Feral kitten only goes to the toilet on carpets and once outside

Our feral kitten won't use the litter box and only uses the carpet, we've seen her pee once outside on leaves but her time outside is limited due to a hostile feline neighbour. I recommended that we put carpet in the litter tray then gradually add cat litter until she's used to the idea. She was born on a farm and I've seen her sister (born on the same day) bury her mess so I know the kitten has seen it or even knows what to do. But has anyone tried my idea of using carpet then slowly putting dirt on it, how did it work out for you?

tiggycat said:

Our feral kitten won't use the litter box and only uses the carpet, we've seen her pee once outside on leaves but her time outside is limited due to a hostile feline neighbour. I recommended that we put carpet in the litter tray then gradually add cat litter until she's used to the idea. She was born on a farm and I've seen her sister (born on the same day) bury her mess so I know the kitten has seen it or even knows what to do. But has anyone tried my idea of using carpet then slowly putting dirt on it, how did it work out for you?

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You can mix the cat litter with soil/leaves from outside and then gradually move away from the soil/leaves.  I would not use carpet, as it will smell to high heaven.  It also will teach the cat that carpet is a suitable object to urinate on. 

You also can get Dr. Elsey's litter attract.  You can use it straight to start with or mix it with the regular litter.  It has worked on every one of my feral cats.

Another tip is to sop up the urine with a paper towel and bury the paper towel in the litter box.  The litter box will then have her scent and attract her.

Be sure you are cleaning the carper with a good enzymatic cleaner.  If not she will return over and over again as she can smell her scent.

I forgot to add we're trying to use natural litter (dirt, sand etc)

If she is used to suing anything else, she may not recognize what is in the box as litter.

Sand and dirt make really messy litter - especially inside a house.  The litter you buy is "natural" in that it is really only clay, baked to a certain degree so that it soaks up urine.

I would not get scented litter - the perfumes they use irritate cats and people alike.  Scooping once a day is sufficient to keep the smell down.

You can also use sawdust and newspaper.  Both are available commercially.  The sawdust is messy, too, though.  The newspaper comes in small pellets.  I think its called "World'S Best Cat Litter."

I agree with ShadowsRescue - putting carpet in the box is probably not a good idea.