Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/pooping in kids sandbox

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/11/2009


Question
is there something i can put in my kids sandbox that will keep our cat from
wanting to use it. should i make her an outdoor litterbox? the sandbox is 20 feet
x 5 feet, i can't really cover it up.

Answer
Kitty,

Cats LOVE sand to use as a litterbox and it is their natural instinct to use it. About the only thing you can do is tarp it when the kids aren't' using it. Get a couple of 10x10's and use some large rocks to hold down the edges, or some long boards, so the cats can't get in it or under the tarps. You can also use chicken wire or stiff window screening on top of the sand so the cats can't dig.

There are things you can add to the sand as a cat deterrent but it would be offensive to the children, and with the large size it wouldn't be feasible.

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.

Experience

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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