How do you teach a cat....

[watergirl]

To use the outdoors as a litterbox?

We got him a couple weeks ago from the humane society. He's about a year old, and very smart and cute and affectionate. He's well behaved in the house, as all our cats have been - you just teach them to stay off the tables and counters, and that they can be in the window seats and on couches and such, and where the litter box is. All fine and good.

We have started letting him be outside for a while, even when I am not home for a few hours at a time. (We live in a rural area at the end of a dirt road, with zero traffic issues.) Also, we have a stream on the north side of the yard, a creek on the west, and the neighbors to the south have two idiot dogs that bark like crazy and keep him from wandering their way down the driveway or through the yard. To the east, there is more stream/horse pasture/ much jingweed, and he hasn't expressed any interest in that area, anyhow. And he comes when I call him when I go out, or when I come home, so that is cool.

But I would like him to potty outside more often, for less litterbox nuisance.... and instead, he comes in the house, and heads for the litterbox. What up with that?

Any advice or related stories would be much appreciated... Thanks!

 

[zhukov1943]

With a cattle-prod?

 

[Mary Hall]

Cats are naturally clean creatures and i think by nature they like using the box, my cat has NEVER pooped outside....he poops outside his tray IN the house but that`s another story

 

[aegis9591]

To use the outdoors as a litterbox?

We got him a couple weeks ago from the humane society. He's about a year old, and very smart and cute and affectionate. He's well behaved in the house, as all our cats have been - you just teach them to stay off the tables and counters, and that they can be in the window seats and on couches and such, and where the litter box is. All fine and good.

We have started letting him be outside for a while, even when I am not home for a few hours at a time. (We live in a rural area at the end of a dirt road, with zero traffic issues.) Also, we have a stream on the north side of the yard, a creek on the west, and the neighbors to the south have two idiot dogs that bark like crazy and keep him from wandering their way down the driveway or through the yard. To the east, there is more stream/horse pasture/ much jingweed, and he hasn't expressed any interest in that area, anyhow. And he comes when I call him when I go out, or when I come home, so that is cool.

But I would like him to potty outside more often, for less litterbox nuisance.... and instead, he comes in the house, and heads for the litterbox. What up with that?

Any advice or related stories would be much appreciated... Thanks!

Hi,

If your cat was an indoor cat, or if your cat's previous staff (cats dont have owners, they have staff) provided a litter tray for him, then thats what he has grown used to, and thats where he will go.

One of my best friends was in exactly the same position, she had two cats, (both rescue cats) one preferred inside, the other preferred outside. When we looked into the reasons why, the one who preferred indoors had lived in an apartment, and the other had been free to roam wherever he wanted. (this one is a closet tiger and loves to savage ankles !)

We have had the same cat for the last 17 years, and she is 100% indoors... We ususally "de-lump" every other day, and do a complete replacement once a week. As long as you use one of the odour absorbing litters (and it has the approval of your master the cat) together with a litter tray freshener, then it should be fine...

Although I hear ya with the litterbox nuisance, I can think of a lot more pleasurable things to be doing with my time sometimes..

but then, my cat has me well trained ! !

 

[Suzins]

What if you got rid of the litterbox to see what happens.

Maybe if he can't find it, he'll just start going outside.

 

[hook848]

Try setting his litter box outside. Maybe on the porch for awhile and then move it further away slowly.

You may have to set the litter box inside but near the door first. Then we he gets used to it move it outside.

Good luck.

 

[Glistening Girl]

It is my experience that most cats will go where they are used to going all the time. If your cat spends most his time indoors or home alone much then you need to keep the litter box. Buy an enclosed one that uses a charcoal filter on the top and buy a good brand of kitty litter. I prefer fresh step above most others out there. Clean every other day and replace once a week and you really won't have an oder problem. The oder problem usually happens mostly with their urine because it will smell like ammonia.

Now if you want to get rid of the box altogether and have the cat only go outdoors then you need to take steps to do that. Move the box closer to the door the cat goes out of mostly. After a week move the box right outside the door. Another week move it a spot in the yard that works for you and the cat. After a week take the litter and put it on the ground where the box was sitting. This hopefully will work but there are no guarantees. Like it was said they own us.

 

[firefighter02]

My cat shits not only in the litter box but in my bed..under curtains...in piles of clothes....

I found the best way to train them was with a gunny sack and a brick.

 

[SensualCealy]

Firefighter- if you were only as scarey as you make out to be!
You are one big softy inside and we all know it!

I agree with the slipping it closer to the door until its outside, then dumping it in a spot that you will both perfer it to use. That may even take you removing the spray guard first , then the liner from the box, then dumping the box altogether.

Good luck, Cealy

 

[JRaven]

It's been years...

...since I've had a cat. Had them when I was younger, but now, hubby is alergic.

Anyway, try this. Dig a shallow spot somewhere outside. Then fill it with the same litter you use in the litter box. Do this with your master inside. Then, take him outside and set him on the outdoor litter box. (Sometimes you have to show them where things are.)

The cats my family had growing up were always outdoor cats, except during the winter. They didn't seem to have a problem adapting.

Jenny

 

[watergirl]

mmm

Thanks everyone, for the suggestions...

We will be keeping the indoor box, because that's fine... There will be times when he's inside, home alone, with no access to outisde.

But, yeah.... I have picked a spot to dump things outside - more as an attempt to deter him from going over there than to encourage him to use that outside litter - but we'll see. If he doesn't, he doesn't, I guess..

But I like the idea of making a fake 'box' outside on purpose - that's cool. He is racing around in here right now, someone definitely needs to be outside this morning!

*smooches*

wg

 

[Tat2mom]

If the main problem is just the litterbox (cleaning,smell, etc..) try getting the Littermaid. I have 3 cats and it's great!! it has to be dumped more often but that's expected. With one cat you should be able to go at least a week without dumping it.

 

[watergirl]

Well..

I scoop daily and dump weekly. It's not a problem, but our old cats learned to eventually potty outside.... I think he will, too. I like the idea of a fake litter site outside, with litter in a dug hole sort of thing that I show him a few times. He'll get it.

The smell is not bad, it's in the back room of our house, by the pump & water heater & stuff. Pfah for the books that say your cat won't use a box where there are scary noises, he copes just fine! We have a tough mentality here about cats... they're not allowed to be as finicky as reputation would have it...

Thanks for the ideas!