I have a cat that has adopted me. She is a indoor/outdoor cat.?

[Lori S]

My question is I would like to make her a indoor cat. She is about seven yrs old. I have tried to get her to use a litter box but she won't. Is there anything I can do to get her to use one? I love this cat and want her to keep her inside when it's cold, but don't want her to go to the bathroom on the carpet

 

[frankiquilts]

First, let me thank you for your obvious will to take care of this old gal. There are so many stray cats in the US that it is very important for those of us so inclined to do as much as possible.

I'm assuming that you are already aclimating her to the indoors. Now, take it a step further and do something that may seem a bit mean, but really isn't.

Put her food, bedding, and a clean litter box in a room with a door that can be kept closed - a bathroom is best. Cats will not "evacuate" where they eat, so if you put her box as far away from her food as you can, she will more than likely begin using the box. Do this for about a week. If it works, you can let her roam the house. She will remember where her box is. After a month or so, if she is very good about using the box, you can move it to another location if you want, but be sure to show her where it is. And, get yourself a small wisk broom and mini-dustpan to keep the area neat. Clean the box of clumps daily.

If she has an accident on the carpet, clean it with plain water and use baking soda to get up the smell and the liquid. NEVER yell at her when she has accidents, but always praise and pet her when she does good.

Finally, be sure to get her fixed if she isn't already. A spayed/neutered animal is more likely to have good potty habits, even when teaching old animals new tricks.

Good luck to you! Contact me privately if you have more questions.

 

[Suzy Cutes]

If you can find the spot outside she does her business, you can scoop up the feces and even a little dirt with urine. Place these in a litter box that is mostly dirt, not litter, so she recognizes it. As she gets used to using the dirt-filled litter box, start adding more and more litter until it is all litter.

If she does doe any business inside, take the paper towel you used to mop the urine, or the feces, and do the same thing with the box. You can also put down layers of paper if there is a spot where she seems to want to go, and then take the soiled papers and line the litter box. Then clean any offending areas well with oxy followed with an enzyme deodorizer such as Nature's Miracle. If she does have accidents, don't scold her or she will think that indoors (even the litter box) is not the appropriate place to do her business.

I took in an outdoor stray, and it took a little to get him litterbox trained, but those were the methods I used. Just be patient, and she'll come 'round. If not, you might be able to socialize her to be an indoor cat who just goes out to do their business -- I also have former outdoor cat that does that -- goes out to do his business and then comes right back in. In the winter time I make sure there is a sheltered spot with sand (it doesn't freeze as easily) that he can dig and do his business in.

Good luck!

 

[CUBS-ITS OUR YEAR]

you train them to use a litter box by putting their...poop into the box so that they see that there is the place to do their duty. But on the other hand its old already and it might be past its time where it can be trained to do that, but it wont hurt to try it at least.