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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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Day 91/53

February 24, 2008

I have some good news and bad news.

Let's start with the good news!
Friday night, the Regular Green disc/tray went into place. In doing so, the hole enlarged from 12 cm to 15 cm across. Chanel was the first to jump up and use it. I think she had been waiting for me anyway. Her first time on the Regular Green seemed like a replay of the last switch, as you will see in the video.

The last 2 days have been very smooth. Tanya has been going through the hole consistently with either 2 or 4 paws on the seat. Chanel started using all 4 paws on the seat today--I could hardly believe it! That was for #1. Her #2 positioning needs some attention. I will start putting her in the right position repeatedly. They are on a regular feeding schedule, so their #2's are predictable and tend to be when I'm home in the morning and evening. I might even place some sort of barrier at the back of the toilet seat to keep her from standing sideways back there.

Okay, now for the bad news. I was kicked out of the Cats T-Training Yahoo Group last weekend. I received a hostile email from the Cats T-Training Yahoo Group Moderator(s). They accused me of sharing information on my blog that was privy to and the property of the Cats T-Training Yahoo Group members. They accused me of using the websites, book titles and blogs from their group and putting them on my blog. They accused me of advertising for Litter Kwitter. They also accused me of dishonestly posting the same questions on both the Cats T-Training Yahoo Group and the Litter Kwitter Group Forum.

I believe I was targeted because I use Litter Kwitter and it's resources. I have always given credit to the Cats T-Training Yahoo Group when it was applicable. The sites listed on my blog were obtained independently from extensive internet searches, most of which were published prior to joining the group. I like the Litter Kwitter product because it is working beautifully for Tanya and Chanel. It is very disappointing that being a member of one cat toilet training group will prevent me from participating in another. We live in an information age. Although I agree with and respect copyright laws, performing bullying tactics to prevent the sharing and giving of ideas is wrong.

I will keep the link to the Cats T-Training Yahoo Group on my blog because I think the group members as a whole have a good wealth of knowledge and can support and offer advice to anyone venturing into the task of cat toilet training.

As promised, here's a video of Chanel on the Regular Green tray.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, I've been reading this blog for a while now as I've decided to train my kitten as well, and I find it informative and amusing.

I was going to join the Cats T-Training Group but after reading this post I've decided not to. That's quite stupid that they'd kick you out because you use Litter Kwitter. I mean I'm using a Sitz Bath and I hold nothing against you for using a LK. I only choose not to use an LK because it's cheaper the other way. As far as I can tell you have given credit to the group and praised them as well. It's kind of a stupid logic that they don't want you talking about them and that they don't like you learning from other sources or using a method that works for you...

Anyways, good luck training your two adorable kitties. ^0.0^

Keep other the good work.

Anonymous said...

Good progress on the cats - congratulations! That's a shame the Cats T-Training group was being accusatory. You're better off without them, I'm sure :)

One thing I've gotta ask, though, is if a cat can go in ANY toilet after being trained. I ask because I just moved into my apartment and desperately want to get rid of my 2 cats' litter box. But after 13 months, I'm almost positive the fam and I are going to move again. Would I need to retrain them on the new toilet??

Unknown said...

hey z- i got kicked out of the yahoo t-training group last week too. they found my blog "alarming" and they told me to stop posting on the LK forum. and they wouldn't justify any of their claims that i was violating copyright laws. i felt i was targeted b/c i was using the LK too. the moderators have actually sent me a series of ridiculous emails over the past month. i was going to post something in my blog about it too. perhaps i will tomorrow. hey! no loss, we will continue to support each other! btw, awesome work moving to the green disc.

jenny & hello
http://www.freewebs.com/myhellokitten

Dark n Stormy said...

Dear Anonymous Writers #1 & #2:

#1
Thank you for your supportive comments. I honestly still do recommend joining the Cats T-Training Group. There are good discussions on issues that we all have or will face during training. I assume that the sentiment in the letter I got is only from the 1 or 2 moderators, not the group majority. I doubt you will have any problems discussing the Sitz Bath--perhaps because it's not commercial enough or there isn't preexisting bad blood with the company that makes them.

#2
Thanks for following my blog!
You might not need to retrain them when you move. However, there are a few factors that will determine how fast they learn. It will definitely take longer to train two cats. It will depend on how compliant your cats are with the change as well. 13 months is probably more than enough time to get them fully trained or at least very close. It's been 3 for me so far. But I have heard of people still training at 1 year out! If it takes you a few months to train, then you have several months to reinforce the habit before you move.

Personally, I worry about the issue of switching locations and toilets as well. I am moving in July for 1 month and then moving again in August. Will T&C still use the toilet in the new apartments? Just to be sure, I will keep the Litter Kwitter seat and trays in case I need to get them comfortable again.

I think you should at start training. Let me know what happens!!

Thanks again.
DnS

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