Toilet training outdoors

Question
I have two 6 month old kittens, which have been going outdoors for the last 2 months. Although they enjoy spending their time outdoors they seem to come in every time they need to use the toilet. I have tried to lock them out to try and forced them to go outside, but they just stay out the window and cry. I eventually give in and allow them in because it upsets me to hear them cry and they go straight to the toilet then go back out again. I have also placed their litter trays outside and they still come in to the place where the litter trays are usually kept. I am nervous about removing their trays altogether as I keep them in at night for the time being and don't want them having accidents. But I do want to eventually get rid of them. So how do I get my cats to start going to the toilet outside? Please help!!

Answer
Michelle,

I have that same problem with a couple of mine. They will cross their legs until they can come in and use the litterbox, then run back outside! Sometimes, only a cat knows why it does some things!

Cats/kittens are creatures of habit and association and there are some who will not want to vary from their routine. You have to re-program them.

Some cats think that it is bad to go outside and that they are not supposed to. Some are shy and don't like the openness of doing their business outside. Some don't like the feel of grass or dirt to dig a hole in.

I have tried sand (kids playsand from Home Depot or other building supply store) and that works pretty well. Put a fair size mound of it somewhere in your yard (if you can). They LOVE to play on it, and sometimes they will connect sand with digging holes for their business and start using it when they are outside.

When the kittens get older you won't have such a hard time with them. When mine got older if they were outside they went in a neighbors dirt plot, if they were inside they used the litterbox. Others got to where they ONLY wanted to go outside. If they START going outside to potty they probably will continue IF they can't get inside. If they can get in they will try to use the one inside.

It's time consuming, but you also can remove the litter box during the day. When they start crying let them in (that is their communication to you so you can't change that), but when they come in and look for the litterbox or look like they are going to go where it was, hurry and pick them up and take them outside to some dirt (or sand) and try to keep them there. Eventually they will get the idea and make the connection that if there is not a litterbox down, then they are supposed to go outside. It's all in association, but you have to be consistant about it.

Carol