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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December 27, 2007
The holidays have put a pause on the toilet training. I am away for about a week and had to replace the LitterMaid. I removed the sitz bowl & closed the toilet lid. Tanya looked around for the sitz bowl for a while, but realized it wasn't accessible. I kept the LitterMaid in the bathroom and it's elevated. There was a little disorientation, but Tanya and Chanel used it just as before.
As I was leaving to catch my flight, I noticed a note on my door from UPS about the Litter Kwitter delivery. It took exactly 1 week to arrive. It will be there when I get back on January 1, 2008.
Thank you to everyone who has left me comments and suggestions. I will be slowing way down and from my observations, Chanel (especially) will need a flat surface. After looking at several commercial and homemade devices, I chose the Litter Kwitter multiple cat kit. It's sturdy. It appears less complicated than the homemade devices. I also like that it allows me to go backwards if I go too fast. In other commercial and homemade devices (including the sitz bath), if you make the hole too big, you have to figure out a way to patch it up again.
On the 1st of the year, we'll see how well it works for Tanya & Chanel.
Happy New Year!!
1 comment:
Hi Dark n Stormy! I hope your trip was a good one. I got a new camera for xmas. Woohoo! You'll have to stop by to see my new pics. Can't wait to see how the Litter Kwitter works for you. That's what I orginally wanted to use but decided to take the cheap way out instead.
Keep in touch!
Shelly
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