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