Seven Steps to Toilet Training Your Cat
We’ve broken down the process of toilet training your cat into seven simple stages. This toilet training technique will modify your cat’s behavior and prepare them to use the toilet gently (and hopefully neatly!) for you in the near future. You should allow your cat decide when you should go onto the next phase in the potty training process.
Step One
Change the location of your cat’s litter box so that it is directly next to the toilet. Take care to ensure that your cat feels comfortable using this litter box, and leave it in the same location for as long as you believe it is necessary for your cat to become accustomed to the new location. Pro-Tip: Take it gradually. If your cat becomes disoriented, he or she may seek out a safe haven somewhere in your house to “go” where they feel more secure. After a number of these mishaps, it may be difficult to stop this negative habit, so pay attention to your pet’s behavior to determine when to go to the next phase.
Step Two
Gradually raise the height of the litter box to the desired level. Every time you raise the height of the litter box, you should lower it by a small amount. Make sure the litter box is secured to something heavy, such as a stack of phone books or a stack of newspapers, so that it doesn’t move when your cat jumps on it.
Step Three
Make incremental daily progress toward bringing the litter box closer to the toilet, until the box is right over the toilet seat. Continue to remove the litter from the box until there is just a thin layer of litter remaining, no more than 1 inch deep in the container.
Step Four
A “training box” can be used in place of your litter box. Check to see if the training box can withstand the weight of your cat. There are a few solutions available to you in this situation. You may either build your own or purchase one of the several commercial training gadgets currently on the market today. Listed below is the procedure for creating your own training box:
- Remove the toilet sheet and tape a piece of wax paper to the toilet seat so that it covers the entire seat
- Add flushable litter to the wax paper to make it more absorbent. Remove the toilet seat and tape a bowl or an aluminum pan to the edges of the bowl or pan. Place the toilet seat on the floor to keep the pan in place. Fill the pan halfway with flushable trash
Pro-Tip: After each usage, thoroughly clean the litter box and mix with some catnip to freshen it up. Cats will learn to use the bathroom more effectively if they are rewarded with goodies.
Step Five
Make the transition to your cat only using the toilet once a day. Start by cutting a hole in the middle of the wax paper or aluminum pan approximately one inch in diameter, and then gradually widen it outward until the cover is nearly completely gone. Along with lowering cover dimensions, you should also decrease litter quantities so that there is no litter left after the paper or bowl are removed from below.
Step Six
After each time your cat uses the toilet, flush it thoroughly. Pro-Tip: Do not train your cat to flush the toilet since it is dangerous. Cats are capable of learning to flush, but they occasionally take pleasure in it too much, resulting in a waste of water.
Step Seven
Please give your pet a tasty treat! It is critical for your cat’s success that you recognize and reward them for their efforts.
If your cat is worried about the water in the bowl, mix some litter into the water and your cat will link the fragrance of the litter with his or her litter box. Is your cat familiar with how to use the toilet? If not, do you have any plans to train them right away?
7 Reasons NOT to Toilet Train Your Cat
If you’ve previously read101 Essential Tips for Kittens and New Cats: Health and Safety, you’ll know that I’m not a big supporter of toilet training cats, and you’ll also know why. Don’t confuse this with litter box (also known as potty) training, which is something I strongly advocate for. What I’m trying to convey is that teaching your cat to use a realtoilet is almost never a smart idea. For sure, a few toilet training kits for cats may be purchased, and there is no shortage of adorable and/or amusing video footage of cats flushing a toilet on the internet.
If you don’t want to clean a litter box, live in a small flat, or simply find the image of a cat poised over the toilet bowl curiously funny, this is the option for you.
1. Flushing the Evidence
An increase or decrease in the amount or frequency of urine produced by your cat can be an essential indicator of a variety of medical issues that extend far beyond “simply” a urinary tract infection in cats. Listed below is a limited list of feline health issues that can be accompanied by an increase or decrease in the frequency and/or amount of urine:
- Diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney dysfunction, bladder inflammation (cystitis), dehydration, urinary (urethral) blockage (which can be lethal in minutes! ), and other medical conditions.
Early discovery and treatment of any of these medical concerns, as with many other things, can result in less pain and suffering for your cat, as well as a higher likelihood of simpler management and cheaper expenses for you. You definitely don’t want to miss out on any of these developments. As long as your cat is using a toilet bowl, you will not be able to tell whether the frequency or volume of his or her urinations varies. Cats who utilize litter boxes, on the other hand, are more susceptible to these changes because they are more visible.
Is the size of the pee clumps greater or smaller than expected?
When kitten is urinating in a toilet, however, this is not the case!
