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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Today is Day 73 of toilet training. Week 10 sounds better, don't you think? :)
I finally got a video of Chanel. She actually had 3 paws on the seat when I took this!
I really do think Tanya has regressed. I need to watch her closer. Today, I saw #2 on the floor in front of the toilet. It was apparent that it had fallen there from the Litter Kwitter seat. I can't be certain that it was Tanya, but I suspect so. For some reason, she has stopped aiming toward the hole for #2. I wonder why.... Backspash maybe? I'll do some searching for solutions for that. Or it could simply be the 'hit or miss' that just happens during training. It's best to ignore the mistakes and give them treats anyway.
2 comments:
thanks for checking in yesterday :)
isn't it ironic that you were always worried about chanel at the beginning of TT and now you are more worried about tanya? anyway, the change to intermediate green is a small one. giving her a smaller ledge might make her reanalyze the sideways stance.
also, search the LK forum for "butt splash" or "bum splash." there is advise on how to lower the level of water in your toilet bowl to avoid backsplash. it seems simple but i don't need to do it yet since i have more disc than hole. i was also thinking of putting a brick in the water tank. i think that would work too.
btw, i got my main green disc (and another inter-amber) yesterday. jo lapidge sent them to me from her office. has yours come yet?
jenny & hello
anxiously awaiting photos and videos of the kits on intermediate green. happy to hear its helping with the side-saddling. post when you have time :)
jenny & hello
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