Expert: Tina - 10/11/2006

Question
Hello I am looking to get a cat and I really don't want  a litter box in the house.  I know some people who have cats and they are trained to go outside to go to the bathroom,  I was wondering if you had any tips on how to train the cat to go outside to use the bathroom.

Answer
HI Tilli,

No I don't have tips on this idea, because my cats all live indoors only. I do not recommend at all allowing cats outdoors, and I strongly recommend against not having a litterbox in the house even for people who do allow cats outside. Cats have sensitive urinary tracts and need to be encouraged to urinate frequently or they are prone to infections and crystals in the urine. Cats without immediate access to a toilet are more susceptible, as are cats who don't want to go out in cold or wet weather to relieve themselves. Would you want to go out in the rain or snow to pee?

Before you consider allowing your cat outside loose, please read the following articles. I feel strongly about this, since as a teen our beloved family cat (who was indoor-outdoor) died in agony on my lap after being hit by a car and dragging himself home, we never made it to the vet. Then, I worked in a vet clinic for a few years and saw outside cats who were hit by cars, poisoned, shot, and mauled by dogs every single day. It is not a safe world for cats to be outside!

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/indoors.html

You can give your cat the best of both worlds if you build a cat enclosure, and ideally you could have part of the enclosure roofed to allow for a litterbox! This way your cat could have access through a cat door to a safe outdoor environment, and the litterbox would be outside. Of course it would have to be kept dry. If an enclosure is not an option, your cat is definitely safer inside only.

Here are some ideas:
http://catnet.stanford.edu/articles/enclosures.html

A litterbox does not have to smell or be inconvenient. I have 3 cats and a litterbox in a very small cottage. There is no smell! Here are my siggestions for disguising the litterbix both visually and olfactory-wise:

1. Use a jumbo covered litterbox
2. Use World's Best Cat Litter (http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com)
3. Scoop the box 1-2 times a day into a LItter Locker
(http://www.petmate.com/Catalog.plx?ID=1600)
OR use an electronic or hand-operated self-cleaning litterbox, there are several brands!
4. Place the litterbox in a closet or in a litterbox bench, furniture that disguises the litterbox: http://tinyurl.com/y6jk4e