stinky yard

morninglory · #1 11/12/12, 08:28 AM

Someone dumped a very pregnant momma cat on me and I feed everything that is hungry. Now I have 4 lovely healthy kittens and a momma cat who is finally beginning to trust me. Wouldnt harm them for the world. We have one little problem. My back yard is where they stay. Its safe and shelter is under the storage bldg. My problem is they are using the yard for bathroom and it is beginning to stink. We had hauled in some sand to add to the soil and they love that. Is there something I can do to encourage them to use the bathroom somewhere else. We have lots of acreage they could use and it wouldnt smell at my back door! Husband suggests shoot them. That is not an option.

RebelDigger · #2 11/12/12, 09:26 AM

Litter box train them. When they get comfortable using it, start edging it away from your house a few feet a day in the direction you want them to go. When you get it far enough away, leave it there and stop changing the litter. They will probably take the hint. This is a version of how I changed my kitties over from a litter box inside the house to using a cat door and going outside.

danielsumner · #3 11/12/12, 09:33 AM

Litter Box. Get a large plastic concrete mixing tray at HomeDepot/Lowes. They are Cheap. Fill with sand/litter and put under some kind of cover. Dig out a little piece/bit of the poop from the yard, place on the sand. They will get the Idea. It might be easier to handle if you use litter instead of sand.

**Terri** · #4 11/12/12, 10:43 AM

Cats LOVE! using a child's sandbox as a latrine! So, why don't you dig a hole and fill it with sand? And, locate it near the house but NOT next to your door!

Maura · #5 11/12/12, 12:51 PM

I agree with the litter box. Once they are trained to use kitty litter, work up the area you really want them to go in. Pour fresh kitty litter on this, just about a half inch over a large area. Pick up each kitty and bring it to the new litter box. Just set it down. They will sniff it and realize it is the kitty litter. Place the litter box next to it for a few days. Get rid of the litter box.

KIT.S · #6 11/12/12, 03:34 PM

Besides, if you litter-box-train the kittens, they'll be easier to give away!
Kit

Ken Scharabok · #7 11/12/12, 03:57 PM

If you feed by the door, might be why they are hanging around there. Trying feeding farther and farther away from the door.

jennigrey · #8 11/12/12, 09:56 PM

Cats do not like to eliminate near where they are eating. Food should stay close to the house. Sand pit (with drainage, if it is in a container) should be farther away.

morninglory · #9 11/13/12, 08:42 AM

The litter box is a great solution. Thank you. That should take care of that then when they have learned not to go in the back yard I can sprinkle lime on the yard and take care of that odor. yea-----

Ardie/WI · #10 11/13/12, 08:45 AM

Pepper (cayenne, black, chili anyone) sprinkled on certain areas will discourage cats from using it as a toilet.

I use it on my herb garden.