How do I move the litter tray outside and what if it’s raining?

[cheeseandbranston]

hello Mumsnet cat people, I need advice please.
i have two lovely cats. They were indoor/outdoor cats who did not have a litter tray, they just went outside.

we moved to a new place that has only a courtyard garden with an enormously high wall so I gave them a litter tray, which they use fine. So far, so good.

only, I simply can’t stand having a litter tray in the house, it stinks when they use it even though I clean it constantly. i just can’t live with cats toileting in the house.

I've got a cat flap, and they go out to the courtyard a bit, but not loads, and never if it rains.

if I move their litter out there, will they go out there? And if so, what’s a good outdoor litter tray to keep the rain out?

thank you in advance

Zooplus sell a large outdoor one.

You can get covered ones. Alternatively you could earmark a patch of earth to use as a litter tray. I’ve never done it but you’ll be able to google techniques to get them to switch. That way you can ditch the plastic tray.

Covered one outside. But also if you use the weird white kitty litter that stinks to high heaven. Pets at home do a wood pellet litter which absorbs smell much better. You still have to scoop out poo obviously but it doesn't honk of urine.

Covered one outside or buy a dog kennel type arrangement to put it inside.

I second this. Wood pellet litter is a game changer.

Are you using a clay based litter, the grey stuff? I've found that switching to a silicone based litter (the white crystal stuff) resolves the smell issue.

Try changing your litter. Mine doesn’t smell.

Change the litter first. We use breeder celect litter and it doesn’t smell. A relative of mine uses silica litter and theirs don’t smell either. I’ve used the traditional stuff and it’s awful.

This is all so helpful. Yes I am just using whatever Tesco sold. I will change litter AND put it outside.

With the outside one, do I have that as well as the inside one for a bit? And then once I know they have found the one outside and got used to it, get rid of the indoor one?

I think cats should always have options when in the house. Get a covered tray and experiment with litter. It shouldn't smell.

Would you like to have to take a crap in the snow and rain?

I agree with this. Our last cat barely ever used the litter tray, she always went outside. We sadly lost her last year aged ten, but we always had two in the house just in case. We have a little boy now who was a stray kitten living outdoors until he was about nine months old and my god he LOVES the litter tray - comes in to use it rather than go outdoors.

We have three trays for one cat - unfortunately I think dealing with poo is just part of having a pet.