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 1, 2007:
Last night I elevated the litter box to about 12 inches off the floor. I was a little nervous at first because the litter box is actually above their heads and out of their direct line of vision. I had to get rid of the Kitty Kabana. I will soon need to downsize on the litter box anyway. I'll return the Kabana to the store.
The goal is to elevate to the equivalent height of your toilet (for me 15 inches). If you look at the LitterMaid design, the cats are actually jumping up 16.5 inches to enter. So, I'm done with elevating.
I think my game plan from here will be to keep this height (a 16.5 inch-jump) and start moving the litter box closer to the toilet. I might have to wait until Monday to do this, so it doesn't get into my way. Also, the kitties are being spayed on Tuesday (Day 9 of training), so I need to get them to a comfortable stage so they can manage easily while they recover from the surgery.
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