How To Train A Cat To Use The Bathroom Outside
Introduction
While cats are incredibly good at using the litter box, it can be frustrating when you have a cat who likes to use the bathroom elsewhere. Luckily, training your cat to use the bathroom in a specific place is possible with some patience and careful guidance.
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Do you have a picky cat who prefers to use the bathroom outside? This is a common problem among cat owners. Read on to learn how you can train your cat to use the bathroom outside!
If you have a picky cat who prefers to use the bathroom outside, this is a common problem among cat owners. I’m here to tell you that it’s not impossible to train your cat to use the bathroom outside!
Cats are naturally clean animals. They will use their litter box if they feel comfortable in it and if their surroundings are easy for them to get around in. The best way to achieve this is by following these steps:
- Clean out your indoor litter box at least once per week (more often if necessary).
- Use unscented clumping litter in your indoor litter box, or sprinkle baking soda on top of scented clumping litter after scooping out waste products from the bowl at least once per week (more frequently than this if needed).
- Keep any food bowls far away from where your indoor litter box sits—the smellier it gets, the less likely your cat will want to go near it!
Find a spot.
Take your cat to the spot you have chosen. Make sure it is quiet and private, so no one else disturbs them while they do their business. If you can find a spot that is easily accessible for you, all the better. It shouldn’t be too difficult for you or your cat to get to it when nature calls.
The next step is making sure that the area where your kitty will be going to the bathroom has easy access for cleaning up accidents as well as being safe for both parties involved in a way that minimizes risk of injury.
Gather some supplies.
You will need the following supplies:
- A highlighter or paint to mark the spot for your cat.
- A small litter box (one of those used for kittens works well).
- A cat litter scooper. You can buy one at any pet store that sells pet products, or you can find one on Amazon.com in a variety of sizes and styles.
- A cat litter mat (if you don’t already have one lying around somewhere). They aren’t expensive, and they’ll save your carpet from being covered with stray clumps of kitty waste!
- Cat food—your choice between dry food or canned food based on personal preference, but make sure it’s not expired before adding it to their bowl each day!
- Water bowl for fresh water—preferably stainless steel so no bacteria builds up over time!
Use a highlighter or paint to mark the spot for your cat.
- Use a highlighter or paint to mark the spot for your cat.
- You can use a marker, but you have to be careful about what kind of marker you use. If it’s water-based, the urine will wash it off and your cat won’t know where she should go. Instead, choose something like a permanent marker that won’t wash off easily when exposed to rain or snow (which will happen sometimes). Also consider using paint markers or dry-erase markers if they are available in the color you want to mark with.
- Another option is crayons! A crayon works just as well as any other type of highlighter or paint markers do—you just have less variety in colors available. Do remember that kids might also try using these things for their own purposes; keep them out of reach when not in use by children so that there isn’t any confusion about who owns which one.”
Place your indoor litter box in the new area.
- Place your indoor litter box in the new area.
- Make sure it is in a quiet, safe area that has easy access for your cat to use.
- Make sure the area has good ventilation and is easily cleaned.
Take your cat out to the marked area and encourage it to sniff around.
To get your cat used to the idea of being taken outside, you’ll want to take it outside a few times per day for short periods of time. Try taking it out when you first wake up in the morning and again before bed at night. Next, you need to mark an area inside your house that’s reserved for the litter box (and nothing else). You can use a spray bottle filled with water or catnip spray if your cat likes those things; then place some of these scents around their regular bathroom area. The goal here is not just that they’ll remember where their litter box was located but also that they’ll associate using this space with good feelings/treats/etc., so try making sure there are no bad associations there as well before moving on with training!
You should also give them treats while they’re in this new area, so whenever they go near it remember: treat time! This will help show them what kind of behavior makes good things happen (like getting fed yummy snacks). Finally, once all these steps have been completed successfully then begin trying out different spots around your house where you’d like your cat’s outdoor bathroom spot located (i.e., near doors leading outside).
Take your cat out at regular times throughout the day.
Take your cat out of the house at regular times throughout the day.
The key to training a cat to use the bathroom outside is consistency, so make sure you take your cat out at the same time every day. Your cat will eventually get used to this routine and will start going to the bathroom in its designated spot right before you take it outside.
For example: If you want your cat to go outside at 8 AM every morning, then be sure that you take it outside around 7:30 AM and let it do its business before getting ready for work or school and putting on some shoes.
Once your cat consistently goes in the new spot, move it’s litter box out there permanently.
Once your cat consistently goes in the new spot, move its litter box out there permanently. This will help it associate the litter box with that area—it’s like a reward for using it well! It also helps to make sure that you keep this area clean and free of any other smells so that your pet does not get confused. You should also make sure there are no high-traffic areas nearby and that you put some distance between the wall and the litter box (at least one foot).
A little time and patience will help you train your cat to use the bathroom where you want it to!
As a cat owner, you know how difficult it can be to get your feline friend to do anything. Cats are creatures of habit and will go where they feel comfortable. If your cat has been using the bathroom in the house for years, it won’t just change its ways overnight. However, with some patience and consistency on your part, training your cat to use the bathroom outside is possible!
You should start by taking your cat out regularly—every couple of hours or so—and giving him/her time to “do his business.” This will help train him/her that going outside is normal behavior. As he gets used to this idea (which may take several weeks), start closing doors inside the house so that he goes through them when heading outdoors instead of using an indoor spot as his new litter box replacement area.
When taking care of this task yourself at first (for example: leaving food out while you’re gone), use a timer set at 15 minutes; later reduce this time gradually until eventually locking up all accessible windows and doors (this should only take one day at most). Your goal should be getting this done within two weeks; otherwise continue doing what works best for both parties involved until then!
Conclusion
If you know your cat is going to be picky about where they use the bathroom, you should start training them young. It’s much easier to train a cat that is used to using the litter box inside. If your cat has gotten used to using the bathroom on carpet or in corners of your home, it will take even more training for them to make the switch!