My outdoor cats are staying inside for a week. Will they use their litter box?

Start now with closing the cat door at night and keeping Kitter in with a litter box available. After a few days or a week keep him inside only. That way he will adjust before the stress of moving. Most cats naturally use the litter box but you may want to confine him to a smaller area with the box at night when he's in. Use plain litter without fragrance and clean it daily and fully empty it and scrub it with mild dish washing soap weekly. Cats are fussy and if the box is dirty they can start going out of the box. Also pick up bath mats and laundry so he doesn't start urinating on those. He should be fine, most cats adjust well. Make sure you play with him a lot and he may enjoy a cat tree since he is probably used to more exercise when he's outside. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kitter.

I would recommend getting an automatic feeder, 2 pet water fountains, and make sure there are 3 litter boxes set up for the kitties while you are gone. Also Lottie proof your to ensure they don't get into things. This website may have some more tips on things you can leave to keep them entertained and out of trouble while you are gone. Indoorpet.osu.edu It also wouldn't hurt to ask a trusted neighbor if they wouldn't mind stopping by to check on your kitties for you OR if the funds permit , searching for a pet sitter to come by midway though your trip to tend to the kitties. Most cats are pretty self sufficient so they are probably going to be ok either way. Safe travels!

Your cats will probably be ok for a week as long as they have plenty of food and water and lots of litter boxes to use. However, if it is possible I would recommend having someone come by and check on them at least once and maybe clean the boxes.

It can be stressful for cats to move into a new home. There are a few simple things you can do to help them litter train in your house. First, have at least 1 litter box per cat plus one; therefore, if you just have the two kittens, I would recommend 3 litter boxes. Second, make sure the litter box is large. The kittens will keep growing, and if it becomes too small, they won't use it. Third, some cats don't like covered litter boxes and some like them. You can try to boxes covered and uncovered, and see what they like best. I would recommend using the same litter that was used at their old home because they are used to the smell and texture. Make sure their litter boxes aren't close to their food and water, cats don't like to use the bathroom near their food source. While you are litter training them in your house, don't let them have free rein of the house when you are gone. Place them in a small room with their litter boxes while you are away from the house, and provide them with water and a place to sleep at the opposite end of the room from the boxes. Make sure you clean the litter box daily. If they continue to have problems going to the bathroom outside the litter box, it may be a health issue, and I'd recommend bringing them into your vet for a health check.

How nice for G, that he gets to travel with you! :) While it's true that many cats would find this stressful, there are some very relaxed, confident kitties who don't seem to mind trips like this at all. As long as he seems relaxed and content, eats and drinks normally, etc. I don't see any problem with taking him along. As long as he is willing to use a litter box indoors, it should be okay if he doesn't have access to the outside for a weekend every now and then.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cats. They would likely enjoy being able to stay in their own home while you are on vacation. If your neighbor can check on them twice per day, this is most likely a good solution. She can provide food and water, clean their litter boxes and most importantly provide social interaction. Be sure to give her your veterinarian's contact information in case the need arises. The only other consideration would be to board the cats. They would receive more supervision, but it can be a stressful scenario for a cat to be kennels. I hope this information helps!

Yes, even if a cat spends most of his time outdoors it is a good idea to have a littler box available Incase he has to go while he is indoors. If no box is available he will likely choose a spot which is not desirable! Good luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.