Cat problem in a flat?

A question about : Cat problem in a flat?

I need to downsize to a flat and there are several two bedroomed flats locally that would be suitable. My problem is my housecat. Where do you put the litter tray in a flat? There is no problem is my current abode. I can only think I should have to let him go but he has been with me 6 years (he is about 12). Any thoughts?

Best answers:

• please promise to find him a good home...
• I'm struggling to understand the question.
  Where do you put the litter tray currently? Surely flats have some equivalent position, eg "atm I put the litter tray just inside the back door", so you put the litter tray near an exit door.
  As long as it's somewhere the cat will find it, and not somewhere you'll trip over it, does it matter where you put it?
• I had a litter tray in my bathroom when I lived in a flat.
• I do understand the downsizing problem. cat litters are an essential but can smell/ be messy.
  I make sure my cats are fed a high protein/no veg cat food. I buy bozita from zooplus and I buy pure meat from a supplier in abergavenny. I also buy classic cat food from s'bury/waitrose/tesco/morrisons. All of these are pure meat/protein from meat and no veg or bulk out cereal.
  Why?? Because when the cats poo there is no stink. The poo is hard, formed and does not smell. Even when just deposited!
  The problem I can forsee and what I am contemplating when I too downsize is how to wash out the litter tray......
  Please don't let go your cat at 12 - unlikely will get homed. I have my litter tray in hall under telephone table - nobody comments on it - it does not smell. The cats use it even though outside cats - and they do poo in it. An older cat (yours) should actually welcome the change as they are probably less active.
• Lots of types of litter trays to minimise smell and mess. Get a hooded one fairly cheap on amazon.
  Cats can (quite seriously) be trained to use a normal toilet.
  If the smell is the issue (it can get worse as cats get older) my vet sells special scented candles which help eliminate the odour chemically...not just mask it.
  My wife fell out with both our house cats (they acted up after the birth of our second child) and even at the young age of ten there wasnt a home that would take them. They had very long waiting lists.
  I know two people with 'flat cats' and they have no problems.
• As long as it isn't the kitchen (who wants to cook around cat poo) it doesn't matter, if you're worried you have less room a hooded tray would conseal it a little more and stop litter being spread outside of the tray.
• cats trained for toilet: yes, possible. Google it. There are threads on cat forums with pictures but I suspect best to do with a young cat.
• My son in Australia lives in an apartment with his girlfriend and they have trained both of their Burmese cats who cannot go out, to use the toilet. When he first mentioned it, I did not believe it was possible but just look at all the You Tube videos to see it for yourself. They started when the cats were still very young, and nearly gave up when one didn't seem to be getting it, but persevered. We are visiting them in September so will see them "in action!"
• OP - put the litter tray where you want to. Cats are adaptable; they'll deal with it.
  End of.
• If it's space/smell etc you're worried about, try googling 'Ikea hack litter tray' - some pretty great ideas there!
• I would put it in the bathroom. You can just put any faeces straight into the loo and flush it. Much easier do deal with. The litter itself can't be flushed though.
• I believe there is a view that teaching cats to use the loo isn't actually good for them - they can't adopt a 'natural' position while balanced on the loo seat, maybe - so just keep that in mind too.
• Where do you have in in your current house? Is bathroom a possibility? If the cat is a house cat anyway it's unlikely to be phased by not being able to go out. Our previous one (a stray) would have got out by any means possible and would have demolished everything in the flat in his efforts / frustration!
  The cat rescue places have real problems with the number of cats requiring rehoming. The one we got our new one from had over 300 waiting for a place at the rescue centre. So I'm sure you'll be able to find a place for the litter tray. Ours is at the far end of the kitchen right by the back door. Not ideal but the best we can do. No way that I wouldn't have the cat! I lasted less than a week when the previous one died before ringing the cat rescue!