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Transition from litter box to doing business outdoors (self.cat)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by Sunny to c/cat@lemmy.world

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We've got one cat 6months and the other 3months old, currently both using the litterbox. However we're going to move to a new house soon, and eventually try to transition them to getting used to doing their business outdoors instead of the litterbox. Does anyone have any tips or best practices for this transition?

Edit: I dont live in the US, I live in Scandinavia - huge garden and away from traffic. The cats are fine being outside - most cats here are in fact outside. We have norwegian forest cats and they're meant to be both indoors and outdoors - even during winter!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Forest_cat

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[–] notnotmike@programming.dev 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Okay, so your arguments are:

I haven't heard it's a problem, so it must not be
The breed is common and people aren't going to stop getting them so I may as well get another

(1) Is, hopefully, very obviously subjective. Just because you haven't seen a news article about it does not mean it's a problem. And unfortunately, being a couple thousand years old does not come close to the massive amount of time it took the ecosystems to get this way. By Earth's history standards, these cats have been there for a blink of an eye.

(2) Is never a good excuse to do anything. It's group think and it's a massive problem in society. I may as well justify owning slaves because "other people aren't going to stop". You surely see how nothing will change if everyone thinks that way.

I'm very glad to gear you neuter the cat at least. It's at least helping combat the issue a bit.

I just want to make the world a better place, that's all. I'm not trying to attack or shame you, I just want to save the birds (and cats) :(

[–] Sunny 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I didnt mean to come across cross.. but my main point is that these cats are meant to be outdoors, as well as indoors. They love the mixture between being active outside and resting inside. I can't keep these cats indoors only - thats not what they want nor what the vet recommends. I do see the problem of them ruining other wildlife, however, I can't limit them to being indoors either. I love birds and wildlife myself, and at the cabin we have loooads of bird feeders and bird boxes setup, which is a very enjoyable sight all-year round. While I do, and will continue to let my cats outdoors, I try do my part for a better wildlife other places. Not perfect, but something.

[–] notnotmike@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago

I appreciate you being aware of the impact at least, it's all I can really ask. I hope you can find some way to limit the cat's impact on the environment, like perhaps a bell on their collar

And I'm glad you put food out for the birds. I do the same and I find such joy in watching them, they're truly beautiful :)