Ferals And Cat Poop

averyfeinhaus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
15
Purraise
13
About three months ago, a beautiful Siamese cat appeared perched on our HVAC unit and never left. Long story short, he's now TNR'd with his shots and is back here on our property living the best life we can offer him. He and I are building trust and comfort and a routine together. Now that he doesn't run and hide so much, I see him openly scratching, hunting bugs, napping, rolling around, being a cat. It does my heart good to see him thriving. BUT:

I've seen him use the land as a litter box. We have a very shaggy, basic half acre. We don't grow food or do fancy landscaping. We recently ground down a few stumps, and pulled up some bushes, which left raw dirt and wood mulch piles. I've seen him use these spots to dig, squat, and do #1 or #2 and then neatly bury it. I've had indoor cats in the past, so I know how to clean a litterbox, but what do you do to clean up after an outdoor cat? Is it necessary? I've heard that cat feces potentially carry worms and disease. Does it biodegrade naturally or should I go out there periodically with some gloves, a trash bag and a pooper scooper and clean up after him?

Thanks for any info you can offer on this.
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,927
Location
Colorado US
Hi!
Bless you for helping out this meezer!! :heartshape:

His poop will biodegrade, but not quickly. Are you seeing more flies even though he covers his business?

I personally would probably try and clean up after him, but that's admittedly my experience speaking from having a grassy lawn (where it can't be buried very well) and both feral and my own cats' poop, which I'm not interested in stepping in LOL, plus I'm trying to decrease his exposure to illnesses from the other cats and I'm also trying to cut down on the extra flies around my house. There are plenty of those anyway what with the somewhat lax dog owners I'm surrounded by ;)

Even if he poops in the garden where he can cover it, I still get out there and clean up, but again it's a concern of stepping in it, or having it in the way of a vining plant like cantaloupe...

I don't use gloves, I just grab a scooper and a plastic grocery bag and wash up when I'm done. If it's hot I put the bag into an empty coffee can and pop the lid on, to keep the smell in the big trash barrel down. :greenpaw::bluepaw: :lovecat4:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

averyfeinhaus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
15
Purraise
13
Thank you so much, Furballsmom! Your reply helps so much and brings me comfort. It's not a big deal, then. I can just keep and eye on things and clean up as necessary. Fortunately, no flies and no smell - but want to keep it that way! :)
 

ArchyCat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 22, 2017
Messages
1,202
Purraise
1,801
Location
Texas
Could you please make your cat an indoor only cat? The only good thing that can happen to an outdoor cat is to be made an indoor only cat. There are many dangers for an outdoor cat: disease, parasites, cars, dogs, wildlife (raccoons can kill cats), other cats. If you cannot take him in, maybe a volunteer rescue group can take him inland reform him.
 

msaimee

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 21, 2013
Messages
1,850
Purraise
1,697
Location
Western PA
Our outdoor feral cat does her business in the patch of woods surrounding our block, so that hasn't been an issue. If ahe ever did her business in my yard, I would clean it up so I didn't step in it. Unfortunately, my neighbor's dog does his business in my yard, and dogs are much less tidy than cats.

It's not always possible, for a variius reasons, to take a feral cat indoors. I'm glad you spayed her and are caring for her.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

averyfeinhaus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
15
Purraise
13
My feral boys used to use the mulch to do their pee/poop. We would completely dispose of the mulch 3-4x a year and lay fresh mulch.
Thanks - very helpful! He seems to like the mulch, too, so that's a good thing. Easy to freshen up and replace.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

averyfeinhaus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
15
Purraise
13
Our outdoor feral cat does her business in the patch of woods surrounding our block, so that hasn't been an issue. If ahe ever did her business in my yard, I would clean it up so I didn't step in it. Unfortunately, my neighbor's dog does his business in my yard, and dogs are much less tidy than cats.

It's not always possible, for a variius reasons, to take a feral cat indoors. I'm glad you spayed her and are caring for her.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

averyfeinhaus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
15
Purraise
13
I really do appreciate you encouragement! Kitty is happy, healthy and relatively safe on our property. Our neighbors love and keep an eye out for him, too, though he sticks around the periphery of the house, especially now that he's fixed.
Our outdoor feral cat does her business in the patch of woods surrounding our block, so that hasn't been an issue. If ahe ever did her business in my yard, I would clean it up so I didn't step in it. Unfortunately, my neighbor's dog does his business in my yard, and dogs are much less tidy than cats.

It's not always possible, for a variius reasons, to take a feral cat indoors. I'm glad you spayed her and are caring for her.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

averyfeinhaus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
15
Purraise
13
I am new to this forum and notice you can't edit or delete messages once you post them. Sorry for the glaring typos!
 

jcat

Mo(w)gli's can opener
Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
73,213
Purraise
9,851
Location
Mo(w)gli Monster's Lair
Our shelter has around 20 ferals in a quarter acre enclosure. They have litter boxes (in sheds), but also use the ground. We "pooper scoop" a couple of times a week.

You could make a sand pit, too (or put up a child's sandbox). Cats seem to love to defecate in them.
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,927
Location
Colorado US
No worries about the typos, after about 20-25 posts and being a member for five days I think it is, the lower left hand corner three slashes of each of your posts will have an edit option :)
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

averyfeinhaus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
15
Purraise
13
Our shelter has around 20 ferals in a quarter acre enclosure. They have litter boxes (in sheds), but also use the ground. We "pooper scoop" a couple of times a week.

You could make a sand pit, too (or put up a child's sandbox). Cats seem to love to defecate in them.
Thanks! I'm thinking of doing that, making a sandbox.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

averyfeinhaus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
15
Purraise
13
No worries about the typos, after about 20-25 posts and being a member for five days I think it is, the lower left hand corner three slashes of each of your posts will have an edit option :)
Awesome! :)
 
Top