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.
________________________________________________________________________________
Well, you can see the difference in the paw positioning between my two kitties. Tanya is on the left, Chanel on the right. For now, I have chosen a "hands off" approach. The reason is mostly because I think it distresses Chanel too much. If I happen to catch her
before she has started and move her, she stops completely and looks stressed out. I would hate to stress the poor thing more than necessary. So, I must clasp my hands in order to keep them from meddling with her.
Tanya is progressing well. This morning I woke up to the wonderful sound of titter-tatter tinkle in the toilet bowl! I was so proud. I actually broke my usual routine of staying under the down comforter until the very last minute and got up to give her a treat. At this point she has either 2 or 3 paws on the seat. Of course, the final goal is to get all 4 paws on the seat.
Tomorrow, I will start a trial with the Main Amber tray. This one has a larger hole. I don't want to push them too hard, but I will be going out of town again next Friday for a week. I will have a live-in kitty sitter (yes, my cats are spoiled), but I want them to be on a stable stage for the sitter. Starting tomorrow will give me the weekend to monitor them and go back to the Intermediate Amber tray if needed.
No comments:
Post a Comment