2. Terrible Toxo
Have you ever heard of Toxoplasma gondii, or the disease that it causes, Toxoplasmosis (also known as “Toxo” in some circles)? If your cat consumes a mouse, rat, bird, or other wild animal, it may become infected with the parasite Toxo, which is a horrible little creature. (Cats who are solely allowed indoors are at a decreased risk, but even they are not fully protected from Toxo, as rats and mice are quite clever at finding their way into houses.) Despite the fact that not all infected cats will display indications of the disease, they will all excrete infectiveToxoplasmaoocysts in their feces for an extended length of time after infection.
In other words, the parasite and the sickness that it produces might end up in local bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, streams, and other bodies of water where they can infect and kill seals, otter, and other water-dwelling creatures.
The danger here isn’t only limited to wildlife; if your cat ever “misses” and drops a bomb on the toilet seat, you and the other humans in your home may be at risk from the Toxocyst infection, as well.
3. Lid Goes Down or Cat Goes Down
Yes, it is possible to train a cat to sit on the edge of a toilet bowl in order to do its “business.” Even cats, though, have their limits when it comes to agility. If you intend to let your cat to “go” in the bathroom, you must ensure that the top lid is constantly open and the bottom lid is always down in order to provide the cat with a perch. A toilet seat cannot be lifted by anyone, not even the incredibleMr. Jinx fromMeet the Parents. Keep in mind that even he lacked the necessary strength and opposable thumbs.
And if someone forgets to take the seat down, your cat will almost certainly fall in!
4. Access Needed
If you have a toilet-trained cat that has to go (and it needs to go immediately!) Think about it: if you, or one of your other family members, or even a houseguest, has already ascended to the throne, what do you expect your cat to do? What if there’s no one in the bathroom right now, but someone came out and left the door closed on their way out? It’s possible that you ran out of air freshener in your bathroom, or that someone just forgot that your cat uses the humans potty as well. What is your cat going to do in this situation?
For example, your carpets, bed, laundry, or anywhere else that is easily available are all good options.
5. When Jumping Hurts
It is likely that your cat will have to leap a significant distance to get onto the toilet unless you install a ramp or stairs leading to the toilet area. But what happens when your cat is unable to leap, or isn’t supposed to jump (for example, after a surgical procedure)? Consider the situation in which your cat gets terrible arthritis, making it difficult for them to jump. You may not have known that more than 30% of cats over the age of 8 have arthritis, and that arthritis is also prevalent in more than 90% of cats over the age of 12 years.
As a result, even if your cat is not now suffering from arthritis, there is a strong risk that they may in the future.
If your cat is compelled to jump onto the toilet to pee or poo and it either hurts them to do so or they’re simply unable to do so, they’ll find another location to relieve themselves.
6. It Goes Against Their Instinct
The reason we put down litter in the first place is that cats have an instinctive tendency to burrow their feces. In the wild, this is an essential method of keeping predators at bay by masking the smell. However, just because your cat isn’t out in the wild doesn’t mean they have lost their natural desire to burrow. When your cat goes to the litter box, pay attention because you’ll hear them scratching and burying their waste. even if you’re just down the hall. Remove their litter and replace it with a toilet, and you remove their capacity to bury but you don’t remove their urge or inclination to bury themselves.
Even after being toilet trained, cats will continue to paw at the ground to carry out this instinctive activity. However, the inability to bury their waste may create further stress, which may result in potty accidents or other stress-related disorders.
7. Kitty Can’t Travel
If you think you might want to take your potty-trained cat on a vacation — perhaps to see family for the holidays or to spend some time with pals — you might want to check with your family or friends to see if it’s okay if your cat uses the toilet with them. As a result, you may encounter an awkward situation when you arrive. for everyone. Even if they agree, do you think they’ll set aside a special toilet for your cat or will always remember to keep the lid open when you’re there? And what happens when your cat has to be boarded at a boarding facility or becomes ill and needs to be hospitalized?
What Are Your Thoughts?
So, there you have it: my top seven key arguments against toilet training your cat. Please keep these points in mind as you decide whether or not potty training is suitable for you and your feline companion. I’d love to know what you think of this in the comments area below. Please consider doing our brief cat feeding and litter box survey if you have a few minutes to spare, as it will assist us in providing more effective service to you and other cat owners. Please describe your cat’s litter box and feeding experiences, as well as their overall health.
It will take between one and two minutes and is completely anonymous.
Is Toilet Training Right for Your Cat?: 10 Factors to Consider — Space Cat Academy
Consider the possibility that you would never have to clean your cat’s litter box again if you successfully toilet trained him. Toilet training your cat is not difficult in and of itself; nonetheless, it is time intensive, as does cleaning the litter box on a daily basis, which is not uncommon. It appears to be a really attractive offer. But if you walk into a room full of cat owners and ask them their thoughts on toilet training, you will get a variety of passionate responses ranging from “yes, it’s fantastic and I will never go back to litter boxes!” to “it is unethical and I would never toilet train my cat!” to “I tried to toilet train my cat but my cat scratched up my toilet!” When it comes to the topic “should I toilet train my cat?” there is a wide range of responses and sentiments, which is understandable given the numerous competing elements that make providing a definitive answer difficult.
