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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I am at my wits end now.
I am leaving for NYC tomorrow morning until Sunday and I was hoping that Chanel would have learned to turn around by now. I have been positioning her for the past few weeks. But even yesterday and today, when I wasn't home to position her, there were skid marks on the Litter Kwitter seat and poo that had fallen to the floor. She still stands sideways and it looks like it's becoming a habit. I don't think she is getting it and I don't know how much longer I should continue trying the same thing.
Tanya is completely toilet trained and doesn't need the Litter Kwitter at all!
So, for Chanel, I decided to push a virtual reset button. While I am away, I am going to remove the Litter Kwitter and reinstate the automatic litter box. I may or may not still leave the toilet seat up for Tanya to use. When I get back, I will go back to the early trays and see if she will aim centrally again for #2. I'm up for any suggestions....
6 comments:
It's amazing how one cat can totally get the T-Training while another does not, especially two of the same age and background, such as your two littermates. Keep us posted on how well the cats do converting back to the auto-litter-box and then back to the toilet.
I'm starting to feel your pain with the positioning thing. Le Chat has left frequent "skid marks" with poo on the floor... I don't want to give up yet, but I'm getting more and more skeptical every day. Hang in there..I've heard of cats that can transition back to LB for vacations or whatever and then go back to where they left off in T-training, so I hope that works for you!! Let us know.
Carrie
I put my 2 year old Russian Black Tabby in the john with the litterbox raised to the same level as the toilet and closed the door. Day 1 he hopped up & went in his box. By day 2 he was in the sitz bath with litter. After 4 days I removed the sitz bath, put a note on the wall to leave the lid up & the seat down and wal-la that was it. He has not missed in more than a month and I am so happy. I have no idea why it was so easy. I just left him alone and he figured it out in 4 days. Good luck to you all. It's worth it not to smell the litter box. Tomorrow I install a motion flusher, $19.95 and all is well!
I hope Chanel figures it out soon. I think Latte or I could do it but Chase is far too set in his ritual ways to deviate to learn something like this. Have a nice time in NYC. The weather isn't all that great here at the moment.
Kaze
I'm new here landed up searching blogs on resources on pets. cool blog you have here, keep it up. and its nice to be here. i'll be back some time later for more updates.Thanks for sharing with us....
This reply function doesn't seem to be working I don't think? Dark n stormy: if ur still seeing rhis blog, would be sooo appreciated if u could email me at chris.maclaurin@gmail.com soon could ask u a question or two?
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