We are officially in Stage 4 of Operation Kitty Poo Poo, whose objective is to train Crash to go to the bathroom using the toilet. The entire process is going to take about two months, but in the end will be completely worth it. We already have got a self-cleaning litter box so that we can stop tracking after our cat uses it and it seems to be working pretty well till now, but either way, we want to train our cat to use the restroom. For those wishing to undertake this process I have outlined how to be litter free below.
- Move your cats litter box into the bathroom. Some cats may be extremely fussy about the location of their litter box. If this is the case start by moving it half way to the bathroom or moving it into the bathroom a little ways at a time. You will want to leave the litter box in the bathroom as usual for about a week. Id also close off access to the cats normal spot so that it doesnt get any ideas and start going to the bathroom on the carpet where their litter box used to be.
- Start raising the litter box a little bit at a time. This gets the cat used to jumping up into the litter box. Some cats will not require this step, but the fussier ones will.
- Move the litter box on top of the toilet. I used strips of velcro to secure the litter box to the toilet lid so that when the cat jumps up and down from the litter box he doesnt knock off the litter box. Once the cat is used to this operation you can move onto the next stage. I recommend a week or more at this stage.
- Get out your tape measure and meaure your toilet. Lift up the seat and meaure the inside of the rim. Drive down to the local pet supply store and buy a metal bowl with a decent lip on it that measures a little bigger than the inside rim of your toilet. Take it home and make sure it fits with the seat down (very important). Fill the bowl about half way with kitty litter, place it in the toilet and put the toilet seat down.
- This stage is really an extension of stage four. The cat will continue going in the bowl. As they do scoop out used litter at least once a day and do NOT refill the litter. The idea is to get the cat used to not having any litter at all. During this stage you will also want to keep a close eye on when the cat uses the bathroom. Follow them in and begin by placing their front two paws on the toilet seat. Once you have trained them to do that you do the back to legs.
- Eventually, the cats are going to the bathroom in the bowl without litter in perfect four point stances. Its time to remove the bowl entirely.
This may sound like a lot of work. Well, it is. But, it also results in you not having to clean a litter box ever again. One last thing before you start training your own cat. You may be tempted to teach the cat how to flush the toilet as well – dont. The problem is that cats love fresh water and the sound it makes so they tend to flush over and over for the fun of it leaving you with a huge water bill.
Hey Joe, good luck on that adventure! A friend of mine used to have a cat that was toilet trained. I think it’s a brilliant idea, if not for any other reason than conversation. Our dear Emma is 13 years old — just think, a cat to begin with, but a cat that has spent thirteen years learning stubbornness from the likes of me. So there’s no way we can train her now.
Do keep us all posted on the success of your latest operation…
How do you train a cat that has horrible balance? My cat would fall in the toilet everyday. Would make for great fun, but negate the idea of *less maintenance of having a cat*. Damn thing would get everything wet.
Hey Joe: Just signed up for pix corral and here I am learning how to toilet train a cat. I lived and worked in Singapore for over 30 years as a photographer and filmmaker and thought you might be interested in an Asian Feline experience. In our house in Singapore we had a floor level “squat” toilet which at one time was used by amah’s or servents. I had inherited a second cat from a friend who was moving back to Canada and initially kept her in the back toilet to get used to the new surroundings. A liter box was provided but alas and alack one day I found cat poo poo in the squat toilet! Even after becoming one of the family, she continued to use the squat toilet for her daily bm. All it took was a flush and problem solved. I must admit that the toilet was at floor level so it was more obvious, but cats have much intelligence and can be trained. I think your idea is worthy of futher mention in cat journals et. al. Good luck. Incidentally, I could never train her to flush. Captain Kurt.
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OK, tell me something. When my cat poops, it, um, comes out the back. Isn’t it going to land right on the seat and/or his legs?
Are his paws supposed to go on the front and back of the seat, or out to the sides of the seat, or what?
We have partially suceeded in toilet training our cat Gus. However, he seems to be incredibly picky… He will not go #2 if he has already peed in the toilet. If we do not flush in time, he will go on the floor. Any suggestions for how to stop this?
Hey Joe
Ive sucessfully train my kitty Oscar to use the toilet.. I used the roasting pan… Only took 6 months, but it was worth it… Any ways Ive been trying to find some info on training a second cat to use the toilet… I live in a one bedroom so theres only one toilet…. Is it possible to train another cat, when ones fully trained ??? Please help… Thanks