Need Outdoor Litter Ideas for Fenced Feral Colony

Hello All,
We have about 20 cats in a large specially fenced in yard. Need additional suggestions on outdoor litter set ups. Using 3 enclosed litter boxes. Some using, some not. Someone suggested using child's sandbox(es) with awning and sand. How do you replace sand and how often? Too expensive for litter. Our ferals are fixed, get along fine and are enjoying life. Also, any advice on how to catch them for booster shots? Any new inventions? Thank you all and I continue to enjoy this site. God bless you all for all you do.
Joseph Dooley ]

From Alley Cat Allies website:

Make an Outdoor Litterbox
A sandbox will tend to be an attractive place for cats to do their thing. Take a very large Rubbermaid plastic container and fill it with regular "kiddie sand box" sand. If you can, put a couple of pieces of the cats' poop in it to attract them. The cats will enjoy digging in the fine sand and will shift to using it. Scoop occasionally and once a month or so, dump and replace the sand.

If you want to be extra neat, use a large Rubbermaid storage container for the box, filling the bottom with several inches of sand. Then cut a door in one of the sides, above sand level and approximately 8 x 8 inches. Keep the container covered.

To be even neater, take the Rubbermaid storage container, turn it upside down and cut a hole in the side. Place a normal litterbox with regular litter inside the container.

Another method is described by Audrey Boag of the Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance: "For caretakers in the right circumstances, cats love a pile of peat moss (4 feet square, 8 inches deep) in a corner of the yard, replaced once a month or so. It's very cheap, easy to handle and dispose of, keeps the smell down, and is far more attractive than the neighbor's garden.


Thanks so much for caring for these ferals!!

Try this guy: he makes covered cat sized sand box type litter boxes
for outdoor cats. Starbob is the name of the company:

http://robertschott.tripod.com/stabo...ouses/id7.html

Also this guy makes wooden (VERY nice) litter box boxes for
putting a litter box (covered) outside...

http://www.hawkswillwoodwork.com/

Bless you for taking on 20 cats - that is so wonderful and inspiring!! I sure wish that all you wonderful cat rescuers could be on AnimalPlanet!
I love the litterbox ideas - I think that the peat moss sounds great! Another thread mentioned using chicken feed for Layers (about $7.50 for 50lbs. instead of clumping cat litter) but I don't know if they meant mash or krackettes. I haven't tried it yet myself - not sure if my cats would feel comfortable pooping in the hens' food, since they know that's what it's for.

Thank you all for your suggestions on outdoor litter boxes. I will use them. Joseph Dooley

Right now, I'm using a mixing pan I got for $5 at a local hardware store. They are strong enough to mix cement in them so they are perfect for litter boxes. But that is under a covered area. If you want a box for out in the open, I suggest building something like this:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150790946647101.387420.225061582100&type=3  The good thing about this sort of set up is that if you have earthworms, they can help handle any waste you miss when scooping.

Check out this thread.  It has so many awesome ideas.  There is also a link the thread with lots of other outside ideas.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/265743/outdoor-potty

I used the corners for a raised garden bed and cut Trex boards to fit.  The potty is 2' x 4' and about 2' deep.  I filled the frame about halfway with rocks and gravel, then topped with play sand.  I changed the sand every summer but I scoop the feces every other day.  Most of the time, the urine goes down into the stones and is absorbed by the ground underneath.  No smell so far but if I don't scoop, we get flies.  I thought about covering it but don't think my cats would use a covered box.  They do have an indoor litter box with regular clay litter that they use more in winter or when its raining.