Dem Norty Puddies...lol

[Jugglering]

ok... a quick update folks ! (New) cats were introduced to *garden* this weekend... they are loving it.. but how on earth do I persuade them to not post in their litter trays (errr, indoors) and *go* outside instead.... I put some of the used litter on a wee patch of freshly dug soil outside... but they weren't having any of it... and then it started to rain, so I couldn't blame either of them for wanting to be indoors instead. Helpful tips and advice would be most gratefully received, thanks !

[hau kola]

Both my cats go outside but i like to get them in at night so i always keep a litter tray. Given the choice, they only use it if they absolutely have to. Yours will get the idea eventually.

[bensmum]

When it's not raining (!) put the litter tray out in the garden until they get used to the idea of going outside. The might feel a little bit vulnerable at the moment as they are still getting used to the garden but they will gradually learn.

[showcatbenga]

Although you want to get rid of the litter box in the house, so you won't have to clean it forever more, it can be a good way to keep an eye on the health of the little darlings & provide an early warning of many potential health problems like diahorroea, worms, constipation, etc.
Also by providing somewhere 'safe' from other (big, bad,) cats for the necessaries you can avoid problems like forming crystals in the urinary tract because they don't want to go out to urinate frequently enough.
Can you compromise by having a tray in a porch or garage? Or a covered box in the house?
You would have to make the position transition gradually by moving the tray little by little closer to it's eventual 'home'. Hope you have luck with that - x.

[wolf63]

If they are still going in their litter trays and not the neighbours' gardens be happy. Many a war has been started over this.

Cats like to 'go' where they feel safe from the world. They don't want to feel vulnerable.

They seem to be settling in though - this is good.

[Jugglering]

Thanks guys !

Short update - I opened the back door this evening (to get some fresh air into the place) and moved the litter trays just outside the door (it's nice and dry now, thank goodness). I cleaned them out at the same time, putting the used litter on the freshly dug soil. One little darling went straight to its new position, no problem (she's the brighter of the two - she worked out the microchip cat flap straight away on Saturday hehe). I've cleaned the floor area where the trays used to be and will move their food there and reposition the litter trays - one inside the door (and cat flap) and one just outside and see what happens.

I am absolutely amazed at how well these two ladies are settling in - they are loving the garden - it's got lots of highly interesting shrubbery and good hiding places for them. and quite safe because there's only a back lane to the rear (no trafficked roads). Also, they haven't been hissing at each other nearly as much since they were allowed to explore the great outdoors.