As a rule, outdoor cats like to do their business outside in the wild. However, there are also times when outdoor cats like to use the toilet indoors, for example in bad weather or in winter.
Why do cats prefer to go to the toilet outside?
Cats like it much better to go to the toilet in the open air. This is especially true for outdoor cats, which are usually used to being outside a lot.
Cats love to do their business in the open air, especially on pleasant surfaces like sand or bark mulch. This also has to do with their natural instinct to live, because by their business they mark at the same time their territory against other outdoor cats.
Does an outdoor cat still need its litter box inside?
Some outdoor cats do not go outside in all weather. During heavy rain or snowfall, outdoor cats may prefer to stay indoors in a warm apartment.
Most outdoor cats do their business outside in the open air.
Likewise, there are outdoor cats that stay indoors for certain periods of time to be petted or to rest.
Therefore, your cat should always have a litter box in the apartment, so that there are no unpleasant surprises.
The great advantage of having a litter box in the apartment is that you can easily see when something is wrong with your cat, for example, when eating cat litter.
Also, collecting cat feces is much easier for the vet if there is still a litter box inside.
Why your cat coughs when purring, we explain in our current article Cat coughs when purring – where it can come from and what you can do.
How do I teach my outdoor cat to go to the toilet only outside?
Some outdoor cats treat themselves every now and then to a visit to the toilet in the warm home. To prevent this from happening again and again, you can, for example, place a second litter box in the garden or on the balcony. The place for the second litter box should be protected and in a quiet place. Should your cat accept the second litter box, at least you will have the smell out of the apartment.
Next, you could decorate your cat’s favorite places in the garden more nicely with some litter, sand or bark mulch so that your cat can do its business there by itself without a second litter box.
Especially in winter on cold days or during heavy rain, outdoor cats like to go to their litter box indoors.
It can also help if you put a little of the cat litter from the litter box indoors in the places, so that your cat recognizes its new toilet.
If you see your cat doing its business in the new nice place, praise it strongly and give it some treats as a reward. In no case should you scold your cat if he continues to go to the toilet indoors.
Just try things out and give your cat some time to get used to it.
If you want to know which cats are particularly well suited for outdoor use, you can find out in our brand new article Which cat breeds are suitable for outdoor use?
What happens if my outdoor cat has to stay indoors after a move or illness?
After a move or an illness, your outdoor cat should always stay indoors for a certain period of time, so that it can get to know its new home in peace.
So that your outdoor cat can do its business in the apartment, it often helps to place the litter box at the front door or on the balcony.
It is also useful to fill the litter box with sand or soil to make it easier for your outdoor cat.
What are the causes of uncleanliness in the indoor litter box if the cat is a free roamer?
Especially with old outdoor cats, which sometimes go inside on the litter box, it often comes to uncleanliness. This can happen simply because they have forgotten where the toilet is inside or because they have forgotten that they are no longer outside in nature.
But also a wrong litter box in the apartment can become a problem for a free-roaming cat. Outdoor cats are used to do their business in the fine underground or in the sand. They then expect this luxury from the toilet in the apartment. With a few additions of sand or softer cat litter, the problem can be solved very easily.
In the wild, cats separate their small and big business. They urinate in one place first and look for a new place for the other business. That is why cats always need two toilets in the apartment.
The place of the toilet must also be carefully chosen. It should not be too close to the food bowl and should be at least a few meters away from it.
In the case of uncleanliness in outdoor cats on the indoor toilet, it may also be due to an illness. To clarify physical complaints, you should seek veterinary advice.
Summary – Do outdoor cats also need a litter box?
As a rule, outdoor cats like to do their business outside in the wild. However, there are also times when outdoor cats like to use the toilet indoors, for example in bad weather or in winter.
Cats like to do their business in the open air. Especially on soft surfaces like sand or bark mulch. Through their business they mark their territory for other outdoor cats.
For outdoor cats, you should still have a litter box set up in your home. Not every cat goes outside in bad weather like rain or winter. Likewise, there are outdoor cats that are indoors for certain times and therefore need the litter box. Also, it can be a great advantage that your outdoor cat can also go to the toilet indoors, so you can quickly see if your cat is not feeling well or you need fecal samples for the vet.
If your outdoor cat is only allowed to do his business outside and is not allowed to go to the toilet inside at all, you can manage it by placing a second litter box outside at the favorite places in the garden or on the balcony. You could fill the second litter box with some cat litter from the toilet inside, so that he can recognize his toilet by the smell.
Causes for uncleanliness of your outdoor cat on the toilet in the apartment could be for example the high age of your cat or the wrong litter box. Also the place of the cat toilet in the apartment must be carefully selected and must not be too close to the food bowl. Likewise, it can also be due to an illness of your outdoor cat that there is uncleanliness on the toilet in the apartment. In this case you should seek veterinary advice.