Does an outdoor cat need a litter tray?

Question

A stray cat jumped in my window about 4 months ago and she has been her ever since. Everytime i put her out she kept coming back. She looked mistreated so i decided to keep her. I took her to the vet last month and got her spayed and now she goes out alot. I have noticed she doesn't use the litter tray that much obviously doing the toilet outside. My friend said i should just take the litter tray away and my cat would know just to jump out the window if she needed. I was just wondering if anyone knows about outdoor cats and if they do still have litter trays.

Answer 1

no they don't the just pee in a bush or c**p in a bush

Answer 2

My two moggies are inside/outside cats but one of them will come in from outside, use the litter tray then go out again!

So it might be worth leaving it just for emergencies!

Answer 3

if she ha access to outside all the time, then no, but if she's locked in anywhere then yes.

Answer 4

I've always provided my indoor/outdoor cats with litter trays for several reasons;

* For use during the night, or when the weather is bad and the cat doesn't want to go outside.

*  Keeps me alerted to any changes in their toileting habits caused by illness or stress.

*  Avoids potential arguments with neighbours because my cats don't use their garden as a toilet.

Alternatively, you could set aside an area of your garden for your cat to use as a latrine area.  The web site below has information on how to do this.

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20probl...

Thank you for adopting a stray cat and giving her the opportunity to know what it is to have a loving home.

Answer 5

no she doesn't need a litter tray as long as she has access to outside. The times she does use it means she's just being lazy lol

But if she doesn't have a permanent  access to outside she needs a litter tray.  

Answer 6

I would definitely leave it there if you don't want to be scrubbing the carpets when there's an accident. It will probably happen.

Answer 7

Absolutely! Unless you want mud tracked on your carpet when it rains.

Answer 8

No, there's no need. My cats are both outdoor cats and they've never shown signs of needing one at all.

Answer 9

no

Answer 10

I would keep it, say for instance she is in and you are away for a while, then she knows its there.  

I have 4 cats, 2 who go out most of the time and 2 kittens.  My cats will actually use the litter tray if they have been out for a while, rather than use outdoors.

Answer 11

No, they usually don't. That's why people make them outdoor cats so they don't need to clean a litter box! Too lazy!

Answer 12

i have an outdoor cat and he doesnt have a litter tray.

we just put him out when we think he may need to goor when he sits by the door.

Also at night about half an hour before we go to bed we put out for half an hour and then we let him back in n h**l sleep on the landing n well just put him back out in the mornin and all is well. you shud just put her out when she wants to go out and before you go to bed for about half an hour then let her back in if she stays in at night otherwise id say that she dosent need a litter tray.

Answer 13

Hi, my cat is very outdoorsy - goes out at every opportunity - although she has to wait by the door, so there is the odd occasion if we are not quick enough to open the door or she needs at night then she uses it so we have not got rid of it yet - she is only 3 now so we will probably get rid of eventually (:  

Answer 14

WOW YOU ARE LUCKY! WISH A STRAY CAT COULD JUMP IN MY WINDOW TO! THEY USUALLY RUN AWAY! BUT MY THREE BIG MALE CATS INVITES IT TO ME  FOR FOOD! LOL!

1.YOUR STRAY CAT DON'T NEED A LITTER TRAY! IF IT FEELS COMFORTABLE USING OUTSIDE ITS GREAT! THEN YOU CAN SAVE MONEY ON LITTER!

Answer 15

My cat is mostly a housecat, in all day when we are at work and all night. However, she seems to have a maximum capacity bladder because she never uses her indoor litter box. Having said that, we still keep one in case of emergencies. I check it about once a month and there is never anything in it. If you have a discreet location for one, it might be a good idea to just leave it there. If she is using the great outdoors, then there really won't be any labour involved.

Answer 16

if you keep her inside at night, then yes you need a litter box.  My cats are indoor-outdoor cats, and they use the litter box more often than what I would ever expect.  And yes, when they're outside, they'll do there business outside.

Answer 17

Different cats have different preferences.  Some cats like doing there business indoors, others out.  I would keep the litter box where it is though, especially if she uses it occasionally.  You never know when you have to shut the window, or keep her inside while you go on vacation.  Its not costing you anything to keep it there, and one bucket of litter will last a long long time.  

Answer 18

i say pull that tray outta the house,  last year my cat started using it outdoors, and he is an indoor cat,  i have left him at home for several hours alone and he has yet to let loose in the house.

the way i did it, was i found a spot about 50ft away from my house and i dumped a bag of litter there, it was in some shrubs, then i showed the cat where it was and, he has went there every since...... its kinda borderline not my property either but oh well....

not to mention my house smells sooo much better

Answer 19

No, the cat prefers to use the outside bathroom, because it helps her mark off her territory.

Get rid of the litter tray & save your money.

Thank you for taking that little kitty in. You have no idea how much you helped her out. I did the same thing on a trip to Canada; brought her home to NY.