How To Toilet Train Your Cat In Under A Month!
At first it may sound like the stuff of comedy movies – and yet you'd be surprised by how many owners attempt this great feat of training. But, why would you want to toilet train your cat? Is it not just an attempt by lazy owners to humanize cats, avoiding the dreaded chore of litter tray cleaning? For some perhaps, yet learning how to toilet train your cat can be extremely cost-effective, and even benefit the environment! Cost-Cutting Benefits Of Learning How To Toilet Train Your CatThe obvious benefit of learning how to toilet train your cat is the elimination of cat litter costs. House cat owners will be particularly familiar with the not so pet-friendly costs of cat litter – particularly that of decent quality.
If you were to gauge the cost of cat litter on a per annum basis, you'd be quite surprised at the expense. Cat owners with just one pet in the household tend to change litter twice a week on average. Which does work out quite costly, especially when taken over a year. The Landfill Litter Critter Have you ever wondered what happens to all that cat litter you dump into your dustbin each week? Granted, there are a few variants on the market which purport to be biodegradable such as wood and paper-based litter – however, these are usually overlooked in favour of clay/ crystal-based litters for their odour elimination properties. Household cat litter waste amounts to over 300,000 tons each year, of which approximately 85% is not biodegradable. Learning how to toilet train your cat will not only reap financial savings; it will also be an eco-friendly alternative to your annual landfill contributions. Transitional Training With How To Toilet Train Your CatCats, much like dogs are intelligent enough to learn new behaviours through conditional training. Experts would suggest beginning such training from an early age, before a pet has become “set in their ways”, however a responsive pet of any age can be trained through gradual introduction to a new way of doing things. If you are considering training your pet to use the bathroom toilet, its highly likely he/ she is already a house-cat, trained to use the litter tray. If this is the case, the learning curve won't be as steep, and gradual stages will have your cat hopping onto the loo seat in no time. The first step is to gradually relocate your pets litter tray from it's former corner, into your bathroom. This can be easier said than done as some cats are prone to getting upset at the slightest upheaval in their normal routine. Cats may also be quite territorial of their litter tray – in which case you may find (particularly if male) that your pet starts “marking” the area with little surprises. Litter tray relocation should therefore be done gradually – even just a few feet per day to a new location, gradually closer to the bathroom. If at any time your pet displays signs of excessive stress (changes in eating habits or bad behaviour) you may have to spend more time encouraging your cat to use the litter tray in the new location. The classic persuasion method of rewarding good behaviour generally works. After 3-4 days, you should notice your cat becoming more familiar with your persuasive attempts – perhaps even curious, leading to inquisitive exploration of the litter box in new locations. Your strategic movement of the litter box should eventually lead to it being placed right beside your toilet, and you can now begin associating your cat with the toilet itself. Box To Bowl Encouragement There are two requirements for encouraging the transition from litter box to the toilet, one of which is elevation. Behavioural experts suggest elevating the litter tray gradually with the placement of books or a stool beneath. This will eventually lead to your cat hopping onto the toilet in order to access the litter tray. Of course at this point in time, the toilet should seat should remain down. The second requirement is gradual reduction of the litter itself. This should be done after elevation of the litter tray. You may want to consider purchasing a toilet “bowl” for your cat. These can be purchased both online, and within larger pet stores for a reasonable price. Place the litter “bowl under the wooden/ plastic seat of the toilet, and partially fill with litter. Ensure the base of the bowl is evenly covered, as at this point, your cat will still only be associated with a new type of litter tray. Once in place, the old litter tray should be removed completely. Your cat should hopefully realise the replacement for the litter tray, using it in exactly the same way. On the flip-side, this move is quite drastic and your cat may still feel uncertain about the changes to his/her routine. You may need to go back a step to the elevated litter tray, until your pet is used to the new location. Additional initiatives such as rewarding your feline friend when he/ she utilizes the new litter “bowl” will also help your pet to associate the transition with good behaviour, expected of him/ her. The Goal Of Making The Hole Once your cat displays signs of getting used to the toilet tray, its time for the final transitional steps. This can take anything from a few days, to a couple of weeks for your furry friend to get used to - so be patient. You may also find that your cat has a tendency to leave a few surprises around the bathroom during the process. This is completely normal. Curb this behaviour using the show-and-reward method explained earlier. It may also help if you place your cat on the toilet litter tray a few times – particularly when you notice he/she is about to “go” elsewhere. Getting your cat used to the toilet will require the gradual reduction of litter from the tray, and the creation of a 1-2 inch hole in the centre of the bowl. The goal is to associate your cat with the new noises when he/ she goes to the toilet. Cats instinctively try to bury their waste and associate the sound of litter with a successful job. Your cat should begin to notice the changes in sound, even aiming for the hole you've made – if you're lucky. Gradually increase the size of the hole over a number of days until your cat has got the “balancing act” down to a tee. He/ she should now be able to perch comfortably upon the toilet seat to do his/ her business. Things To Remember In order to make your pets training a little easier, you will need to adopt some new routines yourself – notably leaving the toilet seat up at all times. Also, if you are prone to closing the bathroom door after your own use, this will need to be changed. You will need to ensure anyone else living in your household is both aware, and helpful during the training period, adopting the same routines as yourself. Should your cat display signs of reforming to old habits, encouragement is key. Take a couple of steps back to the litter tray placement beside the lavatory in order to emphasize the training again.
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Training Kit. All Rights Reserved. 