Now, let’s take a look at the many elements of toilet training.
The Hands Off Approach
One of the primary reasons people desire to potty train their cats is to reduce the amount of time they spend dealing their feces. The goal is to reduce the likelihood of coming into touch with and getting a zoonotic illness, which is a disease that is transmissible between animals and humans, and spreading it to others. Toxoplasmosis is the most often discussed of these diseases, and it is a frightening condition that may cause significant symptoms in both humans and unborn children if they come into touch with it through cat feces.
- Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii, which can be found in the environment.
- It is these oocytes that are capable of infecting others; however, they are not instantly infectious once they have left the cat’s body; instead, they must incubate for between 1 and 5 days before you are in any risk of catching the parasite that they carry.
- If the litter box is cleaned on a daily basis, the excrement, which contains the parasite, will not be allowed to linger for long enough to pose a threat.
- The fact that cats get toxoplasmosis from eating an infected animal outside is another important fact to remember about the disease.
If your cats are only allowed inside for two weeks, which is the amount of time it takes for the parasite to leave their system, the chances of them contracting the disease are extremely low.
It’s your toilet too
There is even more issue to consider when using the toilet with your cat. Unfortunately, not all cats, for lack of a better description, have accurate aim. In some cases, you may discover that your cat defecated or urinated on the toilet lid rather than in the bowl. This might put you and the rest of your family at risk of contracting the disease. – If you are not aware that they did so, the ideal location for a disease to infect you is wherever you are aware that it is present. Using the litter box allows you to be aware of the presence of potentially infectious organisms; nevertheless, using the toilet that is shared with your cat creates greater doubt about whether the toilet is clean or not.
Waste as a measurement of health
When it comes to your cat’s health, the litter box may be a valuable tool in letting you know when something is wrong with your cat. What departs the body can be used to determine what is going on inside the body. People take their cats to the veterinarian because they have discovered that they have stopped urinating or that they have begun to vomit more frequently. Their excrement contains a wealth of information about their health, which is why veterinarians routinely collect urine and fecal samples.
If your cat is using a toilet, it will be considerably more difficult to keep track of how much pee they are producing.
Who didn’t flush!
It is possible to educate your cat to flush the toilet, however it is not encouraged. Some cats find flushing the toilet to be excessively entertaining and will flush even if they haven’t used it. As an added bonus, it actually flushes any signs of your cat’s health down the toilet. Therefore, waste will accumulate in the toilet, which may cause your bathroom to smell unpleasant in the long run.
You, your cat, and the family
Toilet training your cat will require the cooperation of the entire household, so get everyone involved as soon as possible. To ensure that the toilet seat is thoroughly cleaned after a cat has an accident on it, you will want them to be able to determine if the pee smells strange and, most importantly, to make sure that the toilet seat is always down and the lid always up when cleaning the toilet. Where there is no access to the toilet, your cat may pick an alternate surface such as your carpet or sofa as a toileting area.
Impact on your cat
Let’s take your cat’s overall health into consideration. In addition to being associated to upper respiratory difficulties in cats, gritty clay and crystal litters have been identified as carcinogens for both people and cats. This alone is a compelling argument in favor of toilet training or using an alternate litter system. You must, however, consider the possibility that your cat may get older and will no longer be able to comfortably leap on the toilet to relieve themselves.
If this becomes a barrier for them, they may begin to look for alternate locations to urinate, much like they would if they were denied entrance to the toilet because the lid was not closed properly.
Outside the home
The consequences of your trash usage and selection have an influence not only on your home, but also on the environment. The numerous sorts of trash accessible now have significantly varied consequences on the environment. Traditionally used clumping clay litter is non-biodegradable and just serves to take up valuable space in landfills. The strip mining that is used to obtain the minerals for clay and crystal litter also devastates the environment by destroying land and flora. This has a significant negative impact on the ecosystem.
Due to the lack of toxoplasmosis treatment in place, sewage is routinely dumped into the environment, where it can infect aquatic species in local water systems and spread the disease.
There are biodegradable litters manufactured from maize or recycled paper that might be the most environmentally friendly alternative while still being the healthiest option for your cat.
The financial question
Another issue that many people are concerned about when it comes to kitty litter is the financial expense. In general, the mass market litters that you buy can range from 1-3.75$ per pound of litter depending on the brand. A gallon of water can cost up to 1.50 dollars every 1000 gallons of water, while a flush of the toilet can take anywhere from 1 to 5 gallons, depending on the toilet. Toilet training is less expensive, especially if you want to purchase more ecologically friendly litter choices, which are often more expensive than regular litter.
