Just can't get these kittens to poop outside!

[bernhund]

We've had a number of cats and dogs over the years and never really had this kind of incident before. Our two 6 month old kittens just won't toilet outside. They'll be clawing at the door mat to get in, and when they are, a rush to the litter tray! There's endless places for them to do it outside and I'm surprised they've not learnt from their mother, she grasped it in weeks not months.
I've put a tray outside the door, which they've used, but of course at night if I don't bring it in, the bath has an unwelcome surprise in the morning. What's the answer???

[bernhund]

Sounds like a plan...just need to decide where I DO want them to go! Far enough from the house, but not a chore. Cheers

[bernhund]

mybrainhurts said:

Poop in their beds.

That'll teach them....

[bernhund]

Right, an update. Put used cat litter and some fresh cat litter in a flower bed and put cats with it. Cats st indoors. Put cats out all day while we're at work, let them in for food, put them out all night etc. Did this for a couple of weeks at least. Today let cats in at 6.30 am, feed them, one goes into my bathroom and sts in the bath.
This is now coming to a head and there's going to be some arguments in this house. These cats are determined to st in the house and I'm not having it. My wife tries to avoid talking about it, but there's no way I'm having cats st in my house everyday for the next 16 years!
So what next? I'm ready to take them to a cat shelter whether my wife agrees or not. She will come home one day and they will not be here. How do I deal with this?

[bernhund]

Don't get the wrong impression, I like animals. I've had 7 cats and 3 dogs over the years, I know they need to learn, but this is very different from all other experiences.
This isn't even comparable to other threads about neighbours cats & threatening behaviour. My house is rural, my garden is 170ft wide, 80ft deep & backs onto fields. There are untold places to crap if you're a cat. These kittens have been taught to hunt by their mother who also lives with us. She doesn't st indoors, so I just don't get it. They spend a lot of time out there together. I understand a litter tray in town or a flat, but not here.
Also I mentioned the bath, but it's not exclusively the bath, the floor gets it too.

[bernhund]

I've still got my chicken coupe after our chickens died off & might put a lamp in there to keep it warm & let the cats live outdoors like farm cats. They'd probably be quite comfortable.

[bernhund]

Simpo Two said:

By refusing to have a litter tray in the house I don't think you're helping. The price you're paying for not having a litter tray is turds in the bath and on the floor. Which is worse?

Trouble is we've been through the litter tray stage. They used it, they missed it regularly and they shat in the bath too! I'm also not happy about wandering from my bedroom every morning like a Bisto kid...except it's not Bisto I'm smelling. I don't want that smell in my house all day and everyday. They have to learn but just don't seem to want to. I need an answer because it's not right and it's not healthy.

[bernhund]

bexVN said:

Not healthy?? Guess I should have kicked the bucket ages ago if that's the case

Wtf is the point of having cats as pets if you are just going to shut them in a chicken coup.

At least invest in a proper cat house if you go down tbat route and you will still need litter trays if you do that.

I don't think the smell is any more offensive that what some humans produce in a bathroom tbh!! Though I agree messing on the floor is not something I'd want to deal with.

Can you shut them downstairs?

Edited by bexVN on Saturday 24th January 19:15

Trust me, the smell is offensive! People crap where they're supposed to then flush it away. Yes some do make you wonder what on earth they've put through their system, but the odour soon dissipates. The smell from the cats is in a different league, within seconds it fills the house. It's incredible! Just a week ago some friends came for dinner and half way through I had to explain what the fk the stench was that drifted into the room half way through. In my book, eating dinner with the smell of cat st pervading the air is totally unacceptable. You wouldn't eat in a restaurant that smelt like that. I'm on tenterhooks in case we get unexpected visitors these days.
By the way, this all happens downstairs. There's nowhere in my house where it's convenient for a tray or st on the floor.
I think I may have come across as a miserable animal hating bd on this thread, but I'm really not. I like animals and have had plenty, but these kittens are slow learners & it's getting me down. They're doing a great job at keeping the rodents in check & they have been very entertaining too. But I work 6 days a week, live in an interesting property that soaks up any free time I have left & the cat st is something I really don't need. You don't need to share your home with st everyday to show you love your pets.
Oh, and don't think the chicken coup is fenced in, it's not. The cats would be free to go where they like, it would just be a warm little shelter when they are not in the house. It's about 4ft x 2ft & was for 3 chickens.

[bernhund]

Not tried soil in the tray but happy to try anything! So will start today.
Sadly we can't fit a catflap in our door because, believe it or not, it's listed! This hasn't been a problem for 3 other cats over the last 10 years though. We went through 3 collar operated flaps at our last house...3? How's that then? Bernard, our late Bull Terrier, used to shove his head through them. On one ocassion I found him wearing it like a necklace. He'd tried to back out of the flap & ripped the whole thing off!