hello, i am new to this forum and come with a question that is really bugging my partner and i. we have 2 cats and a medium sized garden. we have removed the cats litter tray from the house and encouraged our pets to go outside. however, they seem to go to the toilet wherever they want not where we want them to. their favorite place is on the lawn. we have tried covering the lawn with netting but this hasn't put them off. is there any way we can train our cays to go to the toilet somewhere else.? what if we opened up a bed of soil for them and put some cat litter in it? and would we still have to clean it out? please, please help, we love our cats but we also love our home and our garden too

hi and welcome to the forum,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,we have a cat section so if you ask there someone may be able to help you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

hi & welcome

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never, never rub cats nose in it gradually move litter tray out side - not completly remove - the ones with lids r great and can be put outside without fear of rain

Why not?! I didn't mean to cover its whole face of crap or wee. It's a punishment and they learn.
If it's a kitten you teach it when it's very young and there's no problem. But if they're too old and had never been taught good "manner", that one works.

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Cat Master

Silk Pets Scarves (for humans ): http://chinesesilk.ecrater.com/category.php?cid=416272

Another ridiculous person who thinks slapping and rubbing faces in mess will train a cat!If you want something to train get a dogperhaps you should have considered litter trays before you took on a cat.

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SELKCAH NORWEGIAN FOREST CATS

Totally agree with Clare and Selk. You do NOT slap cats or rub their noses in it. That is cruel, it teaches the cats absolutely nothing. Mother cats never smack their kittens when they misbehave.

For the person who originally posted the message, yes, giving them their own bit of soil will probably work. Our own cats have access to a very large cat run and we put decking in it, however, we left a very small patch of soil for them as well because even though they all use the indoor litter trays, they also like to toilet in the soil. In my situation, yes I do have to go and pick it up daily. So give them a large patch of soil, put some of their litter in there as you suggested, and when you think they want to go to the toilet, take them to that particular spot and show them as this will help encourage them to use it. You may have to take them to that spot periodically but they will soon get the hang of it. And if you then find a cat poop on the lawn where you don't want it, scoop it up, and then put it in their "toilet" area as that will also encourage them to use that spot only. When kittens are litter training and they have their little "accidents", by picking up the mess and putting it in their trays, it encourages them to use the tray as it has the scent of their own mess in it. Hope this helps.

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Purrs and best wishes
Kat
http://www.schimmelorientals.com

I didn't say proper slap it but I meant more like a pat on the head or body.

Thanks for that.

Did you at least read what I wrote?

And I said teaching, which is different from training.

Anyway, I don't have time to argue and I'm not here for that.

Here's a bit of history:
We used to have cats but never taught them to do their needs in a tray. While sleeping overnight in the garage we always found crap and wee against walls.
By TEACHING them the way I described they learned from their mistakes and were forever clean.
Doing in the garden doesn't bother me at all and it's good for your vegetables.

We've also learned from our mistakes. From now on, when we have a new kitten (which is every 7-8 years) we teach 'em to be clean. Each time we see it's about to do it, we take it to the tray and we'll never need to make it smells (I softened it just for you) its things.
Teach it young, teach it good.

Satisfied now?

At least I don't hurt them like some people take pleasure to do so.

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Cat Master

Silk Pets Scarves (for humans ): http://chinesesilk.ecrater.com/category.php?cid=416272

Sorry Jerome still think you are somewhat misguided!

I have rescued cats who have not been litter trained and I have NEVER rubbed their noses in it or slapped them no matter how gently or where. You should never rub a cats face in its faeces as the ammonia can burn their faces.

Go read up on how to look after a cat!