Behavioral side effects
Aside from the ones mentioned above, there are a number of other concerns that might arise over the process of toilet training. Some cats develop the habit of burying their feces with a great deal of determination. For example, clawing at the toilet bowl or shoving stuff into the toilet are both possible manifestations. The ideal candidates for toilet training are cats who bury their own excrement in large quantities, or who bury other cats’ poop in large quantities as well.
What you lose
Litter boxes are used by us because they are effective. They play on a cat’s natural impulses to bury its feces and to make their surroundings smell like them by appealing to those instincts. Litter boxes serve as scent locations for cats, or areas that smell like them, and help them feel at ease. Toilet training your cat not only involves asking them to do something that is unfamiliar to them, but it also involves removing some of the benefits of using a litter box that they have come to enjoy.
In order to compensate for this, you may notice additional habits emerge when you begin toilet training. A few of the more prevalent adverse effects include spraying and clawing at the toilet, shoving things into the toilet, and even urinating in other areas around the house.
Making your decision
The decision to potty train your cat is ultimately determined by your own circumstances as well as the characteristics of your cat. The amount of time you have to devote to cleaning your cat’s litter box, the resources you have at your disposal, and whether or not your cat would be a good candidate for potty training. This is especially true if you have a toilet in your home that is only sometimes used by people. If you do not have the money to spend on biodegradable litter or if your cat’s litter box is always full, it may be worthwhile to explore using the toilet.
However, you are not required to make a complete choice between the two options.
Using a litter box less frequently, and cleaning it less frequently, may be an excellent approach to reduce litter box usage while maintaining the convenience of having a litter box.
A word of advice
If you decide that toilet training is the best option for your cat and your lifestyle, you will need to go slowly and carefully to ensure that your cat does not fall into the toilet! They will most likely not want to continue potty training if they do this, and you will have a difficult time persuading them to do so once again. Please consider taking our Litter Box Logic course if you are interested in potty training or have any other litter difficulties. We will assist you in troubleshooting your litter problems, as well as assisting you with toilet training your animals!
Toilet training your cat isn’t as great as it sounds
If you decide that toilet training is the best option for your cat and your lifestyle, you will need to go slowly and carefully to ensure that your cat does not fall into the toilet. They will most likely not want to continue toilet training if they do this, and you will have a difficult time persuading them to do so in the future. Please consider taking our Litter Box Logic course if you are interested in potty training or have any other litter problems. As well as assisting you in troubleshooting your litter problems, we can also assist you with potty training!
How Feasible Is Teaching Your Cat to Use the Toilet?
You can educate your cat to use the toilet, which will allow you to wave goodbye to kitty litter for good. A toilet-trained cat may sound like something only Hollywood could think up, but it is possible. Jo Lapidge came up with theLitter Kwitter after becoming frustrated with cleaning up her cat’s litter. She was inspired by a scene from the Ben Stiller filmMeet the Parents. As a matter of fact, Lapidge argues that it takes less time to toilet train a cat than it does to toilet train a toddler using his technique.
In order to work on the odor-elimination idea, the Litter Kwitter provides cats with the same joy of masking elimination odour by utilizing the toilet rather than burying their waste in the litterbox.
Although cats may be trained to use the toilet without the aid of a Litter Kwitter, its step-by-step methodology is the most effective method of progressively introducing your cat to the toilet environment.
The Litter Kwitter
The Litter Kwitter is an excellent choice for individuals who want to put an end to the litterboxwoes of dirty flooring and regular cleanings. Cats who are bold and confident from the age of three months forward are excellent candidates for toilet training. However, not every feline is a good candidate for toilet training. The greatest candidates for potty training include cats that are afraid of the litterbox, cats who are arthritic, and cats who have difficulties using the litterbox already.
Are you interested in learning how to potty train a cat?
Here’s how to use the Litter Kwitter to put your cat on the porcelain throne and have him or her reigning over the kingdom.
How the System Works
In order to use the Litter Kwitter system, you must first purchase four color-coded training trays that are designed to fit over the rim of a regular toilet. Each tray is attached to the toilet seat by a white rim that fits over the toilet seat and serves as an anchor for the others. The second tray is red and does not have a hole, but it holds four to five cups of litter, exactly like a typical litterbox, and it attaches to the white tray using a hook and loop fastener. The following two trays each feature a hole in the center with a lip that is used to contain the litter in each.
- To prevent trash from dropping into the toilet, the trays feature a built-in ridge on the bottom.
- Begin by placing the red tray (which does not have a hole) inside the white tray, and then placing both of them on the bathroom floor.
