Outside litter tray

[jumpyjan]

We have 2 new kittens who are currently inside and brilliant at using a litter tray.

We will be letting them out in a week and I am a bit torn as although I hate having the litter tray in the house I am a bit worried about them pooing all over the garden and the DC's stepping in it etc.

I have been looking at this outside litter tray which has great reviews and I am very tempted. Sounds like an ideal solution as although we will still need to deal with their poo's it won't be in the house or in the flower beds/lawn. But will it work or will they just poo in the garden anyway?

Anyone tried this?

[Sparklingbrook]

Hi jumpy. My Mum put the normal litter tray in the garden in the day under the patio table. Lucy used it for a bit then all of a sudden stopped.

Mum buried a bit of Lucy's poo in the garden I think that helped, so she noe goes in the garden.

Good luck x

[jumpyjan]

Thanks sparklingbrook. Problem is its so wet at the moment I can't think of anywhere in the garden were I could get away with putting a normal litter tray. Think it will be a bit annoying if I shell out £30 and the cats just poo in the garden!

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes, cats are very fickle. they may be quite happy to use it or they may not want to go near it.

[Daysies]

Are there other cats living in your street? I've found that my cat will ONLY do his business outside in neighbour cat's garden. And neighbour cat in return comes pretty much like clockwork every day to make a deposit in our garden! Luckily that my neighbour and I are good friends and have accepted that the cats are going to go where they like in the end.

But I swear one day I caught them crossing paths on the way to each others garden, and it was like they gave each other a little nod!

I've seen more than one thread on here where a person is complaining about neighbourhood cats using their garden, I thought that in general, most cats would choose not to poop in their own back yard? So to speak!

[jumpyjan]

Daysies that did make me laugh. DH has been chatting to his cat loving colleague about it today who has convinced him that cats only go in the neighbours garden. I don't think it would be a problem if they did go in neighbours garden as neighbours cat has been pooing in our front garden for years (which I think they probably realise).

They can poo in the front garden all they want but the kids play in the back garden and I would like to keep that a poo free zone.

Will have to see how it goes I suppose. I have another issue now in that both cats are sulking because I put a bell on their collar in preparation for them going outside. Just taken it off again as they were so miserable.

[Sparklingbrook]

Sparkling Cat no longer wears a collar. She lost 5 so we had to give up, lovely posh engraved discs and everything. She is chipped though and the whole road know she lives here.

[jumpyjan]

Yes our guys are chipped too so hopefully that will be enough. I like the idea of a bell and a reflective collar but they were not impressed and I had enough of their sulking - they have perked up no end since we took them off

[Daysies]

If you are hoping the bells will prevent them catching and bringing home 'gifts' I have bad news for you...

[jumpyjan]

Right... sounds like going out buying, fitting, then removing collars with bells was a completely pointless exercise then. Oh well .

[Daysies]

If you got to enjoy them looking totally pissed off for a second or two it wasn't really pointless. Its one of those small joys of being a cat servant that makes you smile, you know, like catching them falling off a shelf or something and the completely embarrassed look on their faces when they realise you saw it!

Like the look on my cats face in the picture I took of him in one of those ridiculous christmas jumpers. Priceless.

[jumpyjan]

I love that embarrased look. One of ours does it when he tries to jump on something very high and totally misses