04-27-2011, 11:59 AM
How to toilet train your cat!
It is possible to teach your cat to use the toilet instead of the litter box.
![[Image: cat%20using%20toilet.jpg]](http://savecreatively.com/images/cat%20using%20toilet.jpg)
![[Image: cat_toilet.jpg]](http://www.catsofaustralia.com/images/cat_toilet.jpg)
Note: I took this article from wikihow.com, I did not write this tutorial.
http://www.wikihow.com/Toilet-Train-Your-Cat
Cats can be trained to use the toilet instead of the litter box. It takes patience, it takes time (weeks up to many months), and preferably, it takes an extra toilet dedicated to cat business, but it can be done!
1.
Move the cat's litter box so it is right next to the toilet, keep it like this for about a day.
2.
Then gradually raise the litter box up by placing phone books (or something similar) under it. Repeat daily until the box is of equal height to the toilet. Whenever you raise the box take a little bit of the litter out of the box. You may need to secure the litter box to the phone books or whatever it's sitting on so that it doesn't move when the cat jumps onto it.
3.
Move the box over 1 inch onto the seat. Repeat daily until the box is directly over the seat. Continue gradually decreasing the amount of litter in the box until there is only a thin layer (less than 1 inch) of it left.
4.
Replace the litter box with a "training box". You have a few different options here, but the important thing to remember is to make sure the "training box" can hold your cat's weight if they step or jump onto it:
Lift the toilet seat and tape a piece of wax paper over the hole so that the toilet looks like a drum. Lower the seat over the wax paper. Add flushable litter.
Lift the toilet seat and tape a bowl or aluminum pan to the edges. Put the seat down so that it holds the bowl in place. (See video below.) Add flushable litter.
Use a commercial training device, sold specifically for this purpose.
5.
Transition into the cat using only the toilet. If using wax paper or an aluminum pan, cut a hole about one inch in diameter in the center and gradually increase the size of the hole until it is almost gone. If you're using a training seat, remove the rings, one at time. This is done to gradually get the cat used to urinating or defecating into water. Simultaneously, no matter which method you're using, reduce the amount of litter so that there is no litter when the paper, bowl, or device is removed.
Tips:
* If your cat refuses to use the toilet after you've cut the hole to reveal the water, try cutting the hole at the edge of the wax paper/aluminum pan instead. If you are using an aluminum pan, roll up the edge of the piece you just cut to create a wall (or "dam") to prevent too much litter from falling into the hole.
* If when you remove the "training box" the cat seems confused, try sprinkling a little flushable litter into the water to spark his or her memory.
* Always, always, always wait until the cat is comfortable with a setup before changing it. Go slow. If you rush the cat, this will not work, and you are more likely to have accidents. Don't ever try to force a cat to do anything that it does not want to do. For example, you should never have to pick up the cat and put it in the litter box or on the "training box". If you must show or force a cat to do something, you've moved too quickly from one stage to the next. Go back to square one.
* This will not work with indoor/outdoor cats, as they will probably just learn to hold it rather than deal with this drama.
* This will work best if you are home full-time for the duration of the training time.
* Flush the toilet after your kitten urinates as some cats are shy to defecate onto urine.
* Clean the litter in your training box after each use and sprinkle some catnip in the clean litter.
* Try rewarding the kitten with treats after a successful toilet experience to reinforce a good job well done
I am currently doing this with my cat, he is at step 2.
