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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

3640.0. "Litter UN-training !!!" by HAMPS::PATTISON_M () Fri May 25 1990 16:07

    I did a dir/title=LITTER and was inundated with dozens of notes,
    none of the titles seemed to refer to my question and I didnt have
    time to read all the base notes so please forgive me if this question
    has been asked before, & point me at the right note.
    
    Our 2 kittens are now about 15 weeks old, they were litter trained
    when we got them at 8 weeks and we have not had any problems in
    that area. They will be going out for their first adventure in the
    big bad world this weekend and when we (me & the missus) feel happy
    about it we will let them use the cat flap to come & go as they
    please (well more or less). 
    
    here is my question:
    
    	Is there anything I can do to encourage them to use the garden
    in stead of the litter box? I dont want to remove the litter box
    totally, as it will be a long time before we let them go out at
    night, we might never let them roam at night. I do want them to
    use the garden in preference to the litter box, it is cheaper, saves
    me having to empty the litter every day, and might help fertilize
    the garden.
    
    	Does anyone have any tips ?
    
    Thanks in advance
    
    Martyn, Denise, Calvin & Hobbes.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
3640.1	Never uses the tray now, does it all outside!	AYOV18::TWASON		`Tue May 29 1990 07:35`	14
	You can try moving your litter box closer to the door, until it is eventually outside, this was how we eventually did it with Spooky. At first we just used to put her outside and think that she would just go ahead, until we noticed that the little thing would come in absolutely bursting for you know what's and head straight for the litter box. Now she has her own corner in the garden under a little tree (to give her some privacy). Regards Tracy
3640.2	Put that tray in the garden!	IOSG::THOMPSONR	Nostalgia isn't what it used to be	`Thu May 31 1990 09:21`	19
	Oh undoubtably put the litter tray in the garden for about a week (hopefully the weather will be dry enough). You can do this, as .1 says, gradually, or immediately depending on your cats. I found that when I put the litter tray in the garden giving them no indoor option, they used it without any problems. Then gradually I deliberately got more and more 'lazy' about cleaning it out, so the cats turned away in disgust and started using the garden. This happened in the space of a week, after a whole year of thinking "How on EARTH am I going to get them to use the garden". Another way is to partly fill the tray with garden soil. So now I don't have a litter tray in the house at all (thank god - I hate the thing sitting in my kitchen, the only place that isn't carpeted in the house). They always seemed to time "toilet time" perfectly to coincide with our meal times! [Ruth, Henri & Sophie]
3640.3	Thanks folks.	HAMPS::PATTISON_M		`Thu May 31 1990 09:50`	9
	Thanks for the replies. The guys got their first adventures in the big bad world and thought it was great. I saw Calvin using the flower beds a couple of times over the weekend, bot Hobbes is either more discreet or more fussy so I will try putting the litter tray outside for a while. Martyn.
3640.4	be careful of the soil in the garden	FORTSC::WILDE	Ask yourself..am I a happy cow?	`Mon Jun 04 1990 17:09`	13
	If you have outdoor cats AND flower gardens, remember to ALWAYS wear gloves when working the garden. The cats will be exposed to parasites and viruses during their adventures, and their litter will be dangerous for you to contact with bare skin, which usually has micrscopic openings/cuts through which these infectants can enter. If you are prone to go bare-foot during nice weather, also be very careful to avoid areas where your cat (or other cats in the neighborhood) drops litter. In fact, if cats and dogs wander free in your neighborhood, ASSUME you should wear gloves/shoes at ALL times you can come in contact with the soil. Animal waste is a perfect breeding ground for these things. Also, remember to get your cats tested regularly for parasites - worms can cause a lot of damage over a year's time. I recommend a test every 6 months, at most.