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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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March 25, 2008

Not much has changed in the past couple days. All #1s are going into the toilet! If cats only did #1, I would be set! :) HaHa, would that it were!! All Tanya's #2 goes in the toilet. We have not had any more accidents since drastically reducing the amount of pumpkin puree in her food and giving her more privacy. They still haven't gotten the 1 play cube back. Maybe I'll get them a 2nd one this weekend so they can have two again.

Now all I'm waiting for is Chanel to put herself in the right place for #2. Please send her some good vibes. I think it will help. It looks like I'll be heading to the pet store today for yet another bag of litter. *sigh*

Tanya and Chanel love barley grass. I made them this little planter in my pottery class.

3 comments:

Lia said...

Stubborn Chanel with her sideways stance! Does she let you nudge her into place if you are around when she gets ready to defecate? I have had zero success at moving paws when Mist is on the toilet, but she has let me nudge her hindquarters very, very gently to insure she voids over litter. Of course, I'm not around every time...
I love your pix! Tanya and Chanel are totally cute.

neverfull said...

i LOVE the second photo. the kitties are so CUTE! i'm sending chanel lots of good tt vibes!

Figaro the Therapy Cat said...

Heys!
I likes your planter, that is so good. I wants mamaw to take a pottery class so she will make me one like that.
How many seeds do you put to get that much grasses? we always get sucky straggly grasses in our barley pot but I love grasses!!!
You are already doing so far along, good jobs!
Do NOT return the potty cube! we returned ours to Figaro after NO ACCIDENTS for 2 weeks and then he did the #1 in the cube again. :-(
Veronica

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