Reintroducing a litter tray?

[RelocatorRelocator]

RelocatorCat used to use a tray perfectly happily but after we moved here 10 years ago gradually stopped. She hasn't used one at all for years apart from when we had several feet of snow outside. I think she goes in the woods.

We're moving house in a couple of weeks so obviously she'll have to use one then. We're not sure whether we can have a cat flap yet either and it's a more built up area so it'll probably need to be a longer term thing anyway. I've bought one with a lid and a cat flap type door.

Will she know this is a litter tray? She had a very basic open tray before. Any tips on teaching/encouraging her to use it? Do I need to start before we go? She's 15 so quite an old lady really (pretty healthy though)

Any general tips on the move much appreciated too. How long do I need to keep her in? She's quite deaf so hard to call back these days. She's always been very outdoorsy so hates being locked in.

[cozietoesie]

Once they learn how to use one they seem to have it for life - although the upgrade to the covered tray might be more problematic for her. Maybe start with the cover off until she learns it happily again? (And try for roughly the same type of litter as she had when she was a younger 'un.)

You may find that if she has indoor facilities, she isn't so desperate to get outside, especially as she's now getting older and the weather becomes less clement with Autumn coming on. Are you planning to keep her in anyway - for a few weeks, say - at the new place?

[RelocatorRelocator]

Thanks cozie - she certainly used the open tray quite happily when the snow was too deep for her to go out.

I wondered about starting with the lid off. Will try that. Fingers crossed she'll get the hang of it with the lid on too though - feels much more hygienic.

Yes, we'll try and keep her in for as long as we can manage - last time we moved she gave me the slip after about 4 days and shot off up over the shed roof before I could catch her! Will have to be more careful this time, especially with dcs around to leave doors open etc.

There are a lot more busy roads near to our new house as well (here she has quite a wide area to range around of side streets, footpaths and woods, plus the grounds of an old folks' home, so she never goes near the main road to my knowledge) so the plan is to bring her in at night even if we do sort out a cat flap.

[cozietoesie]

Have you still got the old tray in the back of a cupboard somewhere? I think I'd maybe give her that to use as well as the new tray - once you put the lid on - and keep your fingers crossed that she'll start using both. Positioning two trays can be awkward depending on your house layout but it's a darn sight better than accidents or 'protests'.

[RelocatorRelocator]

Unfortunately not - I lent it to someone and never got it back The new house is also tiny so it would be a real struggle to get two trays in!

[cozietoesie]

See how it goes then with taking the lid off at first. I'd get a cheap second tray, though, if I were you: they're only cheap - Poundland type shops usually have them - and they're extremely useful to have as a clean reserve at the back of the cupboard.

The usual rule is one per cat plus one (within reason) and Seniorboy actually has two, both of which he uses as the mood takes him. I appreciate that you're moving to a tiny house so - your call. Just to have an extra one in reserve in case of her being anxious about new premises might ease your mind though.

Good luck with the move.