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 think the kitties have adjusted to the city streets of Boston.
Two weeks ago, they would run underneath the bed when a motorcycle or ambulance drove by.
Now, they stand by the window and people-watch all day!
We had some problems with the toilet after a few days. Tanya started to go #2 in the tub! I figured out that the toilet space is so much smaller and tighter than they are used to. You can see there's not much room on the left hand side. I removed the cardboard tube pieces to give them more room to walk around and sit..
Thankfully, that worked and no more surprises in the tub!
12 comments:
I am glad your cats are doing well!
We are still on the red disc. I think I will start them on inter amber this week... I keep saying I will do it and then something comes up, like I am out of town for a few days or I have to work long days, and if I am at work more than 8 hours I hate to leave them alone for the training because I got so tired of Figaro doing business on every carpeted surface :-P
I figured...I am already the crazy cat lady, what with making them my own homemade food and training them to use the toilet..so I might as well get a stroller to go with it all :-) Figaro is constantly begging me to take him outside and I need to get exercise too so I figured why not. If people ask, I will just explain I need it for his therapy duties at the nursing home...then maybe instead of too crazy I can just be considered a good volunteer, haha.
Hey dear, thanks i saw ur comment, sorry am just replying not been on my blog in a while!!!!
Taye had hepatits, and it got worse, he never dran a shot of Alchohol i believe it was either water or sumtim of that sort.
Glad u r rocking his designs he wld b proud and smiling n the heavens now. It is well am happy he lived a good life, might have been short but God knows best!
Tk kr
o, 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.
We had some problems with the toilet after a few days. Tanya started to go #2 in the tub! I figured out that the toilet space is so much smaller and tighter than they are used to
Hi Tanya & Chanel’s Mama!
I wanted to introduce myself after recently coming across your blog. Your site is full of wonderful information on kitty toilet training and was not only enjoyable to read but extremely helpful! As a pet lover & kitty foster mommy with a number of rescue groups, I wanted to reach out and thank you for sharing such great information. I haven’t yet succeeded in toilet training my cats but I’ll be reading over your blog thoroughly to learn a bit :) I also thought you'd be interested in the pet community that we've established on a new site I work for called Lunch.com
The pet community is an ideal place for sharing your thoughts on the latest pet products you’ve used with your kitties, helping training tools, or advice that you can offer to pet owners on a variety of subjects, including toilet training!
Hope you can check it out! http://www.lunch.com/tags/Pets-1000162-Overview.html
Lisa
This was a hilarious blog. I applaud your persistence. I would love to train our cat, but with 3 little kids I'm not sure it would work for us. We can't devote a toilet for the cat now. But it's very intriguing.
I did hear that you're never to teach the cat to flush, unless you want your water bill to be higher than your rent/mortgage. I hope you're cats are doing great!
Definitely agree with what you stated. Your explanation was certainly the easiest to understand. I tell you, I usually get irked when folks discuss issues that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail right on the head and explained out everything without complication. Maybe, people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks.
I've found that, when you toilet train cats, you have to be extremely vigilant. They have the extraordinary ability to, well, let's just say "make a mess."
I think cat really have a high IQ level and its not impossible for them to do things like that! I'm sure in time that would be so successful.
I was asked a question today on how to get the cat to use the toilet and stop pooping on the floor. I also found that the Litter Kwitter Cat Toilet Training Systems are much less ($39.99) and free shipping at http://petshopperspalace.com/LK1-Litter-Kwitter
Good for you! Your cats are well-trained! Have you encountered problems with biting problems of your cats? Or do they go such places which they cause damage or they litter?
That is awesome. I would love to train my cats to use the toilet.
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