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Letting the cat out
Having kept the cat indoors for the first 4 weeks I have finally let it out
(thankfully it returned!) Once the cat starts going out, is it safe to remove the litter tray completely? Will the cat go outside automatically or should I leave it in place and hope she goes outside of her own volition? |
#2
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On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 09:54:01 -0000, "Mat Overton"
wrote: Having kept the cat indoors for the first 4 weeks I have finally let it out (thankfully it returned!) Once the cat starts going out, is it safe to remove the litter tray completely? Will the cat go outside automatically or should I leave it in place and hope she goes outside of her own volition? My dozen or so cats require at least five litter pans, even though they are completely free to come and go as they please. Some of them haven't been outside in two weeks, a few since it started getting cold in November. If I remove the litter pans, and it's cold or raining, one uses my bed, others use papers on my desk (with or without pushing them to the floor first), and yet others just use the carpet or baskets of dirty clothes and towels. A couple of them prefer the outdoors even in bad weather. T.E.D. ) SPAM filter: Messages to this address *must* contain "T.E.D." somewhere in the body or they will be automatically rejected. |
#3
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On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 09:54:01 -0000, "Mat Overton"
wrote: Having kept the cat indoors for the first 4 weeks I have finally let it out (thankfully it returned!) Once the cat starts going out, is it safe to remove the litter tray completely? Will the cat go outside automatically or should I leave it in place and hope she goes outside of her own volition? My dozen or so cats require at least five litter pans, even though they are completely free to come and go as they please. Some of them haven't been outside in two weeks, a few since it started getting cold in November. If I remove the litter pans, and it's cold or raining, one uses my bed, others use papers on my desk (with or without pushing them to the floor first), and yet others just use the carpet or baskets of dirty clothes and towels. A couple of them prefer the outdoors even in bad weather. T.E.D. ) SPAM filter: Messages to this address *must* contain "T.E.D." somewhere in the body or they will be automatically rejected. |
#4
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On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 09:54:01 -0000, "Mat Overton"
wrote: Having kept the cat indoors for the first 4 weeks I have finally let it out (thankfully it returned!) Once the cat starts going out, is it safe to remove the litter tray completely? Will the cat go outside automatically or should I leave it in place and hope she goes outside of her own volition? It is a question of time, and the cat. None of mine have ever needed a litter tray except when they are either ill, or the weather is extreme. Even in very bad weather they would rather go out an use a litter tray in the shed than do it indoors. Cats hate to foul their own dens, and indoors is their den as far as they are concerned. One thing though, I've found that if you have to keep a cat indoors because it is ill, it is best to start off using garden soil rather than the commercial litters, gradually over a week mixing more of the commercial litter in until you effect the change. I've watched rescue cats walk around in obvious discomfort because they would not use the litter provided in the shelter. My local vet now buys sterilized top-soil (used in greenhouses) in very large bags to cope with any cat who dislikes commercial litters. -- Bob. Cat's motto: No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it. |
#5
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On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 09:54:01 -0000, "Mat Overton"
wrote: Having kept the cat indoors for the first 4 weeks I have finally let it out (thankfully it returned!) Once the cat starts going out, is it safe to remove the litter tray completely? Will the cat go outside automatically or should I leave it in place and hope she goes outside of her own volition? It is a question of time, and the cat. None of mine have ever needed a litter tray except when they are either ill, or the weather is extreme. Even in very bad weather they would rather go out an use a litter tray in the shed than do it indoors. Cats hate to foul their own dens, and indoors is their den as far as they are concerned. One thing though, I've found that if you have to keep a cat indoors because it is ill, it is best to start off using garden soil rather than the commercial litters, gradually over a week mixing more of the commercial litter in until you effect the change. I've watched rescue cats walk around in obvious discomfort because they would not use the litter provided in the shelter. My local vet now buys sterilized top-soil (used in greenhouses) in very large bags to cope with any cat who dislikes commercial litters. -- Bob. Cat's motto: No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it. |
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