Toilet Training my Kittens

"Rah Rah Sis Boom Boo
Gotta get the kitties to make that poo
Go in the toilet, flush it down the hole
Then go get some shrimpies, fresh and cold!"

Okay that's just beyond funny.

DreamingRecover, you really gotta calm down about this. Your cats can sense that you're stressed and it can't be helping them any. Plus, it's unhealthy to feel stressed so much over something so small! I know you really want to do this, and you will, but it'll take patience and time and there will be mishaps.

At least she went behind the toilet right? That, to me, means there's something about the set-up (the hole, likely) she's just not comfy with yet. If she were rejecting the whole thing she'd be going somewhere else entirely.

Day 6,

i left for a few hours and came back and the toilet had been used. its very possible that tinkerbell had used it but i'm not sure. there was no poop behind the toilet.

i decided to use a vinegar and water solution on the spot behind the toilet where tinkerbell pooped. * crosses fingers * i hope it works.

i've been obsessing about it. all day i have. i think it'll be on my mind until tinkerbell corrects herself. i felt miserable and scattered and hopeless. i'm usually not like this.

and i'm constantly wondering where tinkerbell is. why cant i just relax.

gayef,

i loved your cheerleader chant * hugs * now some of its stuck in my head. you've been so positive and its helping me to stay positive as well. i'm trying to stay calm with it all. and i've been giving all the kittens extra love and attention.

Zissou'sMom,

At least she went behind the toilet right? That, to me, means there's something about the set-up (the hole, likely) she's just not comfy with yet. If she were rejecting the whole thing she'd be going somewhere else entirely.

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yeah, thats true. at least i know where to look to see if she's used the toilet.

Day 14

i'm still using the toilet insert with very small drainage holes. and i plan to for the next 2 weeks. the cats have been doing excellent. there was only 3 mistakes in total by the same cat (TinkerBell - shy cat) during this whole time.

i'm hoping the cats are completely confident in the next 2 weeks, and are performing purrrfect so i can start to drill the hole again. this time i'll start really slow. the width of a pen. and slowly work up from there during the next month or two.

i'll know more about the progress once i start drilling the hole big enough for the cats to get a paw through. i am confident that Bonkers and Dreamer will be okay, but we have to go at the slowest cats level - TinkerBell. so this may take some time.

i have hope in this mission and am willing to keep going. i am doing my best to build TinkerBells confidence up when playing games and with handling. she is slowly gettting more confident.

Just an update

i would like to try this with my cat, but i only have one bathroom, is there a reason it cant be done in a one-bathroom household? i mean you could move the pan whenever a human needed the toilet right? how did you make your pan?

jaycee,

i would like to try this with my cat, but i only have one bathroom, is there a reason it cant be done in a one-bathroom household?

Click to expand...

i live in a bachalor and have only 1 bathroom. i think its okay.

i mean you could move the pan whenever a human needed the toilet right? how did you make your pan?

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there are many ways to it. i didnt use a pan myself. i used a cheap plastic upside-down toilet seat lid and shoved it under the toilet seat.

the method you were talking about is this one:
http://www.susandennis.com/catdiary/catsquickstart.htm

* hugs *

i used pan as a generic term, i didnt realize it was actually another method

since shes already in a new environment (we got her on friday) would it be a good idea to try and start it now? before she gets used to going in her box and getting in a routine in her new home?

or would it be better to let her get used to the new home first and then try it?

first of all, i am no cat expert. especially with toilet training.

i think i had my litter box around a week or two before i tried toilet training. i most likely would've started as soon as possible, but i didnt know toilet training cats existed until a few weeks later.

i would get your cat doing what you want it to as soon as possible - once they get into a pattern with you they may not be as cooperative with change. thats just my opinion though.

i've heard its a good idea to wait until your kitten (i'm not sure if you have a kitten or not) is about around 12 weeks old or has a good degree of coordintation and balance, so they can balance on the seat when the time comes.

if you do decide to do it, PLAN FIRST! make sure you're ready to do it.

Day 24

So far so good. yesturday i drilled a hole about the size of a dime. i'm taking it slow. they picked at it a little and were okay with it.

i found out a very useful tip. the toilet must be 'sparkling' clean at all times for it to work out. at least with my cats. my one cats tinkerbell has only made mistakes when another cats urine was in the litter.

so now everytime a cat urinates i change that portion of the litter. and if a cat poops i scoop it right away and clean any markings on the toilet if they are there.

in the morning this means that i stand by the toilet for 10 minutes or more watching every cat poop. scooping in between. and then watching one or two cats urinate and then changing the litter.

wow, this is alot of work when i think about it, but its become such a routine that i dont think about it anymore.

my one concern is the how slippery the toilet seat lid is. i saw one of my cats stand on it perfectly and then slide off.

since the seat is solid plastic i could sand it down, but not yet. i wanna give them more of a chance to see if they can learn to balance first. if i do sand it down then it'll be extremly difficult to clean with all the groves in it.

it'll be at least a month, maybe two or more to finish this. but i want it done right the first time.

Sounds like it's going very well! Have you considered getting a new toilet seat that isn't plastic? Coated ceramic ones are a bit expensive, but they'd be flat and non-slippery.

Or maybe you could put non-slip cabinetry lining on the seat, so they can stand on it? My girl likes to knead on that stuff, maybe put some somewhere else on the floor and see how they feel about it?

