Getting a cat to poop outside???!!!

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I would just see what happens.  If she goes outside, fine, but tbh I would be hoping she continues to use the tray.  Not only can you keep an eye on what is being produced, but you can be (fairly) sure she's not pooping in the neighbour's roses.  Having your own garden doesn't mean she will necessarily choose to toilet there.  Plus, if she has to come home to use the tray, she's less likely to wander off.

[Ela]

tbh, I would rather keep an eye on what they are (or aren't) producing. I remember someone (Ela I think) posted before about only finding out one of her cats had bowel cancer when she saw what was in the tray.

Guilty. I am so pleased I noticed the poo in the tray, although to be honest it could not be missed, as before I did she seemed in perfect health and there was no reason to suspect there was anything wrong. Had she been pooing in the garden she would have suffered in silence until I expect it became unbearable and then I would never have forgiven myself.

[wharfevalley catsprotection]

Thanks guys! Great tips!

She's not a great outdoor fan anyway and i suspect that we'll just have to go with the flow and see. I'm fairly laid back about it and just whatever she decides, but i'm definately going to try and introduce it. My friends cats just decided to go outdoors aswell after being indoor cats - just another way in which they're contrary!

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

The cat will decide what it wants to do and think you run with that either way.

Misa and Sasa used a tray when they were new here and indoors but as soon as they started going out that was it but Misa especially will use a tray if he thinks the weather is too bad 

[Kay and Penny]

each of mine use a different place and I can tell whose been, and how often, just by where the soil has been disturbed

and I find as long as the soil/compost is fine, I can remove the 'lumps' easily enough, and then fork over the rest

[Feline Costumier]

That's why I keep my tray and would never completely get rid. My two are in overnight and always when I'm not at home so they have to use it quite regularly, just nowhere near as much as they used to.

I also know where they go (they have adopted a patch of flowerbed ) and I often have a little peer over there too

[Mark]

tbh, I would rather keep an eye on what they are (or aren't) producing. I remember someone (Ela I think) posted before about only finding out one of her cats had bowel cancer when she saw what was in the tray. I suppose if they are using a tray outside, it is OK - I am guessing you would need some kind of cover to stop the litter getting wet?

[Feline Costumier]

My two just started going out of their own accord, somewhat helped along by me accidentally shutting the cupboard with the litter tray in it one day.

They hardly use it now although it's always there if they want it. I honestly don't know why they took it upon themselves to go outside, I just got lucky I suppose

[Kay and Penny]

I would suggest that during the 4 weeks you have to keep her in you gradually mix a bit of shop bought compost with her litter

by the end of the 4 weeks aim to have it more compost than litter

then transfer that last litter tray contents to a part of the garden you want her to use - preferably one near the house, or under shelter if you want her to go out when it's raining,  and if she uses it keep it topped up with compost, but gradually mix it up with garden soil

I also have an outdoor covered tray, sold by Zooplus, which I keep just outside the back door, and mine only use it when their garden patch gets waterlogged

but I also keep an indoor tray just in case - once or twice it has been used when the cats have had the runs, and as they probably wouldn't have made it outside I was glad of it

[Guest]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! My two run in like loons to use their litter boxes after being out!! Good luck x

[wharfevalley catsprotection]

We're moving up to a lovely house in the next couple of months and Katie will now have a lovely, big garden to play (and hopefully poop in!)

She's always had access to the outdoors, but as we've only got neighbours gardens, she's only pooped in her litter tray. I have to be honest that it would be great if she could do the majority of it outside (of course i'd keep one for overnight and in bad weather)

So the question is, how do you make the transfer to outdoor poopage?! Of course we'll be keeping her indoors for the first 4 weeks and so she'll get used to using the tray so how will she know to go outside? I don't really know what her routine was in her old home and that was nearly 6 years ago and maybe she's just going to be stuck in her ways!!!

Any tips would be great!!!