One of them defecated in the living room and I assume it's because it's too nasty outside. There's about half an inch of settled snow, with a further quarter inch falling in last few hours. The temperature is approximately 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). The cats have a cat flap and usually go outside to do their toileting.

The problem for me with putting out the litter tray is that the cost of cat litter stresses my budget. I'm living off a small disability pension and I don't qualify for any means tested benefits, though I would get Pension Credit if I was over 60 and Working Families Tax Credit if my income was from paid employment. I really do feel that I should only put the litter tray out if it is absolutely necessary. I don't know why the cat went in the living room and the cold weather is only one of several possible explanations. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

Would you consider putting the litter tray out necessary in this weather? (The East Midlands is one of the least badly affected areas in the current cold snap.)

If cats are used to go outside then just get them a box with sand or dirt in it and put it inside. Poor cats probably can't dig in the ground because it is probably too cold for them.

i to have this problem i'd just started getting my kitten to "go" outside when the weather changed i use an old washing up bowl and Salisbury's basic cat litter the cost is ￡1.23 for a big bag this lasts me a month if you keep up the cleaning routine if you don't have an Salisbury near you asda's smart price is ￡1.53 for the same size or go to the local building suppliers and get a bag of sharp sand for a quid they may use this.

Yes, put it out.m The cats won't want to go outside in this weather. If they still do go out to go toilet, you're not using money on cat litter. If they don't, they at least have another option than on your sofa. Pets at home are doing two large bags for ￡16, if you can get someone to pick them up for you (very big and heavy). They last about 70 days each.

Get a litter box & put it in the house for them. Poor babys they could freeze outside. Cat litter & litter box is not expensive, I buy a huge bag from walmart for like $3 and it lasts a really long time. And you can get an cheap litter box for like $5.

Put it out in a big cardboard box outside and show them where it is.

If you have more than one cat then you need to put out at least two litter trays. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

Cat litter is really cheap - go to Asda or Morrisons a big bag of their cheap one is about ￡1.99 and will last a week.

Your cats are probably confused by the snow. One of mine was getting really upset last night as he needed to go badly and just kept jumping in and out of the cat flap. I stood him in the litter tray but he prefers to go outside. So I went out with him and he was OK. You could try clearing the snow from a patch of soil and see if that helps them go outside. But you need to set up a litter tray - just in case.

Just because you have a cat flap doesn't necessarily mean your cat is going to use it. There are plenty of brands of litter you can buy without it breaking the budget. I'm sorry but if you can't afford to buy litter for your cat what would you do if they needed to go to the vets?

If your cats aren't using the cat flap then just put them outside several times a day then you would have no need to buy litter. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

I'm in the East Yorkshire area and we've had a lot of snow but my cat still goes outside - he stays out all night too. I know some people would think that's cruel but to me it would be more cruel to keep him in because he loves being outside.....he goes to the back door and meows to go out at night even when I've tried to keep him in.

Don't buy the expensive litter like Catsan go for a shop brand like Tesco or Asda's own brand of litter which is cheap enough. A large bag would last your cats a couple of weeks. Get the litter that clumps so you can rid the tray of the poop 'n' wee whilst leaving the clean litter in the tray.

Hi there:

If you are thinking of putting the litter box out because your cat defecated in the house I don't think that is an answer. The litter box must of been dirty hence the accident in the house.
I have an indoor cat who uses exclusively the litter box and she will not use it if there is one particle of poop in it...lol..she gets in there scratching and scratching so that is my cue to come and clean it if I have missed something. My other cat uses it when he is in the house but he comes with my dog and I when we go for our walks and as my dog is sitting doing his business so is my cat...lol...so cute.