How to Train Your Cat to Use the Toilet
My answer was a more proactive one. I had heard that cats can be trained to use a toilet. (Did you see the family cat use the toilet on TV’s “Meet the Fockers”?) My two cats, Jay Paw and Las were pretty intelligent creatures, and so I was sure I could train them as well.
The first thing I did was to position their litter box in the bathroom right beside the toilet. This way, my cats would get used to going to the bathroom to do their business. That was a step closer to the toilet. After a few days, I decided Jay Paw and Las were ready to move onto the next step.
I purchased a round styrofoam form, a roll of duct tape, and a sheet of clear, heavy duty plastic. The form was originally designed to make a wreath with, so you know what I’m referring to. And, the clear plastic was the kind you tape or staple over a window to keep the winter cold and winds out.
Before I made my trip out to the dollar store, I had to use a measuring tape to determine how wide and long the seat on my toilet is. Because, the round styrofoam form had to fit on top of the seat.
The next step was to place the foam on a flat surface. I then centered the sheet of clear, heavy duty plastic over the foam form. You’ll need to push the plastic down in the middle hole so it hangs down three or four inches below the foam. I then used a pair of sharp scissors to trim the plastic. I trimmed off enough so it hung about an inch above the edge of the side of the form.
Then, I used several strips of the duct tape. I placed the strips along the sides of the foam to fasten the clear plastic onto it. When I got done, I had a round piece of foam that was covered with a piece of clear plastic. Inside the middle of the form, the plastic hung down.
Now the next thing I did might have been unnecessary. But, I wanted to make sure that my goal was met, so I used this extra precaution. What I did was place a small cardboard box underneath my cat’s litter box. The box raised the litter up so it was closer to the toilet seat.
After a few more days passed by, the next step was to set the foam form in place on the toilet seat. I then poured a cup or two of clean litter into the middle where the plastic hung down. One by one I picked Jay Paw and Las up and placed them on the toilet seat. I took their paws and gently scratched in the litter. I figured this would help give them to idea of where they were NOW supposed to do their business. I repeated this step several times to instill the idea in their brains.
Then, I removed their traditional litter box from the bathroom. It took a few more times of placing them on the toilet seat and showing them the litter, but, after one of them actually used their make shift litter box, it was a cinch from there! After they used it once, their own scent attracted both cats to use it again and again!
I let the makeshift litter box remain on the toilet seat for another few days. (It lifts up easily so the toilet can be used.) You’ll need to keep it clean just like you would a traditional litter box.
Finally, after Jay Paw and Las were comfortable using the makeshift litter box, I removed it from the toilet seat with success. They continued to hop up and use the toilet without any litter. I was ecstatic that I wouldn’t have to buy cat litter anymore or clean a box either!
There were only two drawbacks training my cats to use the toilet: you have to flush the toilet after your cat uses it. And, if a human wants to use the bathroom and a cat’s already there, you have to wait in line!
