| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | teaching him to squat with all four paws on the toilet |
| Cat toilet training in easy steps: | | | | seat rim. You can move the cat while it is using the |
| Toilet training your cat is an easier task than you | | | | toilet and praise it (or reward it) when it is sitting in |
| might think. Several techniques can be used for | | | | the correct position. Normally the cat will first sit |
| training your cat to use the toilet, and you can even | | | | entirely inside the metal bowl, then with front paws |
| buy products that will assist you in toilet training a | | | | on the toilet seat, and finally it should sit with all four |
| cat. | | | | paws on the toilet. |
| The advantages of cat toilet training: | | | | 6. Start using less and less cat litter. This can get |
| Teaching your cat to use the toilet can hold several | | | | smelly, so be sure to clean the bowl after every time |
| advantages for any cat owner. The biggest | | | | your cat uses it. Cats scratch in sand or cat litter to |
| advantage of having your cat use a toilet is that | | | | cover up the smell (this is out of instinct), so if the |
| eliminates most of the disadvantages that using cat | | | | bowl becomes too smelly your cat won't be |
| litter holds. Cat litter is expensive. After toilet training | | | | comfortable using it (and you probably wouldn't be |
| your cat, you won't ever need to buy cat litter again. | | | | comfortable with using your toilet either). Using |
| Cat litter boxes needs to be cleaned regularly or they | | | | flushable cat litter makes cleaning the bowl very easy |
| will become smelly. With cat toilet training, the water | | | | - just throw out the contents in the toilet and flush |
| in the toilet masks most of the offending smell and all | | | | down, rinse out the bowl, refill with correct amount |
| you need to do is flush regularly - much simpler and | | | | of cat litter and replace. A handy tip is to place |
| easier than cleaning a litter box. Going away for | | | | newspaper on the floor around the toilet to help |
| weekends or holidays also becomes easier for your | | | | keep the room clean should your cat scratch in the |
| neighbor - instead of asking someone to clean out | | | | cat litter. Decrease the amount of cat litter in a pace |
| the litter box, all they need to do is flush your toilet | | | | that your cat feels comfortable with. |
| once in a while (when they come around to water | | | | 7. When you basically don't use any cat litter inside |
| your plants and feed your cat). | | | | the bowl anymore, start gradually filling the bowl with |
| How to toilet train a cat (do it yourself): | | | | water. The water will also help mask the smell so |
| Toilet training your cat depends entirely on the cat's | | | | your cat will be more comfortable using the toilet. Be |
| personality. Toilet training sociable cats that love being | | | | attentive to your cat's behavior through this whole |
| praised make the training task much easier. You | | | | process - if your cat stops using the bowl inside the |
| might want to adapt the toilet training technique | | | | toilet, you may be moving on too fast and might |
| described below to fit your cat's personality. Training | | | | need to go back a couple of steps. |
| your cat to use the toilet can take anything between | | | | 8. When the water level in the bowl has reached |
| 2 weeks up to 3 months, depending on the individual | | | | about 4cm and your cat has no problem using it, it is |
| cat's personality. | | | | time to remove the bowl entirely. Your cat should |
| Cat toilet training basically consists of a simple | | | | now be toilet trained. Remember to always leave the |
| procedure: gradually moving your cat's litter box | | | | toilet seat up and flush regularly! |
| closer and closer to the toilet, finally placing a bowl | | | | Products to assist you in toilet training your cat: |
| with cat litter inside the toilet, and removing it | | | | There are several cat toilet training kits available on |
| altogether when your cat is comfortable and used to | | | | the market. They basically consist of a tray that fits |
| it. Toilet training a cat is a gradual, step-by-step | | | | inside the toilet, and with a hole in the middle that |
| process, consisting of making small changes to the | | | | you can gradually make bigger. When choosing a cat |
| location of the litter box and only continuing to the | | | | toilet training kit, ensure that you buy quality. The cat |
| next step when your cat is entirely comfortable with | | | | training kit should not be flimsy and should be able to |
| its current situation. You might have to wait anything | | | | support your cat's weight even when the hole |
| between 2 days or 3 weeks before moving on a | | | | becomes large. Be aware of cheap, flimsy products |
| next step in cat toilet training. You might even have | | | | you buy at toy stores or pet stores, because if your |
| to go back a step once or twice when it turns out | | | | cat falls in, it might loose interest in toilet training |
| that your cat wasn't ready to move on to the next | | | | completely. |
| toilet training step. Beware - cat toilet training takes a | | | | The disadvantages in toilet training your cat: |
| lot of patience! | | | | Not everyone agrees that cat toilet training is such a |
| Cat toilet training steps: | | | | great idea. They argue that it is unnatural for a cat |
| 1. Start gradually moving your cat's litter box nearer | | | | to use a toilet, as it goes against their natural |
| to the toilet until finally it should be next to the toilet. | | | | instincts to cover up their smell. Toilet seats can also |
| Ensure that your cat is always comfortable and sure | | | | be slippery and there might be the risk of your cat |
| of its litter box's location. | | | | injuring itself. Even if your cat doesn't fall in at all, he |
| 2. Now start elevating the cat's litter box. Put | | | | may become anxious whenever he uses the toilet |
| something non-slippery like newspapers or cardboard | | | | and going to the toilet can become an unpleasant |
| underneath the litter box. A normal rate to increase | | | | task. |
| the height of the litter box would be about 5cm a | | | | A litter box also has the health benefit in that it's |
| day, but be very attentive to signs that your cat is | | | | easier to monitor your cat's urine for signs of |
| not comfortable with the current height, and adjust | | | | infections or sickness. |
| the pace of raising the litter box accordingly. The cat | | | | Moving locations will also be harder for the cat, |
| litter box should be raised until it is at a level height | | | | because a litter box can be moved easily but the cat |
| with the toilet bowl. Throughout this process it is | | | | will first need to get used to using the new toilet. |
| very important to keep the toilet lid open and the | | | | With some cats this is no problem and they can |
| seat down, because your cat will get used to it and | | | | become comfortable with the new toilet very fast, |
| might even start climbing on the toilet seat in order | | | | while other cats might be less adaptable. |
| to reach its litter box. | | | | Things to remember when toilet training a cat: |
| 3. Move the litter box to rest on the open toilet seat. | | | | The most important thing to remember is that the |
| Keep it there until your cat seems comfortable with | | | | toilet training should be done gradually. Be very |
| this arrangement. | | | | patient and never rush to the next step until you are |
| 4. Buy a metal bowl or tray that will fit snugly inside | | | | sure that you cat is completely comfortable with the |
| the toilet bowl. It would be advisable for the metal | | | | current setup. |
| bowl to have small draining holes. Fill the bowl with | | | | Make using the toilet as easy as you can for the cat. |
| cat litter (preferably the flushable type). Now remove | | | | Always remember to keep the toilet seat up and the |
| your cat's litter box entirely. If you have reached this | | | | bathroom door open. When you have guests, ensure |
| step successfully you are very close to having a | | | | that they also know about considering your cat. Flush |
| toilet trained cat! | | | | the toilet regularly as cats do not like using smelly |
| 5. While your cat is using the metal bowl inside the | | | | toilets. |
| toilet, be attentive to where its paws are. The goal is | | | | |