Toilet Training Cats

You may be thinking this post is about 'Litter Training', instead of Toilet Training Your Cats. In actuality this post is really and truly about training your cat to use your human toilet. You may not have heard of people training their cats like this and it may sound crazy, but many people have done it successfully. It is an idea that would allow you to eliminate all the hassles of a litter box and the smells that accompany it.

This type of training does initially require patience and energy on your part and you don't want to begin the training until you have plenty of time to invest. If you are able and willing to spend some extra time and energy up front, you can indeed train your cat to use the toilet and save time and money down the road.

Note: Any cat you wish to learn this new bathroom habit must already be litter trained or this method will not be likely to work.

The first step is to move the litter box into your bathroom beside the toilet. Show your cat where the box has been moved to and let it get used to using it there for a day or two.

Step two is to build a stable structure to hold the litter box, that can gradually be raised in height. Set the litter box on the stand and let the cat use it for a day or so. Over the next few days or week, gradually raise the height of the litter box on the structure, till it is the same height as the toilet. (Be sure your stand is secure so it won't fall over and spill when the cat jumps on it.) Do not rush this process. If you cat seems confused stop moving the litter for a few days till it is comfortable again.

The third step is to place a child's training seat onto your toilet with some cat litter in it. Remove the cat litter pan and show the cat the training seat. When your cat has been using the training pan for a few days, cut an opening in the center of the seat. (Be sure your cat litter is toilet safe as you start this step as some will fall into the commode). Gradually make this opening bigger and bigger until it is the same size as the toilet opening.

Step four is to remove the training seat once your cat has been using the training seat with the large hole. Now your cat should be comfortable using the toilet so you will no longer need the training seat.

Some helpful things to keep in mind after your cat is toilet trained:

1. Make sure everyone in the house knows NOT TO PUT THE LID OF THE TOILET SEAT DOWN in the bathroom the cat uses. You may even want to tape the lid up so your cat does not get confused by an unavailable toilet.

2. Remember to check the seat for dribbles before humans use this toilet and check to see if it needs flushing occasionally through the day.

Remember to be patient with your cat as you go through this process. You will need to go slowly do as not to lose the value of each step. If necessary re-do steps the cat gets stuck on. Contrary to what some people think, cats are easy to train if you take your time and are kind and loving with them.