Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Frequency of cat poop

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 11/21/2008


Question
Hi and thanks for reading this.  I have a formerly-stray cat who I thought was going to be an outdoors cat, but has since become more and more of an indoor cat.  Anyway, my husband and I have tried to get him to use the litter box, but he just seems confused.  He goes outside, and we are his personal doormen and let him and out and it doesn't seem to be a problem.  However, 1) it's getting colder and he's spending almost all his time inside and 2) we travel and can't really give direction to a sitter on how often to let him out.  So.  How often do cats pee and poop?  He has never gone inside accidentally.  Thanks again.

Answer
Bathsheba,

He may think that it is unacceptable to go inside since he was an outdoor cat.

You may want to install a cat door so that he can go in and out on his own. If you need instructions for training them to use a cat flap send a followup.

You may also want to try a large cat litterbox with the dirt in it that he uses outside, including some of his poop in it at first. If he uses it, then slowly keep adding litter to it until eventually it is all litter.

Try putting the litterbox by the door he goes out of then slowly move it to where you want it.

Also you can try locking him in a room with his litterbox, food, and water for awhile (a day or two). He may have fits, but he should be forced to use the litterbox, and may continue after that.

Cats don't have a 'typical' schedule on peeing and pooping. It depends on their system.

I hope these suggestion help.

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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