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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March 10, 2008
I have never been so anxious to see poop in my life! Tanya had not gone #2 since yesterday morning in the play cubes or, as Jenny has dubbed them, potty cubes. :) I arrived home from work today wondering if an offensive odor would hit me as I walked in. No odor. 'Okay, that's good', I thought to myself tentatively. I walked into the bathroom and was so relieved to see poo in the toilet. Yea!! I will keep everything the same. Chanel has regressed a bit and requires frequent positioning for #2. I think my trip might have set her back a bit. Hopefully with consistent attention, she will place herself reliably.
I gave them back the play/potty cubes. The cubes were barely popped opened and attached together before Chanel and Tanya started jumping and tumbling in them! (see photo above) For now, their cube privileges will be restricted to times when I can supervise-- especially after reading that Anya's kitty habitually peed in his! The video below is from December, but it shows how they really tumble that thing around (please excuse the to-go-out garbage bag in the background--the rest of that stuff are toys, believe it or not). :)
2 comments:
yep those are just like our play cubes!
I love all your videos! If I had a good quality camera I'd do that.. :)
-Anya
your twin kitties are just too precious! it's nice to seem them outside of the bathroom :) i really hope hello and mimmy will play like that some time soon. now i know hello would love those potty cubes! she has a play tunnel and a tent already. she loves being able to find hiding+play places.
jenny
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