Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: tryme on April 03, 2008, 12:07:54 PM
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My kitties are old enough and had all inoculations neutered etc. So how do I teach them to use the outside for a toilet instead of me having to keep a litter tray. I can't wait to get rid of the thing! lol
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You should really keep the litter tray even if they go outside so they can use it at night or if it is raining etc. You just won't need to clean it out as often.
Our casper just started going outside automaticly, didn't need any teaching so I guess he just preferred it. Occaisoinly he will use the litter tray but not often.
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To be honest with you I would recommend that you always provide a tray.
So may people don't have one in the home and that means when there is a problem it is often not noticed as early as it might be, therefore causing more serious problems the longer it goes on.
Cats Protection advise always provide a litter tray irrespective of your cats age even if they are allowed out, (in fact it is a condition of CP homing a cat) if you keep an eye on what your cat is passing and the frequency the cat is in the tray, you can spot many problems, e.g. cystitis is very common in cats and needs urgent Veterinary treatment. It is often shown up if the cat uses the tray frequently and/or passes blood. A year ago it was necessary to have Trudie a long term CP cat PTS due to bowel cancer. I would like to hope that Trudie's untimely death has not been in vain as a lesson can be learnt from it, and that is the reason why everyone MUST always provide a litter tray no matter how old the cat and irrespective of the fact that it may go out. So many times I am told oh! I have no need for a litter tray my cat goes out now. Had Trudie no access to a litter tray the cancer would have continued to get the better of her and she would have suffered, she looked purrfectly well and it looked like there was no reason to take her to the vets, the only reason I took her was because I noticed she was going into the tray more frequently than usual and there was blood on most pooos and drops in the tray. None of this would have been noticed had we no tray we don't know what our little ones are putting in the hole in the garden.
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It also stops your cats becomming targets of a disgruntled gardener :(
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I would also provide a tray just in case - my friends cats just learnt by themselves, but my cat is 7 and doesn't go outside to go to the loo, in fact she will play out, come in for a wee and then go out again!!!
It is a pain to have one, but it's a part of being a cat owner I guess! It does mean, like Ela said I was able monitor Katie's blood in her poo and get it checked out early enough to get it sorted!
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I'll add to the consensus! As well as being able to monitor your cats 'habits', there are some cats who are intimidated by going to the loo outside - usually by other cats. Just last week a work colleague had noticed that her little 7 month old man wasn't going outside, so wasn't going to the loo. I suggested a litter tray, and sure enough, he did the biggest poo and wee you can imagine! He must have been holding on for ages! Obviously he hadn't been feeling safe to go out doors. Cats must always have a safe haven they can retreat to, and that includes a toilet!
BTW - I was like you when I first got my three - couldn't wait to get rid of the thing, but never did - and if it hadn't been for a litter tray I would never have noticed that little Meesha had developed UTD.
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Yeah I guess so it is quite neccessary it's just irritating to clean it often and not only that when they dig in there they get so many stones on the floor lol. Never mind though i'll have to take responsibility as an owner it's fine:) thanks guys
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You have made the right decision and I have three trays for 4 cats and all go outside except one. However sometimes . especially in bad weather others are also using the indoor trays.
The little darlings make there own minds up ;D
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Barry just decided he would rather do it outside and his litter tray has now not been changed since November!! Hate having the thing there and could easily get rid of it but the day I do I can gaurantee he will take a dump in my slipper!! He has not used it for even a wee in all that time and so I dont think having one would mean i would spot any problems any quicker than if I didnt have one at all.
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When cats get ill, eg bowel cancer, they dont go out as much and need to go more often.
So whilst barry is healthy he has no reason to use it.
Trays are more than useful when your cats are in at night, as most rescues these days request, they shouldnt have to hang on until their humans wake up.
Yeah I guess so it is quite neccessary it's just irritating to clean it often and not only that when they dig in there they get so many stones on the floor lol. Never mind though i'll have to take responsibility as an owner it's fine:) thanks guys
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could easily get rid of it but the day I do I can gaurantee he will take a dump in my slipper!!
Oh, yes, indeedy! Got that T-shirt! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Try the crystals. Much easier to dig out solids and just shuffle around the remaining crystals once in a while. They are more expensive but I find you only have to change the tray completely about every 4-5 days. ;)
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Trays are more than useful when your cats are in at night, as most rescues these days request, they shouldnt have to hang on until their humans wake up.
:ok: :ok: :ok: :ok:
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He is at my f'ing door every morning!! Hang out lol I wish!