Mary Allen
If you only have a domestic cat, there is no way around the fact that the furry darling needs its own toilet. But what about freelancers? We reveal how to teach them to relieve themselves outside. So the cat goes to the toilet outside alone.
Although they spend several hours outside each day and even at night, some cats find pleasure in doing their big business in the litter box.
That’s not surprising, because who sits outside in the wet meadow when a warm box with pleasantly smelling litter is waiting inside? We have a few useful tips on how to make going to the toilet outside palatable for your beloved kitty.
First of all: Simply taking away the litter box is not a solution. Cats are creatures of habit. Everything that changes around them is more than uncomfortable for them. (You can discover the 9 most common mistakes when it comes to litter boxes here.) In the worst case, the cat is so overwhelmed that it looks for a new place in the apartment – in the end, it may even end up affecting the potted plant! Instead, follow our tips.
Set up a second litter box
Lure your cat towards the garden by providing a second quiet place. Ideally, this should be outside in a sheltered place such as the terrace, balcony, or in the front yard.
If the cat accepts this toilet, you at least no longer have the unpleasant smell in the apartment (you can find tips on how to avoid it here). In addition, the mini tiger is one step closer to moving its urgent needs completely outside.
In the next step, create places in their environment that appear attractive to the cat for urinating or defecation. Cats like sheltered places where they can bury their legacy undisturbed. So create toilet places using litter, sand, or bark mulch, which are a perfect alternative to the litter box at home.
Give plenty of praise
Psychology also plays a crucial role. Scolding the cat for going to the bathroom indoors is useless. In the worst case, you only unsettle the animal.
Instead, praise your cat when you notice her relieving herself outside on the extra toilet or the spot you made. This is how your darling learns easily which behavior is better.
If you then give the cat a treat or pats, it might decide to go in the garden all by itself in the future.
Try these things out and give your four-legged friend some time to get used to them. If he still doesn’t want to go outside, don’t despair. As annoying as the litter box can be, it definitely has advantages. For example, if your cat has diarrhea or another illness, you will find out more quickly and can react in good time.