Good continuing luck!

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Have you considered getting a new toilet seat that isn't plastic? Coated ceramic ones are a bit expensive, but they'd be flat and non-slippery.

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i could do that. sounds like a good idea. the one thing that concerns me is that ceramics seats are cold in the winter and my bathroom is very cold in the winter. i think they might not wanna step on it.

and actually the toilet seat i have isnt plastic. its a wood enameled seat. ooops. my training seat lid is the one that's plastic. the good thing about wood enameled is that it doesnt get cold easily in the winter and its easy to clean.

maybe the cat slipped because it had dusty paws from the litter?

i'll give it more time. it was only one slip anyways.

thanks

Day 28 woooohooooo

we're still on our mission!

i've widened the whole to about an inch today, as opposed to the dime size it was before (remember, we're taking it sloooooooow)

the shy cat tinkerbell is doing better and we've been doing activities together to make her more confident in general.

one of the secrets i've learned to toilet training is to shake the treat bag as soon as they've done their job. that way they'll jump down off the toilet for the treat before trying to bury their poop. and soon they'll not have as much of an urge to bury after going any more. thats my theory anyways. i think it's been working so far.

anyways, thats our update

I've been following this thread since the beginning. I'm so happy that things are going well for you. I realize this may sound gross, but when you get the whole toilet training thing down, can you post a video? I'd love to see all of your hard work on camera.

Originally Posted by lookingglass

I realize this may sound gross, but when you get the whole toilet training thing down, can you post a video? I'd love to see all of your hard work on camera.

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i can try. the thing is that my camera cord will not reach, but i'm sure i could get an extension. its only about 15ft away.

it could be a three kitten show!

Day 32

still doing great! the hole is only about an inch right now. i have been expanding it 1/4" every few days.

today tinkerbell pooped behind the toilet. the problem is that she has to go so bad and the other cats jump up on the toilet first. and each time they go i have to clean the toilet like a tire changer in the indy 500. also, they'll go pee. hop off. the other will go pee. hop off. then the other will go poo. hop off. and the other goes poo and hops off. by the time i clean and wipe it all down its a long wait for poor tinkerbell.

as soon as i saw tinkerbell going on the floor i picked her up and put her on the toilet. about 10 minutes later she went poop again and this time in the toilet. i gave her extra pettings and a treat as usual. i think she likes the toilet, but she likes a CLEAN and easily ACCESSIBLE toilet.

but it will get more easy as the hole gets bigger. then the cats will start to go directly into the hole and cleanup will not be necessary, just a flush.

i have hope that this can be done in around 3 months.

just an update

Originally Posted by lookingglass

I've been following this thread since the beginning. I'm so happy that things are going well for you. I realize this may sound gross, but when you get the whole toilet training thing down, can you post a video? I'd love to see all of your hard work on camera.

Click to expand...

lookingglass.....and anyone else interested....I posted this the other day, but not sure if people have seen it or not...there were no responses about it. Scroll down to the last post, my post.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96099

Day 33

Yayyyyyy!

i've dedcided to widen the hole again. i dont even think they noticed, but dont tell them!

i've just experienced the benefits of the toilet training this morning. bonkers went pee and went right in the hole so the toilet was absolutely clean. i just flushed and that was it.

another thing i've started doing with all my cats is getting the treat ready as soon as they jump on the toilet. and lifting them off the toilet immediately after they finish peeing or pooping. i them give them a quick petting and one temptation kibble. this way they forget about digging their poop and give up the desire to do so.

anyways, i got a little excited there. so i thought i'd tell ya's


sophie,

i saw that video and it makes me wonder if i really wanna train THREE cats to flush, lol.

that is so awesome!

Day 36

the hole is now 2" (it was more then an inch before. i just was a little lazy and didnt measure it i've been expanding by about 1/4" each time)

the cats have been investigating the hole and seem a little apprehensive. when i flush the toilet they poke their heads in the hole and try to water, even though its pitch black in there.

just now tinkerbell pooped outside right behind the toilet. i have a super-vigulant and sense with this so i can tell when she's doing something i dont want her to do. i ran to the washroom and grabbed her and put her on the toilet. then cleaned up the poop and sanitized with natures miracle... 5 minutes later she completed the rest of her poop in the shower.

i dont think i should have drilled this hole today. i'm so upset with myself

bonkers went to the washroom today perfectly. as if he was fully trained. i still feel like a failure though.

dreamer still hasnt went yet. and that's not good because he usually does. and as usual i havent eaten or done anything for the last hour because i'm too scared to leave these guys alone.

i wish i could just forget about everything. i feel so depressed now.

btw, thanks jaycee * hugs *

Day 40

2" hole

i so far every cat has had blood in their poop. first dreamer, then bonkers, then tinkerbell. worms probably... i think tinkerbell was in pain. thats why she was so uneasy about going in the toilet. when she did go in the toilet the next day i saw a stream of blood in her stool. poor kitties. they were crying in pain. i wondered why they all peed so easily in the toilet and were shy to poop in it.

they'll be going to be neutered in 2 days and will each have their own stool sample checked. so there's the solution.

after day 36 all the cats slowly got back into their routine. they now seem confident again.

i am going to wait until next week or later to widen or later the hole. i prefer to widen it on my days off so i can be there if the cats need assistance.

bye for now