Should I feel guilty about this?

If you recall, (probably not so I will refresh you) I write here a lot about my
cat that insists on going outside. He was a stray for awhile so I think it's just second nature to him. He does fine, stays close and there is a large yard next to our building he loves to play in. I did battle him about it for awhile but finally gave up, he's happier and my home is calmer when he gets to go out here and there. I live in the burbs but it's a quiet street and there are several indoor/outdoor cats around he gets along with fine.

Well my issue is I realize he is now pooping out there. I haven't scooped poop in days out of his box. If a dog owner left poop out they can get fined. So my question is am I doing anything "wrong" letting him out if he is pooping out there? He didn't used to do this until recently. I mean he has been going out for months and yet using the box here. I suspect he uses this yard I mentioned. Right now that house is vacant, but they are doing work on it and I understand someone bought it. So it will be lived in shortly.

Ugh is this a lose/lose situation?

Cats generally bury their waste (wish I could say the same for dogs). You would have to look up the ordinances of your county, and also your neighbors would have to complain. Have you thought about putting up a cat-proof fence? There is a merchant in our shop section that sells them

http://www.thecatsite.com/cat_shop/shop.php?a=cathome

How much is it? and can you afford it. If it's do-able then I would say wait and see if you do get fined.

I like Hissy's idea about the fence. Is it possible to build some kind of enclosure so that he can still go outside but it limited to how far he can go? some people enclose their entire yard. and others only a few feet.

Marge, our last cat was a former feral, indoor/outdoor cat, and he loved to poop in our neighbors' vegetable garden. We bought him a child's sandbox and put it in our yard, and he loved it so much that he used it all the time, and didn't make any more "deposits" at the neighbors'. The only problem we had was that a lot of neighborhood cats also loved it, so I had a lot of scooping to do. We used regular sand in it.

I doubt they actually fine you, I mean at our local animal shelter they say some cats in the cages are indoor/outdoor so they must know they are going to go poop outside. I am just more concerend about being a good neighbor. I mean it's easier for ME if he goes outside, but I don't want to be one of those people who is obnoxious about their pets. I mean I know some people purposely put cats out to go, I don't do that at all.

Originally Posted by jcat

Marge, our last cat was a former feral, indoor/outdoor cat, and he loved to poop in our neighbors' vegetable garden. We bought him a child's sandbox and put it in our yard, and he loved it so much that he used it all the time, and didn't make any more "deposits" at the neighbors'. The only problem we had was that a lot of neighborhood cats also loved it, so I had a lot of scooping to do. We used regular sand in it.

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I wanted to put a box outside but I am a renter and my landlord didn't want that.

You know I love my cat, wouldn't trade him for anything, but I learned, if you want to have an indoor only cat you gotta get them young and never let them out.

do you rent a house or an apartment....?

If you are willing to do the up-keep on a sandbox, then I don't see that your landlord should have a problem with it. Other than the "look" of the rental property, which can be rectified with a box that doesn't look like a box, get it?

Like this;found on google

Originally Posted by Tamme

do you rent a house or an apartment....?

If you are willing to do the up-keep on a sandbox, then I don't see that your landlord should have a problem with it. Other than the "look" of the rental property, which can be rectified with a box that doesn't look like a box, get it?

Like this;found on google

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Oh wow, thanks. Something like that could work. I could just say I am going all Feng Shui!

My husband wants to put his 2 cents in. He suggests getting a really large pot or planter (but warns that terracotta tends to disintegrate if left outside in winter), filling it with loose potting soil, perhaps with some mulch on top, and planting something like heather or lavender in it, but leaving most of the surface free. He really recommends a little azalea (that's aimed at me, because JC has already ruined two azaleas by wetting on them every day).

Originally Posted by jcat

My husband wants to put his 2 cents in. He suggests getting a really large pot or planter (but warns that terracotta tends to disintegrate if left outside in winter), filling it with loose potting soil, perhaps with some mulch on top, and planting something like heather or lavender in it, but leaving most of the surface free. He really recommends a little azalea (that's aimed at me, because JC has already ruined two azaleas by wetting on them every day).

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Clay pots do better over winter if you remove the catch base at the bottom. The problem is that if there is water left in the base and it freezes, the pot cracks. You can get a couple of winters out of the clay pot if you remove the base, rather than counting on them cracking the first winter.

And yes, the urine will kill any plant you put in there. Buy annuals with the intention of replacing them each year anyway!

So a cat fence is out, then? If there's already an existing fence, you can use http://www.catfencein.com/ easily to make it catproof. But if the landlord says no, then so much for that idea

BTW, please don't generalize all cats as having to be indoors from the start. There are many, many outdoor cats that transitioned to indoor and now live happy and healthy lives. Saying otherwise gives a bad and false impression.

Originally Posted by Marge

Oh wow, thanks. Something like that could work. I could just say I am going all Feng Shui!

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Hehe, ya and it works doubly as a water fountain for him too!

Originally Posted by Tamme

do you rent a house or an apartment....?

If you are willing to do the up-keep on a sandbox, then I don't see that your landlord should have a problem with it. Other than the "look" of the rental property, which can be rectified with a box that doesn't look like a box, get it?

Like this;found on google

Click to expand...

i like that idea

Originally Posted by Weatherlight

So a cat fence is out, then? If there's already an existing fence, you can use http://www.catfencein.com/ easily to make it catproof. But if the landlord says no, then so much for that idea

.

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My 2 cents. I have this cat fence in and it's WONDERFUL ! It allows my kitties to go outside for fresh air for a few hrs a day without escaping. I have several former strays so I understand your concerns ! It isn't cheap though. Mine was about $400 for a small yard.