- Remove the normal litterbox from her reach, leaving her with just the Litter Kwitter system as a choice.
- After meals or playtime, or whenever your cat first wakes up, she should be carried to her bathroom area and complimented for using the facilities properly.
- If you have more than one cat, you will need to get them used to sharing a litterbox before you can expect them to share a toilet.
- You should advance at the rate of the slowest learner if you have numerous cats in the house.
- At first, practice with the lid down; place food on the lid to entice your cat to come up.
- Once your cat has mastered the art of hopping up on the toilet, lift the first Litter Kwitter tray from the floor to the porcelain rim of the toilet and clip it in place.
Repeat with the second Litter Kwitter tray. The toilet seat can be left in either the up or down position on top of the Litter Kwitter, depending on your preference.
You Can Teach Your Cat to Use the Toilet, But Should You?
In order to use the Litter Kwitter system, you must first purchase four color-coded training trays that are designed to fit over the rim of a regular toilet. Each tray is secured to the toilet seat by a white rim that fits over the toilet seat and serves as an anchor for the others. Although the second tray is red and does not have a hole, it is large enough for four to five cups of litter, much like a typical litterbox, and it attaches to the white tray with a metal hook. In the center of each of the next two trays is a hole with a lip that traps litter.
- To prevent trash from dropping into the toilet, the trays include an integrated ridge.
- Begin by placing the red tray (which does not have a hole) inside the white tray, and then setting both of them on the bathroom’s tile floor to begin.
- Remove the traditional litterbox from the vicinity, leaving her with just the Litter Kwitter system as an option of litter.
- After meals or playtime, or whenever your cat first wakes up, she should be carried to her toilet area and complimented for using the bathroom properly.
- If you have more than one cat, you will need to train them to share a litterbox before expecting them to share a toilet.
- The slowest learner should be given priority if you have numerous cats in the house.
- Initial practice should be done with the lid down; place rewards on the lid to entice the cat to get inside the cage.
- As soon as your cat is able to leap up on the toilet seat without assistance, lift the first Litter Kwitter tray from the floor to the porcelain rim of the toilet and clip it in place.
Why People Like the Idea of Toilet Training a Cat
Of course, when it comes to pet care, all pet owners want to make things as simple as possible (in fact, we all want to hit the easy button for our own care). If your cat performed her business on the toilet (and flushed! ), you might save yourself the trouble of cleaning the litter box, which is no one’s favorite duty.
In reality, you would not be required to designate a specific area in your home for the purpose of housing a litter box. You’d even save money by not having to purchase trash in the first place. The cat is on the toilet. Photograph courtesy of Sean Savery Photography / Getty Images
Cons of Toilet Training a Cat
Even though teaching your cat to pee and poo in a toilet may appear to be a convenient solution, it is not always the greatest option for your cat’s health and well being. There are compelling arguments in opposition to doing so. For a variety of reasons, Maria Delgado, PhD, CAAB, of the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and Zazie Todd, PhD, owner of Companion Animal Psychology, are opposed to potty training cats. In this article, you will learn why educating your cat to use the bathroom can be detrimental to your pet’s health.
- Your cat is unable to scratch and hide. “I don’t see any advantages to having a cat that is potty trained,” Delgado adds. “Before and after they excrete, cats have a natural need to dig and scratch. “Toilet training deprives them of these normal habits,” she explains, adding that your cat will be forced to adopt unusual body postures. Delgado also points out that a cat’s ability to use a toilet requires a certain amount of contortion. Because of toilet training, she explains, cats are forced to excrete in unpleasant, unnatural positions. This might stress your cat out (and decide to pee in other places). It is possible for your cat to fall into the toilet. “I routinely receive requests for assistance from individuals who have ‘toilet trained’ their cat and who have discovered that their cat is now urinating on their bed,” Delgado explains. Todd tells out the obvious: “There is a possibility that your cat will fall in.” Yes, without a doubt. The rims of the toilet are slippery. Cats despise having their fur wet. Because of this, toilet training your cat is a recipe for disaster
- You might miss the signs of a medical condition. It is impossible to tell how much a cat is peeing or what the state of her feces is when she uses the bathroom. “If you keep an eye on your cat’s litter box (and its output),” Todd explains, “you could see something like more pee, which might be a symptom of diabetes.” Some cats just can’t seem to get it together. Toilet training may be successful for a young, nimble cat, but as the cat grows and/or adds weight, balancing on the edge of a stool may become difficult for the cat to accomplish successfully. It will be more difficult for an elderly cat to get up on a toilet, according to her. This may cause her to conduct her business in areas where you do not want her to
While it may be tempting to teach your cat the clever knack of using a toilet (you can even purchase toilet training kits), teaching your cat to potty without the use of a litter box might result in unhealthy and unsatisfactory behaviors. You’d be better off using her intelligence to train her to bring your slippers to you.
