A Hard Day’s Night
From: bengalkitties.com
In last post, we talked about the advantages and disadvantages of toilet training your cat. Today, we are going to get a little more concrete and detail the logical progression of steps.
You will notice that there is a logical progression from one step to the next. The key to this whole process is patience, patience, patience. You need to watch your cat and observe any ‘discomfort’ from moving too quickly.
Step 1
So that your Cat will start to associate his/her litter box with the toilet, you want to gradually inch the litter box toward the toilet until is right next to it. Remember to do this slowly or it could disorient your cat, having its litter box moved too often and to quickly.
Step 2
Now it’s time to raise the litter box up to the toilet seat’s level. The key here is to do this gradually, about a 1/2 to 1 inch per day or so. Really the amount is up to your cat’s tolerance for change. Also, make sure that you keep the toilet bowl lid up and the seat down during this phase.
Step 3
Next, you want to move the litter box on top of and resting on the toilet seat. Again, do this gradually.
Step 4
Next, fit a metal bowl on the inside of the toilet bowl – make sure it’s a snug fit. Many pet stores carry these. Otherwise, you can use a larger mixing bowl. Make sure that the bowl has about 5 small holes on the bottom for draining – a regular drill can be used to make these. You are going to fill the bowl with flushable cat litter. Remove the litter box. Make sure to put down the toilet seat.Next, fit a metal bowl on the inside of the toilet bowl – make sure it’s a snug fit. Many pet stores carry these. Otherwise, you can use a larger mixing bowl. Make sure that the bowl has about 5 small holes on the bottom for draining – a regular drill can be used to make these. You are going to fill the bowl with flushable cat litter. Remove the litter box. Make sure to put down the toilet seat.
Step 5
The goal is to have your cat plant all four paws on the toilet seat and squat over the toilet. However, at first, he/she will plant down inside the bowl full of litter. So now, this is where your work and patience comes in. You need to watch for when you kitty goes to the ‘litter box’. You’ll want to gently move the cat while it is excreting from the inside of the metal bowl to the seat, using lot’s positive praise.
Step 6
The next step is to start decreasing the amount of litter in the bowl – again, this is a gradual process. Cat’s instinctively scratch in the litter to cover their waste, so be prepared for some litter on the floor.
Step 7
Get a new metal bowl, one without any holes in the bottom and replace the one you had been using. Next, gradually fill the bowl with water – a little at a time.
Step 8
When you have filled the bowl to about 1 inch from its top, it’s time to remove it altogether. You are basically done and you cat should be toilet trained.
Remember to remember to leave the toilet seat up and flush often.
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