We've managed to train our 2 year old Bengal to go outside for the toilet. Sometimes he uses the soil borders for his toilet (which is OK by us - easy to cover over with a spade) but he also uses the lawn quite often. I've tried the RSPB endorsed electronic ultrasonic deterrent but that doesn't work and I've placed the cat litter box he used in the past on the lawn but its ignored. I've even prepared a gravel area at the back of the garden for him. Any tips welcome - especially ways of deterring him from the grass.

Well, many cats prefer the lawn! I don't know how you're going to prevent this unless you limit his access to the grass. Cats have highly sensitive smell and they will not go in the same spot twice. I don't believe urine is going to be harmful to your grass and poo can be picked up. You need to understand that what the cat is doing is natural and you're trying to change that. If you have him on a harness and leash, you can take him to the spot you've chosen for him. If he doesn't go there, it's because it's not suitable for him. Cats don't like to pee on gravel. It's their nature to "cover" their pee and I'm sure the gravel stones are uncomfortable for the cat. If I were you, I'd select a grassy spot in the corner of your yard and allow him to use that. Be grateful your boy is going to the bathroom outside and not somewhere in your home. A word of advice: cat urine can actually fertilize a yard, however, a cat who goes in the same spot over and over again, the urine will kill the grass. So if your cat is picking a different spot every day, it can actually help your grass. The other thing is how many times a day does your cat go to the bathroom? Most cats go only a few times a day. However, you may have no idea how many neighborhood cats are coming into your yard and using it as a bathroom. I've had that problem.

To me, this would not be a big deal. Raiden does pee in the yard when we are out on our walks and it doesn't bother me in the least. He poops once a day -- always in his litter box, so no problem there.

Thanks. He did used to prefer gravel - he used the neighbours front garden which was gravelled but we put a gate up to stop him, (both to stop the messing and because the road is dangerous) hence the gravel area I've prepared. Like our other cats he's free to come and go from house to garden through our cat flap. I have no problem with the urine - it's the poo that isn't pleasant and we're not at home all the time so can't clear it up straight away (it's definately him - I can see him from my window). Our other cats and the neighbour's cats use the soil borders, which is also fine by us. Has anyone used any of the practical deterrent suggestions you can find online to good effect, such as citrus peel, lion poo, Jeyes liquid or other practical solutions?

Citrus peel is supposed to work but had a neighborhood cat coming around and he would just lay down beside them. There are other concoctions online that you can make. I thought vinegar would turn them away, but that didn't work either. Eucalyptus can sometimes do the trick. Raiden poops once a day and that shouldn't be too difficult to deal with if yours is the same. I agree, it's a mess if anyone steps on it or if the cat is unable to cover it up completely. You're dealing with a habit of nature and cats can and will change locations once they are tired of it. I would do more to try and entice him to use the area you prefer. If other cats are going in that vicinity, that could be why he no longer wants to use the gravel. I've run out of suggestions.

I sprinkle dried, pulverized, putrified egg and blood meal in our vegetable garden to keep rodents and foxes out. When Quasar smells it, he runs and hides. It is harmless but, apparently, repugnant to a cat. You can buy it in a garden center.

_________________
~ Kyenta

Thanks