On Labor Day weekend, 2007, I brought home two cute 3-month old female Devon Rex kittens. Tanya (TAN-ya) and Chanel. This was my first time living with cats, so I prepared with books for dummies and how-to manuals. During my readings, I came across books and websites about toilet training. Yes, you teach your cat to use the toilet! I was intrigued and read multiple strategies to train my kitties to poop in the commode. The process can take anywhere from 4 weeks to a year!! It was still early, and all sources advised to wait until 6 months of age.
So I waited. In the mean time, I learned how annoying litter can be. I got the automatic LitterMaid Elite Mega Advanced Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box which scoops the poop every time the kitties go. I got it lightly used from a craigslist.org posting. It was worth the money and I didn't become too much of a slave to the litter box. Even though I didn't have the burden of all day scooping, I started noticing that litter traveled. I saw little litter granules beyond the laundry room (original location of the litter box). I 'd see it track out from the laundry room door and occasionally see a granule or two on the kitchen floor or on the couch. I know cats are clean animals, but litter granules on the couch can't be very sanitary.
So, as they started pushing their 6th month of life (Tanya was 6 months, Chanel was 5 1/2 months), I decided to start their training to use the toilet. I love my kitties, but I hate the litter. They are super smart, so I think they will pick it up quickly.
I'm writing this blog on Tanya, Chanel, and the Toilet so you can keep up with their (and my) daily progress (or lack thereof). I am by no means an expert. But you can see pictures and watch the brief videos that chronicle their status and the methods I've used.
You can start from Day 1 by scrolling to the bottom of the page.
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We are now onto the complete Intermediate Amber tray. I removed the Red tray from underneath it yesterday morning. There is still curiosity about the hole, but not to the point of complete distraction. And paws aren't falling in anymore.
I'm not sure how much I should be positioning Chanel. As you can see, she sits with all 4 paws in the litter. She doesn't back up as much since I put the toilet seat down over the Litter Kwitter's "seat". But she still goes sideways. I have researched through the toilet training forums & websites and some say to position and some say not to position. Position or not to position?? That is my question. I don't know which to do. I'll give it more time and see how she does when we progress to the Full Amber tray. In the meantime, if I happen to catch her, I'll position. But I won't be obsessive about it....yet :)
I'm open to any advice.
We are now onto the complete Intermediate Amber tray. I removed the Red tray from underneath it yesterday morning. There is still curiosity about the hole, but not to the point of complete distraction. And paws aren't falling in anymore. 
2 comments:
Wow! I can't believe the amount of time you have to invest. I've decided not to toilet train the kitties. Instead, we are just doing litter boxes. Troy says hi! He is sleeping next to the computer as I right this. I really don't understand this computer habit he has but it's nice to have the company. We will stay tuned! Hey, how in the world do you use your own bathroom toilet with all these trays????
I also noticed that they are getting big!!!! Don't you miss how tiny they were? I do. Troy was a runt and now he is LONG. Phoenix is smaller than I would expect at this age but he just needs another growth spurt.
They are turning into beautiful cats! So much for the cute little kittens!
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