Should I give Feral Cat A Litterbox?

[The_Shetland_Collector]

Hi All!

Hoping you might be able to help me with a quick query

I took in a feral cat before Christmas, poor little mite had been hit by a car so cue an expensive trip to the vets. (She was confirmed by the Cat Protection Society to be a stray and had been spayed).

Following this for a month she lived enclosed in an unused stable while she got back to full strength and used to her surroundings, and has been christened Bumper after her unfortunate run in! During this time she of course had a litter tray.

She's now been out and about loving life since Christmas, she still has access to the stable where her bed, food and litter tray still remain and she's regularly in there. She has started to hunt successfully too and bring back presents.

Anyway what I'm going a very long winded way about asking is, now that she is out and about would you still provide a litter tray? She does still seem to use this, but no where near as much and I'm wondering whether that's just because it's there? I just was curious what other people do. If it's best to keep it that's no problem but don't want to needlessly have it either.

Thanks in advance

 

[Roxylola]

Is she still using it? If she is personally I'd keep it. But I've no knowledge or experience beyond having had pet cats who lived indoors

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My feral yard kittens had a litter tray in the kitchen while they were inside but once they were handled, tame and allowed out I moved it to the feed room. I think they had it for about three months in total but they preferred to go outside, usually in a freshly mucked out stable ? The kitchen is still home though with beds and food available at all times.

 

[The_Shetland_Collector]

That’s super thank you! She’s definitely not using it as much, so I think based on this I’ll leave it to her clean when used and if she wants to keep using it she can!

 

[Archangel]

My ferals have a litter tray - an old plastic dog bed as there are so many of them - it is under cover so they can visit without getting soaked.

It also stops them using my polytunnel, the builder's bag of sand, the dust bath for the hens and other unsuitable places.

 

[The_Shetland_Collector]

Thank you all I know it must have seemed a daft question but I didn't want to be encouraging her to do something if it wasn't best practice! The litter box will remain in the unused stable for her, along with her bed and food