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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Happy St. Patty's Day!
The luck of the Irish was certainly not with me this morning. Considering that I'm not Irish, I was at least hoping for a little spill-over because of the holiday.
I woke up this morning to Chanel scratching away. I was hoping that she would remember how to position herself, but she didn't. She did her usual sideways stand and I placed her correctly after the point of no return. I was a bit discouraged, until I walked out of the bathroom. I walked into the living room and became really frustrated. Check inside the red cube...
Tanya didn't even try to run away. She let me pick her up and place her in the bathroom while I cleaned up and threw away play cube #2. There's only one cube left now and they won't see that one back for a while. When she was released from the bathroom, she sulked around a bit. Then, all she wanted to do was sit in my lap as I worked. She ignored breakfast and Chanel chowing down in the next room. She was acting genuinely regretful and apologetic. Later, and off schedule, she went into the bathroom and was able to muster up another #2. She did it perfectly. No more pumpkin puree for her.
11 comments:
Hello!
oh noes, a #2 in the potty cube?? Terrible! we have been getting the cubes only with supervisions now. I wonder why kitties like to do businesses in them? I certainly do not!
Veronica
uh oh, pooping in the tent?? tents are for TENT WARRRRRRRRRSS.
lol, another accident in the potty cubes. thanks for the graphic. i don't mean to laugh, but what is it about them? and two #2's in one day? wow! i'm impressed.
jenny
Wowwww....new friends~!!!!
Oah Well.....poor tent.....
Tanya and Chanel, nice to meet you! You are both very cute. :) Using a cube as a litterbox is not a good idea. We are very impressed that you are learning to use the human litterbox! We just use ordinary litterboxes.
Hi Tanya and Chanel! Nice to meet you. Guess what!?! I am a Devon Rex, too. I am a dilute calico. I am very impressed that you are learning to go potty in the toilet. I just go in a big litterbox.
Hi Tanya and Chanel...it is furry nice to meet you. This is our first time to visit you. You are two very smart kitties...learning to use the toilet like that. wow Momma is proud of me when I make it into the box...I'm a Manx and sometimes I have problems, sorta like what happened in your tent. Welcome to the blogosphere.
Purrs
Abby
Hello you two cuties! Sometimes I poo on the floor but not in the tent. I think you are very smart to be learning how to use the potty!
Latte
What is it with our cats and their #2's in the wrong places?! Augh! Especially when everything else is just so amazing! I'm taking Chester back half a step and hopefully that will help!
Love the picture of Tanya and Chanel looking in the door. What total cuties!
-Marina and Chester
WOW, cat toilet training! We are impressed. we want to come back to check all the updates on this.
This is National Animal Poison Prevention Week, please stop by our blog tomorrow for important information.
HUGS~ Chancy, Jake & Ernie's Voice
Hi cuties! I am impressed that you would go to the human toilet. I am a mostly outdoor cat so I don't even have a litter or cube or any toys to speak of. The only things I get to play with are insects, mice, leaves and fallen flowers, pine cones, lemons and oranges.
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