Just how hard is it to litter train a cat

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Ok just how hard is it to litter train a cat. Long story short one of friends barn cats had kittens. However due to my living arranges I am not able to take one, she said if no one claimed him, I could have him. Well no one did, so....he's mine. "Problem" is he's been outside for almost a year adjusted to the farm life, I know sure how he will react when I make him an indoor cat. I think he will adjust ok, since he has an outgoing personality, however I'm worried about him spraying. Since cat urine is a PITA to clean, he's not declawed and I'm worried about him scratching as well. BTW he was fixed around 6-8 months old.

My main concern is that because I am renting I am trying weigh this option as much as possible. I want to leave a positive impression on the rental company that not all people with pets are bad. Thor I am not worried about yes accidents with happen ( he had one yesterday) but he can be trusted. When/if I get my pup I am not conerned with either. However I just hear so many bad things with cats, I'm wondering if I should just leave him where he's at?

 

[AKBull]

Tough call since he's starting out as an outdoor cat and now you'll be confining him. Cats usually pick right up on what a litter box is. When/if you bring him home put him in the litter filled cat box. Don't hold him there or anything, let him check it out. You also can't really scold him if he doesn't catch right on, from my experience, cats don't learn like that.
Can't help with keeping him spraying, I've been fortunate with the 10 or so cats I've owned through my life.

 

[ruby55]

You're going to have to watch him for signs of "Oh I have to go!" And put him in the box for the first few days. As far as spraying, make sure he gets lot of exercise; just like your dog, to avoid boredom & frustration. Lots of exercise toys out there for cats.
If he does start to spray, keep an enzymatic cleaner on hand, like Nature's Miracle (it's the best I've found). Follow the instructions on the bottle.
BTW the Nature's Miracle also works on dog urine.

 

[Smart_Family]

If you're looking for a declawed cat you really should adopt one from a shelter that's already declawed. It can take time for them to learn to use a litter box and being barn cats they may not be super affectionate. Some shelters/humane societies have barn cat programs so that's something to look into as well.

 

[stephanieb]

Cats catch on really quickly. And like everyone else, I have never really had a problem with spraying. However... be prepared that life will be HELL for the first few weeks and be prepared for the howling, pacing, and "your an a$$hole" looks that you will receive as he adjusts to being an indoor cat. Ours was an out door when we lived in the burbs, but inner-city it I didn't think it was safe (even though he has gotten out on me twice and come back both times). He has adjusted, but it took a while.

 

[Oak Hill Farm]

and make sure you keep the litter box CLEAN, super clean at first. While cats naturally take to it, outdoor cats can be finicky about a dirty box, causing them to go elsewhere

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

That's for the suggestions and experiences everyone. I've known him since birth and have visited often except the last few months.

Smart_Family no I not intentionally looking for a cat, he was just given to me, but like I said due to my circumstances at the time I was not able to take him until now almost a year later.

So Natures Miracale is good with cat urine? I hear that ammonia in it is quite potent and costs a lot of $$$$ to get up. One of the reasons landlords don't like renting to cat people. I don't know if he sprays I am just concerned about him doing it as well as the scratching. I know at the farm he uses the horse arena as a litter-box.

Hmmm....interesting, well me being OCD that won't be a problem. I pick up Thor's stuff up all the time, no land mines in our yard.

 

[Smart_Family]

Sometimes getting fixed can eliminate the need to spray, sometimes it doesn't. Just keep an eye on him and keep clothes and anything else you don't want marked off the floor for awhile just in case.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I'm just more concerned about the floors, they are hardwood and I hear cat urine is a nightmare to clean, I don't want it staining the floor.

 

[Kelly]

You have hdwd floors with a great dane? does he scratch them up? When we were looking to put flooring in we went with laminate as it was supposedly more durable with big dogs. I would have rather had hdwd tho. How are yours holding up?