Can I Train My Cat To Use The Toilet?
Perhaps you recall the iconic scene from the film “Meet the Parents” in which Jinxy the cat uses and flushes the toilet on his own initiative. Another possibility is that you’ve watched a viral video of anothercat instructing himself on how to use the toilet. Regardless of how the concept occurred to you, you may have pondered the following question: Should I train my cat to use the toilet? While the concept is appealing, it does not necessarily follow that teaching your cat to use the bathroom is the best (or the most straightforward) idea in the world.
- Andrea Tu, medical director at Behaviour Vets NYC; Dr.
- and their observations may cause you to rethink your decision to pull the training books off the shelf.
- Barrack said.
- Barrack that thinks this way about things.
- Tu’s words, “we do not advocate that you educate your cat to use the bathroom.” It is thought that cats prefer eliminating in sand-like substances because they may dig and bury their eliminations in such a substrate.
- Tu because cats prefer to excrete in a clean environment, and they also prefer to do their business in an environment where they feel safe, according to Dr.
- As Dr.
- It is possible that your cat will experience stress and anxiety if you offer or compel them to utilize an elimination choice that does not match these requirements.
Pros of teaching your cat to use the toilet:
- There are none — at least not for your cat
- While some individuals may appreciate the concept of having less litter to shovel, any “benefit” of teaching their cat to use the bathroom is entirely for the benefit of the human.
The other side, there are a slew of reasons why cats should not be allowed to use the bathroom.
Cons of teaching your cat to use the toilet:
- Can cause a cat’s normal behavior of digging and hiding their feces to be interfered with
- It may be a difficult situation. Straddling a toilet seat may be challenging and stressful for cats, especially those that are elderly or very young — or cats who are suffering from medical conditions. According to Bays, “accidentally falling into the toilet bowl can be traumatizing for a cat.” It also makes it more difficult to monitor a cat’s health problems by inspecting the cat’s pee or feces. As Dr. Barrack points out, “monitoring your cat’s pee and excrement is a crucial tool.” Your cat’s age-related movement limits, as well as any transitory musculoskeletal ailments, might prevent him from jumping up on the toilet, which would put you in a sticky situation.
Dr. Tu provided an explanation that was relatable to the majority of individuals, which helped to reinforce his argument even further. As Dr. Tu explained, “I frequently compare cats that need to use the toilet for eliminations to people who use a porta-potty since both require perching precariously over water that we do not want to touch and, after finishing, none of us has an option to flush or clean away the eliminations.” The anguish you would experience if the only toileting choice accessible to you in your house was a porta-potty is the same amount of tension you would experience if you taught your cat to use the toilet and remove her (preferred) litter box!
It’s also crucial to remember that removing the litter box from your cat’s life may result in a negative reaction from your cat.
Cats may be territorial about their potty locations, as well, as Dr.
“If there is only one toilet in the house, this can be an issue,” Dr.
Consequently, while teaching your cat to use the bathroom may appear to be a fun concept, it is best to leave it as a mere suggestion. Instead, discover how to choose the best litter box for your cat in order to keep him — and everyone else who lives in your home — happy, healthy, and stress-free.
How to Toilet Train Your Cat
Article in PDF format Article in PDF format Teaching a cat to use the toilet has a number of advantages over other methods. It removes the odors created by a litter box and reduces the amount of labor you have to do. To litter train a cat, you’ll need to put in the time, effort, and patience. Follow the training method to the letter and be prepared for any setbacks that may occur.
- Article in PDF Format Article in PDF Format Teaching a cat to use the toilet has a variety of advantages. As a result, you will have less work and will not have to deal with the odors generated by a litter box. Training a cat to use the litter box requires time, instruction, and patience. Follow the training regimen to the letter and be prepared to face any setbacks that may occur.
- A cat training seat is a little contrivance that is put over the toilet bowl to teach cats to flush properly. A little divot in the middle of the gadget will be filled with flushable litter, which will be visible from the outside. Starting with small holes in the training seat, you may gradually increase the size of the openings until your cat becomes accustomed to peeing and defecating directly into the toilet rather than into litter as training progresses. The City Kitty Cat Toilet Training Kit is an example of a training seat that may be purchased or constructed on your own time. The seat is equipped with four rings that may be removed in order to enlarge the size of the hole in the middle of the seat. When the training session is over, you should remove the tray completely. CitiKitty is a straightforward and reasonably priced gadget. There are several brands of training seats available, with the Litter Kwitter being the most popular. It comes with a set of color matched training trays that grow in size. As your cat’s training continues, you will gradually transition from a bigger tray to a smaller one. Eventually, you’ll be able to remove the tray entirely, and your cat will evacuate directly into the toilet bowl itself. Despite the fact that the Litter Kwitter is quite handy, it may be somewhat pricey. It often sells for $40 to $50
- But, if you choose to save money, you may make your own training tray from scratch. Duct tape, a plastic liner or kitchen plastic wrap, and an aluminum roasting pan with dimensions of 12 5/8″ x 10 1/8″ x 3″ will be required.
