teaching a stray to use the litter box?

This is my first post so if I put this forum in the wrong place I am very sorry for the inconvenience. I have this cat that my neighbors basically kicked out because he wasn't using the litter box, they told me I can keep him because the wife has a vendetta against this poor kitty. Now that I have him he always goes outside to do his business, but soon we will be moving to a new house and he won't have the option of going outside because it's a busy city. I haven't tried to potty train him yet because we have two other cats and one of them hates him so we keep him in a different room and that's the plan for the next house but I'm gonna give him his own litter box, how do i get a cat who is used to going outside to use the restroom to start using a litter box?

When I have had teach a cat to use the litter box, I have started with a clean one, and placed him/her in it and took the front paws and dug around in the litter.  All of mine have gotten the idea.

You have some possible other problems with you kitty--not the least of which he was hated in the other household.  There may be some health issues involved.  So I suggest a check up at the vet.

Good luck with your new baby!

I've had a lot of TNR cats through the house, and I try to keep the females for ~5 days of recovery post-surgery. They have never been indoors before, so they've never used a litter box.

I found that taking one scooped urine clump from one of my own cats and putting it in the litter box gave the new cats an idea of what the box was for. I'm not sure if that's the best method, but I had accidents when I didn't do it and almost none when I did.

One recent challenge was working with cats from a small colony where the ground is very hard-packed. They will use the litter box, but have no concept of burying.

Like AngelinaCat said, start with a new box.  He should recognize it as his alone, at least until he is introduced into the household at some point.

I've tried two approaches - one is using Dr. Eisley's cat attract litter - it stinks a bit but they do get the idea.  It's also expensive, so I mix it with regular unscented litter.  Some cats won't use scented litter, so try unscented, at least at first.

Or you can also put a little dirt and dried leaves on top of the litter.  This is what they are using outside, so they'll get the idea.

If you can locate some of his poop from outside, you can put it in his box and bury it.  I'm not sure putting the other cats waste in his box will work right now - he hasn't properly met them, so he may feel invaded by the smell of their waste.  If you introduce them  eventually, they will probably use all the boxes you have.

I would also get him a vet check - and neutering if he needs it.  Especially after he moves inside permanently, you don't want him to start marking territory.

Blessing on you for helping him.  I won't say what I think of those neighbors! 

Thank you for the ideas I will definitely try them and be for either took him in my neighbors took him to the vet so nothing is wrong with him. They had three dogs and another cat so I think he just doesn't like sharing a litter box or may have not even known what it was for. They also may have not changed it alot, I don't really want to ask them because they are rude but hopefully I will be able to use these ideas to get him to use the litter box. Thank you everyone and I'll let you guys know how it works out.

Yes, sometimes cats are as particular as some humans. We have a cat who only uses one box and who gets upset if if anyone else is in it. If he has his own box, he should be OK.

What sort of litter box do you have?  I had no trouble getting our rescue kittens using a small enclosed litter box (the kind the pet stores like to sell because it "contains the smell"!) but I when their mother Patience moved in we had a very hard time getting her to use a box, even when I got several larger ones.  The problem turned out to be that she would enter the box - but poop outside it or anywhere in the general area!  So on the advice of another CatSite member I got a large but shallow "under the bed" plastic storage box, and it worked a treat.  She still has the occasional 'accident' but she's got the idea, and the big box is in the basement with a concrete floor so the odd miss is no big deal.

I also found that putting a sprinkle of baking soda over cleaned up "misses" discourages repeat offenses.

Putting dirt and leaves on top of whatever litter you use is the way we trained our ferals to use the box. When our kitty had a UTI and started urinating outside the box we used a carpet & room odor eliminator which seemed to soak up the "miss."  A spray of vinegar and water also discourages mistakes and neutralizes smell.