Litter Box Training

okay - I've had the outside cats inside since the first or second week of October.

They are kept in two rooms of the house (actually three if you include the kitchen) ... I have three litter pans which keep me busy emptying.

It seems that they aren't as particular about using the litter as all our other cats that have been raised indoors. If I leave a pile of shop towels on the floor (for example) they'll use them, too.

It's kind of funny - I'm just trying to go with the flow. No pun intended.

So, do you think this might be something that I'll have to always watch out for, or will they eventually get the idea it's the litter pan that is their potty place?

I'm glad I have ceramic tile floors!!

What's been your experience when you've been able to bring your cat(s) inside - do they take to the litter pan right away, or is there some learning curve.

OH, and any suggestions as how I can correct this behavior?

Gray was the one that decided today that the pile of shop towels would do just fine to collect his urine. I said, "NO!", picked him up and put him into one of the litter boxes. Any other suggestions?

Sometimes ferals/former ferals aren't sure what litter is. The litter we usually use is often so comfortable, they think its a lovely place to sleep!

They've been using dirt and/or leaves. Try a layer of some cheap top soil. Mix leaf crumblings in for an authentic effect. I'd use the top soil because its usually been de-bugged. No sense in bringing new critters in with the dirt.

The kitties will soon get the idea.

It might be messy for a bit but a lot less so than peed-upon towels.

And yes, lucky you have tile floors!

What I did was to put some of the droppings that they left into the litter box.

Also make sure the litter that you are using does not have any perfume added to it, they may not like the smell.

I would also try Cat Attract litter. I've had great success using that with ferals.

Great ideas - I was just thinking about getting some leaves and putting on top of the litter. But this does make it more difficult clean out the litter.

I sure won't be putting any more towels on the floor any more!

So, if I catch one of them in process I really don't have any discipline/re-training options. There's only one that I can actually touch, or pick up - Gray the former stray - I stopped him in mid-stream , picked him up and put him into the litter pan. He just shrugged his shoulders as if to ask what the big deal was, and jumped out.

The others won't be so "easy" - but then - just keeping away opportunity is probably my best defense.

Thanks for your suggestions!
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We were very lucky when it came to bringing out outside cat inside - she only pooped on the floor once, we then moved her litter tray closer to where she'd decided her 'safe spot' was - and she's used it ever since - so we were definitely lucky there.

I'm afraid I don't have any good advice that hasn't already been given - but I do wish you luck!