I previously had a cat until a few years ago but she was a house cat and never went out into the garden, so she only had a tray.

This time around I would like to get a cat that is used to a garden. If I have a cat flap installed, do cats just pop out when they need the toilet and if so, how do you train a cat to go outside? Do I need to have a litter tray inside as well, or even outside for that matter?

The cats I am looking to re-home all would prefer a garden (according the the Celia Hammond worker I spoke to) so I am trying to get as much info as I can before I get a cat again.

TIA

Hi

Well done for looking at a rescue cat.

Catflap: it depends if the cat you rescue is used to this or not. Some training may be necessary. I adopted 2 youngish adults who I had to train to go through a catflap and it took about a day with treats as an incentive. However my semi-feral much older moggie really hasn't got it, so we open the door to let her out.

(I haven't persisted with the semi-feral as she spends the night out if she wants to - she has an outhouse with a bed in it for shelter or she can stay in and wake me up to go out)

Toileting: I keep 3 litter trays in the house because at night my 2 peds are kept in. Both use these, but they also use the outside. Both prefer indoors if wet and/or cold outside.