If you have gravel in your garden...

[WillWorries]

does your cat poop in it?

Inspired by a visit to Beth Chatto's garden I am in the process of digging up my lawn and will be replacing it with gravel/small pea shingle.

My cat does his business in a litter tray but I have seen him have the occasional wee in the garden. He doesn't leave the garden so I'm pretty aware of his usual toilet habits.

He is loving the expanse of bare earth and has been doing lots of digging. He's had a wee which is fine, and a poop which was less great as I didn't get to pick it up before he buried it!

All really normal I know, but I'm hoping that the gravel won't become a giant litter tray. Am I a misguided fool?

Whilst he is coming up to 15, I've only had him for a year as I adopted him so there's lots I don't know about cats and their habits. I do know about the cat tax though!

I've got a huge amount of gravel in my garden and my cats still prefer to use the soil to do their business. The odd time, I do find a little gravel mound where it's obvious they or passing village cats have had a pee, but very rarely a number 2😼.

Did you adopt him from a rescue centre? So glad he's got a lovely home with you. He looks very content.

My garden is gravel and it's the Bain of my
Existence. Don't do it OP!

No, because I chose large gravel rather than shingle.

Go for 20mm, 10mm or pea shingle will be too much like litter.

Yes, I did adopt him from Cats Protection. They said he was an indoors only cat which was fine with me but then it was summer and I like the back door open. So at first I experimented with him on a lead, then without, and thankfully he never tried to climb the 6ft fence or bushes.
He goes everywhere with us now, he's been on caravan holidays and he quite likes the beach!

Sounds like bigger gravel could be a better choice and he might leave a tell-tale mound.

So I might be okay or I might not... I'll give it a go, thank you all :)

What a wonderful life he has with you

No he doesn't. He doesn't like walking on it and neither does the visiting fox. The cat uses my raised beds or the greenhouse. I've stopped him as best as I can as it's vegetable growing season but I'm going to put a litter tray of compost in the garden for him instead.

We put gravel in our catio. I have seen him wee on it but not noticed a poo.... yet 😂

We've got a gravel drive. Massive litter tray

we have gravel in our front garden.
Big sharp slate style.

It is regularly used by cats. I hate to say it but the main culprit is probably our own cat.