- 3 Recognize the steps involved in creating a training tray If you decide to make your own training tray, the procedure is quite straightforward. In order to successfully transfer from the litter box to the toilet, you need have learned how to make a training tray.
- Understanding how to construct a training tray is step number three. Making your own training tray is a really straightforward procedure if you choose to go that route. Before switching from the litter box to the toilet, you should have learned how to construct a training tray.
- 1Raise the litter box a few inches each week in little increments. In order to successfully convert your cat from litter box to toilet, you will need to elevate the litter box so that it is close to the toilet lid. When your cat has to go to the bathroom on a weekly basis, he will eventually learn to hop onto the toilet seat. Use newspaper, cardboard, or old magazines to elevate the litter box by 3 inches each day until it is level with the toilet seat
- Then repeat the process. 2 Place the litter box on top of the toilet seat to keep it out of the way. Place the litter box on top of the toilet seat once it has been raised to the same level as the toilet seat. Leave it in place for a couple of days. Three months is about the amount of time it will take your cat to get comfortable eliminating on the toilet
- Instead of a litter box, a training seat loaded with flushable litter can be used instead. It’s time to put your training seat to use once your cat has become accustomed to using the litter box without having any accidents. Take a training seat on the toilet and sit down.
- If you’re using a device like the Litter Kwitter or a similar one, start with the smallest training pan possible. Because this training pan will be completely without a hole in it, all you will have to do is fill it with flushable litter. For an aluminum tray, just set it in position and fill it with flushable litter before moving on to the next step. Do not make any holes in the tray at this time.
- You should use the smallest training pan possible if you’re using the Litter Kwitter or any comparable device. There will be no opening in this training pan, and you will just fill it with flushable litter. For an aluminum tray, just set it in position and fill it with flushable litter before closing the lid of the container. At this point, do not make any cuts in the tray
- You should progressively migrate onto larger and larger training chairs if you’re utilizing the Litter Kwitter or a comparable device. As your cat progresses through training, little holes will be drilled into the training seats, which will grow in size. If you’re using an aluminum pan, make a hole in the bottom of the pan with a screwdriver before you start cooking. Make the hole a little bit bigger every day
- Also, gradually reduce the quantity of trash you’re using on a daily basis. After each time your cat eliminates in the litter pan, replace the litter with a slightly lower amount than you used previously.
- 5Remove the training seat from the vehicle. If you have been increasing the size of the hole or training trays for approximately two weeks, you can remove the training seat altogether. As a result, your cat should be more comfortable eliminating directly into the toilet than into a litter box.
- 1 Determine whether or not potty training is appropriate for you and your cat. Training your child to use the toilet is not for everyone. When it comes to litter box training, if you and your cat do not have the correct attitude, you could be better off just remaining with the litter box.
- In the case of a very young cat (less than six months old) or a cat that already has problems utilizing a litter box, toilet training may not be the ideal solution. Cats who are older and already familiar with their litter box are the simplest to toilet train
- But, if your cat is fearful of the litter box, he may have difficulty with the training process. The majority of shyer cats prefer to conceal their excrement and pee in order to protect themselves from prospective predators. Toilet training involves time, planning, and commitment on your part. When it comes to trash, it’s best to stay with what you know. If you’re not a naturally organized person or if you’re really busy, you might want to reconsider.
- Understand the drawbacks of toilet training before you begin the process. Many veterinarians advise against toilet-training cats for a variety of reasons. Make yourself familiar with the arguments against toilet training so that you can make an informed decision about whether it is the best option for you and your pet.
- In the first place, toilet training a cat goes against his or her natural impulses. When it comes to eliminating, cats have a natural urge to dig and bury their waste. Even with good training, a cat’s usage of the toilet might generate anxiety in the owner. Since said previously, you do not want your cat to experience stress when going to the potty, as this can result in behavioral and health difficulties. The toilet lid must be left open at all times when using the toilet. If you or a home guest makes the mistake of closing the toilet lid, your cat will go to another location to eliminate. Cats that are older or who have joint difficulties will have difficulty reaching the toilet and maintaining their equilibrium on the rim. The process of potty training can be hazardous to the cat’s health, especially in older cats.
