Going outside

Hi there, my 4 month old kitten is doing just fine. I am going to have a baby in two months and would like to have him trained to go to the bathroom outside, before the baby eats it.
He is just starting to enjoy going outside but my husband says (since he is used to indoor kitties), don't make him an outside cat if he doesn't want to be one. Soooo, how long does it take for a kitten to want to be outside for longer than 10 minutes (in, out, in, out)? He is gradually taking longer and longer but it's winter still and so I think he get's cold. Thanks, a bunch.

Hi cvankleek and welcome to the forums!

Congrats on the coming baby!

As for the cat, many people here will tell you not to let the cat outdoors at all. I'm sure you can keep his litter box somewhere out of the baby's reach.

I think that if you live in a very safe environment (i.e. not a lot of traffic and mean people/dogs) you can let kitty enjoy the outdoors, but only if he wants to. Let him take his time. Put a cat flap and let him decide when he wants in or out.

By the way, with him going outdoors, that means a greater risk for fleas and other parasites (which may be a consideration re the baby), as well as catching some disease from neighborhoods cats.

Make sure he's up on all his vaccinations and get him neutered soon (now's a good time).

Best of luck and keep us posted!

covered litter boxes that have a door, not that it would be IMPOSSIBLE for a baby to get in there, but is a great help

Your kitty should not go outside unless he is neutered. You cannot take away a litter pan from a kitten who is used to going inside, it will confuse him and you will have him pooping all over the house in his confusion. Just keep the litter pans in a room away from the baby. It will be some time before the baby starts crawling and finds the litter pan anyway.

since we have moved into our new house, socks has learnt to go outside for the toilet, of course he is neutered, and we have a big back garden, not by any main roads so he is safe, he only pops out 5 mins at a time

At the stage where he/she is old enough to crawl around on his own, I would hope your baby wouldn't be left unsupervised long enough to, not only crawl over to the litterbox, but to dig in looking for a snack. There are a number of other things you can do other then letting your cat outside. I would hope, if you do choose to risk his life and leave him outside for long periods of time, I hope you keep him up to date on all his shots and vaccinations so he doesn't catch a deadly disease. Also, if he is an outdoor cat, you HAVE to neuter him and you cannot ever declaw him (I hope you wouldn't do this anyway). That was a good point about the possibility of the cat bringing in fleas and mites and bugs, those are a bigger risk I think then anything else. Even if you flea treat him, the fleas don't die unless they bite, the cat can still carry them into the house.

I dont know if this is possible, but we keep the litter box in the laundry room w/ a baby gate (so the doggy cant get into it) so that would be a good way to prevent baby from exploring in the wrong places.

Hi,

When my kids were toddlers (teenagers now). I had 2 cats, At the time I kept the litter box in my bathroom. I found that putting a child gate there kept my kids from going in the bathrrom, but my cats always found a way to get in (they usually just stood there). Also I have a friend who did somewhat the same thing, she put the litter box under the cabinet in her bathroom, she had a space under the counter, and she built like a little gate around it which only the cat could fit it. My kids generally never crawled around in or near the litter box, but my son did try a piece of cat-food when he was crawling (I had forgot to take food off the floor). He was fine, I did call his Dr. and his Dr. didn't recommend him eating anymore, but it wouldn't hurt him. Hope this helps, and good luck with the New Baby.

why not put the litter tray in an old play pen? cat can jump in and out but only a bionic baby could follow

Originally Posted by l.trant

Hi,
. My kids generally never crawled around in or near the litter box, but my son did try a piece of cat-food when he was crawling (I had forgot to take food off the floor). He was fine, I did call his Dr. and his Dr. didn't recommend him eating anymore, but it wouldn't hurt him. .

Click to expand...

Hehehe, my brother when he was still a little boy used to go into the fridge and eat the cat food out of the can! This was when they still had that horrible Puss'n Boots stuff. It used to drive my mother wild so he started to try and sneak it! hehehe.

Baby gates are great devices. It is the middle of winter in Oregon, you have an indoor kitten and want him to go outside so a baby who isn't even born yet won't eat the cat's poop? You have lots of time to worry about it. Your cat - and consequently the baby - will be a lot healthier if the cat is inside. You may find, however, when the baby is old enough to start to crawl about that the cat may want to go outside then! Give the kitten time to grow up, be neutered and for the weather to get better. He isn't equipped now to go outside - he hasn't had the weather exposure to grow a thick coat and it isn't going to happen now. Making him stay outside longer than the 5 or 10 minutes he is there is potentially life threatening to him. He could get frostbite or hypothermia. At the very least, he will be unhappy and uncomfortable - not what you want him to experience

Kathryn

I agree with the advice so far - playpens, baby gates and covered litter boxes are all things I used when my daughter was small (for the cats as much as for her!) As for going out, I never let a kitten out unsupervised until it is around 6 months old, and I put it on a harness first and take it round to get used to the immediate surroundings. When you do let them out they will usually stay around the door for a few minutes and then come in, and go a little further each time. And all indoor/outdoor cats must have at least one litter box inside anyway.

Everything sounds wise! My sister put a catflap in the door leading to the garage and put the cat boxes there when her twins were born...

I appreciate you wanting to help your cat now while your focus isn't split. You really do have lots of time, though. And, once it's warmer, your cat (neutered by then) will probably WANT to go out. I've found that once they've gone outside, they don't want to be inside cats again.

Children who grow up with pets in the home have fewer allergies to them later. ;>

I suggest you get one instead of letting the kitty outside exposed to all the danger i put chicken wire around the top of my patio and I have a pet door and put the litter boxes outside under shelther. this way baby can't get in I also like the gates idea! best of luck!

Why do you think the cat wants to be outside. That is a fallicy. Ypur cat will not live as long and can pick up all sorts of stuff Get a covered box. If you watch your baby properly he/she will not get into the litter. My granddaughter never even thought of touching the litter here or at home.

They have litter boxes with a top entrance to them. That will keep the baby out. Outdoor cats will mopre expensive. You will need Monthly flee control and cant forget shots, Fence mending and making sure it is, I believe 7 ft fence with the top curving inward will do best, safe for the cat.

Try Pur-fect fences.


Top entry litter box, Toddler and Baby proof


Pricey but nothing can compare to your cats safty.
If you do a google search you can find things for you thats kid safe.

Baby gates are a must. PLace the cat in one area of the house, Toys, litter box, food and water and have a gate preventing the baby to got to that area.

Search around before you move you furry guy out.


Ashley