Hi Biff, I live in a 700 square foot condominium, recently adopted a cat and a co-worker just told me about this new thing where you can train your cat to use the toilet instead of it's litter box. Seeing as how I am a "clean freak" and don't want to return home after a hard days work to a stench filled, litter smelling apartment, can you tell me how to train my cat "Trixie" to do this?
Cody, Chicago
Congratulation Cody! Biff is officially awarding you with the “Strangest Question of the Week Award”, but your assumption that this is a “new” thing is incorrect since training your cat to use the toilet has been around for decades. Most feline owners tend to use a litter box since it’s the easier way of letting your cat take care of its "business", but if you’ve got the time and patience to go through with this, here are the steps that Biff recommends for a litter free household.
Step One:
Begin moving your cats litter box slowly towards the bathroom (1 to 3 feet per day). If you move it too fast, you’ll have accidents so be patient and let your cat adapt.
Step Two:
Once the cat’s box is in the bathroom beside the toilet, add a smaller box/bowl beside the larger one (make sure it’s small enough to fit INSIDE the toilet but big enough for your cat to do his/her deed). Fill the smaller box with litter until your cat gets used to it (a day or two), and then remove the big box.
Step Three:
Now you need to start elevating the new box until it’s at the same height as the toilets seat. Begin with a few books, then place it on a small cardboard box, then a small chair… and then place it on top of the toilet lid. (Make sure each elevation is secure and has a stable platform so your cat has enough room to move around the litter box).
Step Four:
Place the box inside of the toilet bowl with the seat and lid up.
Step Five:
Leave the box inside of the toilet bowl but put the seat down, lid up. Your cat will still jump inside the box but after a few days, it should begin to use the toilet seat.
Step Six:
When your cat is comfortably using the toilet seat, you can remove the litter box inside. If your cat can’t get used to using the toilet seat or you want to keep him/her from falling in, see the “Relevant items that are Biff approved” links below to pick up a “cat seat” for your pets safety.
After doing all of the above steps Cody, you have to ask yourself, "Will that take care of your initial issue?" Unless you plan on teaching "Trixie" to flush the toilet, flick on the bathroom fan and/or light a match when she's done, Biff is afraid you'll still be returning home after a long days work to a stench filled apartment... only it won't be to the stink of litter. Happy teaching.
~ Scented Biff
Do you know of other ways of getting training a cat to use the toilet? If so, Enlighten Biff by adding a comment below…
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* For more information about this topic, please check out the "Relevant items that are BIFF APPROVED" on the bottom of this page.
Step One:
Begin moving your cats litter box slowly towards the bathroom (1 to 3 feet per day). If you move it too fast, you’ll have accidents so be patient and let your cat adapt.
Step Two:
Once the cat’s box is in the bathroom beside the toilet, add a smaller box/bowl beside the larger one (make sure it’s small enough to fit INSIDE the toilet but big enough for your cat to do his/her deed). Fill the smaller box with litter until your cat gets used to it (a day or two), and then remove the big box.
Step Three:
Now you need to start elevating the new box until it’s at the same height as the toilets seat. Begin with a few books, then place it on a small cardboard box, then a small chair… and then place it on top of the toilet lid. (Make sure each elevation is secure and has a stable platform so your cat has enough room to move around the litter box).
Step Four:
Place the box inside of the toilet bowl with the seat and lid up.
Step Five:
Leave the box inside of the toilet bowl but put the seat down, lid up. Your cat will still jump inside the box but after a few days, it should begin to use the toilet seat.
Step Six:
When your cat is comfortably using the toilet seat, you can remove the litter box inside. If your cat can’t get used to using the toilet seat or you want to keep him/her from falling in, see the “Relevant items that are Biff approved” links below to pick up a “cat seat” for your pets safety.
After doing all of the above steps Cody, you have to ask yourself, "Will that take care of your initial issue?" Unless you plan on teaching "Trixie" to flush the toilet, flick on the bathroom fan and/or light a match when she's done, Biff is afraid you'll still be returning home after a long days work to a stench filled apartment... only it won't be to the stink of litter. Happy teaching.
~ Scented Biff
Do you know of other ways of getting training a cat to use the toilet? If so, Enlighten Biff by adding a comment below…
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