- 3Be prepared to experience failures. Toilet training, especially when done correctly, frequently results in setbacks for the child. If your cat is adamant about not going through with a particular step, he may begin eliminating elsewhere. If this occurs, you may want to take a step back in the toilet training process to see if it helps. A large supply of cleaning supplies should be kept on hand when toilet training a young child. There is a good chance that there will be at least one mishap along the road.
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- Question Is it possible to train cats to go to the bathroom on their own? The owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, Brian Bourquin, also known as “Dr. B” to his clientele, is a veterinarian and the owner of the South End/Bay Village facility as well as three other locations in Massachusetts: the Seaport in Boston and Brookline. The Boston Veterinarian Clinic specializes on basic veterinary care, which includes wellness and preventative care, ill and emergency treatment, soft-tissue surgery, and dentistry for pets and livestock. Specialty services are also available, including behavioral and nutritional counseling, as well as alternative pain management techniques, such as acupuncture and therapeutic laser treatments A member of the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association), the Boston Veterinary Clinic is also the city’s first Fear Free Certified Clinic. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Brian has obtained from Cornell University is the culmination of nearly 19 years of veterinary expertise. Contribute to wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer provided by a veterinarian. Yes! Cats may be trained to perform virtually anything. Some cats have been taught to use the toilet instead of a litter box, which I’ve witnessed. Cats can do a variety of tricks, including fetching, shaking, rolling over, and playing dead. Question: What is the most important aspect of positive reinforcement? How long does it take to train a cat to go to the bathroom in the house? A veterinarian with over 30 years of expertise in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice, Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, is a member of the British Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinary medicine and surgery were among the subjects she studied when she graduated with honors from the University of Glasgow in 1987. She has been employed at the same animal clinic in her hometown for more than two decades now. Answer from a veterinarian expert
- Question Is it possible to leash train a cat? A veterinarian with over 30 years of expertise in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice, Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, is a member of the British Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinary medicine and surgery were among the subjects she studied when she graduated with honors from the University of Glasgow in 1987. She has been employed at the same animal clinic in her hometown for more than two decades now. Contribute to wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer provided by a veterinarian. Yes, but don’t expect to go on intentional walks with them, like you would with a dog. The leash is more of a safety precaution, intended to keep the cat safe while it is exploring. Purchase a suitable harness and educate your cat to be comfortable while wearing it. Put it on for a brief period of time and give the cat some treats in exchange. Remove the harness and give the cat something to eat. This assists the cat in associating the harness with pleasurable things. Question Is it possible to train a cat? A veterinarian with over 30 years of expertise in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice, Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, is a member of the British Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinary medicine and surgery were among the subjects she studied when she graduated with honors from the University of Glasgow in 1987. She has been employed at the same animal clinic in her hometown for more than two decades now. Contribute to wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer provided by a veterinarian. Yes. To successfully train cats, the key is to choose a treat that they really, really, really appreciate. Then you should follow the concepts of incentive-based training. To entice the cat into doing a desired activity, use a tempting goodie to entice the cat into performing the desired behavior. Reduce the length of training sessions to a few minutes and repeat them several times throughout the day.
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- Positive reinforcement, in which they are rewarded for doing something correctly, is the most effective method of teaching cats. Never penalize a cat for using the bathroom or litter box outside of its designated area. In contrast to dogs, cats do not respond to punishment. Inform your friends who come over on a regular basis about your efforts to toilet train your cat. Make certain kids understand the importance of leaving the lid open.
- Always use caution while potty training a kitten. It is possible for a kitten to drown if it falls into a toilet
- Do not teach your cat to flush. Despite the fact that it is conceivable, once people understand how to do it, many appear to like it and will continue to do so even when it is not proper to do so because no business has been conducted.
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Summary of the ArticleXIf you want to toilet train your cat, keep your cat’s litter box close to the bathroom toilet. Place a couple stacks of newspaper or old magazines beneath the litter box once a week to raise the height of the litter box a few inches. Placing the litter box on top of the toilet seat and leaving it there for a few days will bring the litter box up to level with the toilet seat. Set up a training seat on the toilet and fill it with flushable litter as soon as your cat appears to be comfortable there.
It should take around 2 weeks before you may completely remove the training seat.
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You’ll need a lot of goodies and a lot of patience to successfully toilet train a feline. The procedure is straightforward. You’re teaching your cat to perform something that they already know how to do, but in a new location than they are used to. Concerns have been expressed by some pet parents concerning the process of toilet training cats since it alters their normal bathroom activities, which include clawing and covering up their “presents.” Rest assured that toilet training your cat is absolutely safe for him or her and will make your life much more simple as well.
Your cat will most likely be unable to flush or put the seat down, but this is a tiny price to pay for never having to sweep a stinky litter box again.
These may be purchased online or simply made at home with the correct supplies and a little time and effort.
That may seem like a lot, but consider how much money (and time!) you’ll save by not having to purchase kitty litter and liners.