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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 9, 2008


We had another problem today. I think I might understand what happened.

I was in the bathroom this morning getting ready for something and Tanya walked in the hopped on the toilet. She scratched around like she had to go #2. Then she jumped down and left without going. 30 min later or so, I walked into the living room and smelled an odor. My nose lead me to their play cubes. Inside was #2. As soon as I looked at her, Tanya bolted. I know it was Tanya because as I was was cleaning up, Chanel jumped up on the toilet to commence her #2 routine. She needed to be positioned. Her stance would have lead to everything on seat. Thankfully, everything Tanya did was confined to the cube, so I could just detach that one and throw it away. BTW, they love these Sport Pet Play Cubes. They are super cheap and can be found at Walmart for under $4!

So, my assessment of the situation is that Tanya really had to go, but wanted to go in private. I think she had a little diarrhea again, so that didn't help. I suspect that she has a delicate gut and can't take as much pumpkin puree in meals as Chanel. So, I'll give this one more shot before I change the set-up. If I'm in the bathroom and she looks like she needs to go, I will leave and close the door. Also, I will reduce the amount of pumpkin puree in her meals. She can do it correctly, I've see her do it. For some reason, she has twice chosen not to. It is so out of character for her.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

my Jordyn has recently decided not to use the potty..so i had to take a step back to boost his confidence and treat him more often after and hes 99% back on track. i think he fell in.... :( good luck...
janette

Unknown said...

i'm sorry to hear tanya had an accident but it is great that you are so intune with the cats that you know what caused it. good luck tomorrow. new cat in the house. stay tuned tomorrow for photos!

jenny

Figaro the Therapy Cat said...

!!!!!!!! OH! I have 2 of these cubes, identical, from Wal Mart. My cats love them. But recently Figaro decided that HE HAS TO DO #1 only in the toy cube!!!! I had to put them away and now I only take them out to supervise. It is so weird!!! I don't know why he likes using it so much. After he did it I washed it but he still returned to do #1 in there over and over..I collapsed it and hid it under the sofa...and he did #1 on it while under there. I switched it out with the one that didn't get "contaminated" just in case there was a smell in that one, and he did it in the other one! That was all in Jan, now they don't get to play with them anymore. Weird!!!

Anya

Unknown said...

haha, i'm going to call them potty cubes. i'll hold off any getting any of those until hello & mimmy have graduated. oh geez... do i start over as day 1 or keep counting from where we started? i think you are right about eventually moving mimmy's LC into hello's bathroom, gradually raising it up until she chooses to use hello's red disc. i'm sure hello will enjoy the break. today she actually seems pretty comfortable on amber even though i saw her get wet paw (i wasn't even interfering). go figure! mimmy seems to like water so i hope we can move faster the second time around. her foster mom said she would hang out in wet bathtubs and sinks. i wonder what she will do when i have to fill them up an inch for hello.

jenny

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