How to Train a Cat to Potty Outside

While some cat owners prefer the convenience of their cats going potty in the litter box, others would rather their kitties eliminated outdoors. Going to the bathroom outdoors means there is no cat urine or feces to clean up indoors and you don't have to worry about expensive kitty litter or boxes. While your kitty may like to go outdoors, it may not instinctively know to eliminate outside. Fortunately, it is fairly easy to teach your kitty to go outside.

Things You'll Need

  • Litter box
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine if the area outside your home is safe enough for your cat. It may not be safe to let your kitty outside if dogs or other cats roam your area or if you live near a busy road. In addition, do not let your cat go outside if it is declawed, as it will not have adequate protection against others.

    • 2

      Move your cat's litter box a few feet away from where it usually sits, toward the direction of the door you would like the cat to use. Show your kitty where the box is and let it use it there a few times.

    • 3

      Take the box a little bit further away from the new spot and toward the direction of the door. Perhaps move it into a new room and or new section of the house and show the cat where you placed it. Allow kitty to eliminate a few times in this new spot.

    • 4

      Place the little box in front of the door you would like it to use to get outside. This will help your cat become familiar with the door's presence when it eliminates. Take your cat to the box and let it use it a couple of times.

    • 5

      Put the litter box just outside the door. Take your cat outside and set it in the box to show it where the litter pan is. It may take your kitty a few times to get used to going outside to find the box, so let it use the box a few extra times before moving the box again.

    • 6

      Remove the litter box altogether once the cat is used to going outside to eliminate. Watch the cat, and when it starts showing behaviors that indicate it needs to eliminate---such as pawing or digging at the ground---move it to the designated elimination spot. Cats typically like sand or freshly dug soil; therefore, consider designating a spot that contains these materials. While your cat may use your area, it will likely find other spots it prefers as well.