 

[Beanar]

I had to contain my new cat to the bathroom until I noticed he was going every time in his box. I would let him out for small durations but if he went into any corners or underneath anything he would be put back. We did have 100% success and he peed EVERYHWHERE if I didn't control his whereabouts...EVEN ON THE BAG OF BREAD! ugh.

 

[Marrowshard]

Our now 10-year-old male cat was an "outdoor" kitten when we got him. He was a bit younger than your new kitty but was definitely used to doing business outside, sleeping outside, etc. He was potty trained in one day. We kept him confined to one room in the house and watched him constantly until he started sniffing around more than usual and kind of trying to wander off. We picked him up, deposited him in the litter box, flicked the sand a little bit with a finger so he'd get the idea, then stepped back. After that, our only challenge was getting him not to accidentally back his butt up too far and hit the rim of the box.
Since then, he's only really piddled where he shouldn't at intensely gamey-smelling spots (our old house had manky carpet in the basement that was covered in pet stains, that was something he'd hit).
Since Ninja was fixed, he never really "sprayed" in the tomcat sense of the word. He was pretty easy to scratch-train too, we just have to keep a carpetty post around for him (he and his girlfriend got a "cat tree" for Christmas which they adore). When we got a new couch, we invested in some sticky strips for it. They go on/come off pretty easily (no residue on our microfiber) and the adhesive makes a cat's paws feel funny. Only issue is that ours seems to think the adhesive tastes good ... we've caught him licking it. Good thing it's non-toxic. We picked those up at PetSmart, pretty cheap and there are a lot in a package.

@Kelly: I know you didn't ask me, but we have HW, an EM, and two (clawed) cats. There are lots of surface scratches, but they're in the finish not the wood. If it really bothered us, we could strip and refinish the boards and it would clear it up, but we gave up on having pristine floors long ago

~Marrow

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I had to contain my new cat to the bathroom until I noticed he was going every time in his box. I would let him out for small durations but if he went into any corners or underneath anything he would be put back. We did have 100% success and he peed EVERYHWHERE if I didn't control his whereabouts...EVEN ON THE BAG OF BREAD! ugh.

Ugh...that's what I'm worried about. I do have a laundry room I could put him, thought about the bathroom but the place I'm at is small for that.

You have hdwd floors with a great dane? does he scratch them up? When we were looking to put flooring in we went with laminate as it was supposedly more durable with big dogs. I would have rather had hdwd tho. How are yours holding up?

I haven't moved into the place yet and just saw it for the first time today. Its not real hardwood but not cheap laminate either. My friend has 4 dogs and 5 cats in the house with the same type of wood flooring surprising despite all the clawing there's no scratches. When I move into my place I'll let you now

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Well....after all that I found out today that he's missing. Apparently he got into somone's vehicle or horse trailer and has been missing since yesterday.

 

[ruby55]

I'm so sorry. He might make it back; never underestimate the power of the cat.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Thanks, when she told me I felt indifferent about it, I am saddened because he was such a cool cat, but at the same time I have a feeling he will be ok. He won't produce any unwanted litters and he's friendly enough to find a home. My only worries are him being run over and weather changes. I hope who ever has him will return him or at least give him a good home. I'm checking the SPCA for anything.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Still no word on Ailuro, nothing on the farm, craiglist or SPCA. I should have gotten him microchipped.

However the farm owner mentioned that her barn cat is pregnant again, she said if there is an all black cat available I could have it if I wanted it.

 

[ucmeyet]

HAHA. I have an all black kitten ready for a home. LOL. And SHE is litter trained already. My cat had a litter ( found out she was prego when we went to get her spayed), and has one all black kitten, one black and white, and 2 orange marmelade tabbies. THEY NEED HOMES!!!! LMAO

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Awe, since loosing Ailuro I wanted another kitty. I found Silvio through petfinder when the owner turned him and his brothers & sisters to the pound. Even at 6 weeks he took to the litter box like champ, I love a cat that is pre-programmed.