shouldn't be a problem if you are happy to have a couple of trays.

In regards to going out, if you are willing, you could consider creating an enclosed cat-proofed area in your garden so he can go out safely but other cats can't get there.

Original poster
Cheeseandlobster · 03/02/2022 17:44

Thanks @MayThePawsBeWithYou Who knew?!

A catio might be a good idea though dp has it in his head that he is going to buy a lead and take him for a walk Grin

OP posts:
Longcovid21 · 03/02/2022 17:46

Won't be an issue if he's an outdoor cat. I don't like the idea of indoor cats. Like a pp.

TheSpottedZebra · 03/02/2022 17:54

Does he wee on the floor or just poo? Sure that sounds manageable with 2 trays.

My cats are indoor cats (happy to debate it! One has a mild head injury and his brother was very bonded to him so I rehomed both as indoor cats) and only poo 1x a day max. More like 1x 1.5 days each. Based on that, he'd not be pooing on the floor.

Was he kept in bad conditions maybe and his tray wasn't cleaned often?

HMBB · 03/02/2022 18:11

We have had our rescue boy 5 months now. Since he's been allowed outside he has only used the litter tray twice, when the cat flap timer broke and we didn't realise he wasn't able to get outside early in the mornings when he normally poos, so it may not be be such an issue if he does have outside access?

From what I have read it seems the higher the meat content of their diet the less they poop and the less smelly it is too.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 03/02/2022 18:17

We have two litter trays, but our cat always goes in the garden. She’s kept in the kitchen overnight so there’s one in there and I think she has used it once in five years. If he’s able to eventually go out the problem may well be solved.

Original poster
Cheeseandlobster · 04/02/2022 08:20

If he was going to be able to go outside then it wouldn't be a concern but we just don't know at present because of his history. We are going to have a proper conversation with the rescue tomorrow before taking him home I think.

OP posts:
StickerPlace · 04/02/2022 08:35

Here's my take on it for you.

  • he got on your lap and purred so he likes you and it sounds like you like him. So to me the adoption is worth a go.
  • be ready for the first week or two to feel like a big mistake - certainly has in my few experiences bringing a new cat into our home - but it's always worked out great and long happy lives together. (So also remember that!)
  • don't take the first few days poos as any kind of sign that's what going forward will be like. Most likely he will hold it for the moving day as too scared to go in an unknown place and then when he does go it will be somewhere he feels is "safe" which might not be the sort of spot a human would agree. So make sure the trays you provide are private feeling.
  • then the stress of rehoming + new food could mean he is pooping a lot more frequently than normal. My most recent cat had an awful stomach when we got him (stress + the rescue feeding him the food they had, they rely on donations) I got him onto better food and gave him probiotics which helped a lot but took a few days. But the stink in the meantime really added to the "this was a mistake"
  • cats are naturally very clean so it stresses them out too being stinky so it will all work out. If you can spend the first week or two showing him that you'll keep his tray nice and clean (which could be an ordeal if his stomach is like my newest guy was to start) then he'll settle quick and hopefully always use it nicely.

My favourite tray technique is what my vet nurse friend taught me they do at the vets. Layer or two of newspaper. Then a small amount of wood litter.

As soon as it's used you bundle up the entire lot and replace. If the tray needs it you can give it a quick spray with cleaner and wipe. But most of the time it's only the litter that has wee/poo on. So it's super quick to swap and tray is brand new every time.

Let us know how you get on and photos when he's home please!!

NorthSouthcatlady · 04/02/2022 08:41

I interpret this as him being especially clean -the typical cat is quite clean anyway. As others have said hd might prefer going outside anyway

Happy cat ownership and don’t forget about a picture got here!

sluj · 04/02/2022 08:51

Is he currently sharing the litter tray with other cats? Perhaps their smell and frequency of use is putting him off. Honestly they don't "go" that often and you will smell it and be able to clean the tray when they do.

The flushable stuff is a god send.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/02/2022 14:45

When my departed Bengal went to a cattery for the first time he flicked his poo out the tray and scattered it over his pen in protest.

He was better on subsequent visits when he realised we always went back for him.