When I first got Charlie and Trigg, I requested a few of the cat toilet training kits that were on the market and decided to try and toilet train them. It was a painful experience for me to watch - very un-cat like. I couldn't follow through with it. I do know that some readers have their kitties toilet trained - and understand that there are always exceptions to the rule. However, in general, if a reader contacts me asking about toilet training, I will tell them I am opposed to it. I am opposed to it mainly because you can't really keep an eye on their urine output if it is going into a bowl of water. You really don't have a concept of how much they are peeing.
Actually, there are quite a few downsides, not the least of which is that toilet training doesn’t necessarily even get rid of odor problems. Here are a few reasons to steer clear of toilet training your kitty.
Toilet Training Cats: Why It Isn't a Good Idea
On the surface, toilet training sounds like a great idea for Ragdoll cat owners: no more smell, no more constant scooping and cleaning – what could be the downside?
When I first got Charlie and Trigg, I requested a few of the cat toilet training kits that were on the market and decided to try and toilet train them. It was a painful experience for me to watch - very un-cat like. I couldn't follow through with it. I do know that some readers have their kitties toilet trained - and understand that there are always exceptions to the rule. However, in general, if a reader contacts me asking about toilet training, I will tell them I am opposed to it. I am opposed to it mainly because you can't really keep an eye on their urine output if it is going into a bowl of water. You really don't have a concept of how much they are peeing.
Actually, there are quite a few downsides, not the least of which is that toilet training doesn’t necessarily even get rid of odor problems. Here are a few reasons to steer clear of toilet training your kitty.
When I first got Charlie and Trigg, I requested a few of the cat toilet training kits that were on the market and decided to try and toilet train them. It was a painful experience for me to watch - very un-cat like. I couldn't follow through with it. I do know that some readers have their kitties toilet trained - and understand that there are always exceptions to the rule. However, in general, if a reader contacts me asking about toilet training, I will tell them I am opposed to it. I am opposed to it mainly because you can't really keep an eye on their urine output if it is going into a bowl of water. You really don't have a concept of how much they are peeing.
Actually, there are quite a few downsides, not the least of which is that toilet training doesn’t necessarily even get rid of odor problems. Here are a few reasons to steer clear of toilet training your kitty.
plmcat
i tried many many years ago to do the toilet training thing and it didn't work. i have had cats since then that would use the toilet , i never tried to train them. i was terrified once when i woke up to the sound of peeing in the toilet and thought someone was in my house (i lived alone). i got up and snuck to the bathroom door and looked around and one of my cats was peeing in the toilet! i never close my bathroom door because the cats always demand to come in. i totally believe that my cats saw me peeing and decided to try it. he continued to use the toilet for as long as he lived. not exclusively but he would often. a cat i have now (i have 3) .. he will pee in the toilet. it's funny because he seems embarrassed about it if i catch him. i rarely see it but i'll be in my bedroom and i can hear him. i wouldn't ever again try to "train" a cat to use the toilet but i think it's interesting that some of them choose to use it and i really think it's because they are copying us.
Jenny
that is NUTS that you had a cat use the toilet without being trained - and yes, make sense that he watched you going on the toilet. so, have you considered using the litter box to see if they will use the litter box instead? ha ha ha - just kidding. i hope other readers weigh in about that though - i'd like to know if other cats do it without having been trained.
Patti Johnson
Excellent post & topic, Jenny! Out of all the lovely kittehs I've had in my life I never once thought of trying to toilet train them just from the fact that it just seemed wrong (and very hard and quite scary for the poor kitty). <3
I have no problem with litterbox maintenance (which has always ended up being one of my daily chores but I really don't mind it at all). I keep Miss PSB's litterboxes scooped two to three times a day and always monitor for clump size and quantity for what is natural for her. When I feel the litter needs to be replaced and the boxes need to be totally cleaned, I do that. Sometimes that is once a month and sometimes it is longer depending on my desire to do it. (Bad kitty momma!) 🙂 <3
With the exception of one UTI when she was less than a year old (and a change in diet along with some treatment our vet recommended to us cleared that right up), we have never had any issue with her not using her litterboxes. I have two NVR Miss Litterboxes setup in our den and she seems very happy with that setup. (Would lurve to have a Litter Robot but we just don't have room for it and trying to clean that big thing inside a small apartment seems unimagineable...really need a backyard for that, in my opinion.) 🙂 <3
Big hugs & lots of love!
Patti & Miss Pink Sugarbelle 🙂 <3
Teresa Reid
Miss Pink Sugarbelle is so lucky to have such a caring Mom as you to keep her potty simply spotless!
Patti Johnson
Awwww, thanks so much Sweet T! 🙂 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Teresa Reid
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Gale
I toilet trained Diva as a kitten and 8 years later, no issues. If she wants to show me something, she will sit at the door and holler like her head is on fire, and then when I come to the door, she runs to the toilet and poops. I take a look with her, and then flush. Since we both use the same toilet, I can tell by the aroma and colour of the urine, and the consistency of the feces.
And when she had a uti, before I spoke cat, she peed on my bed. Since resolving that, there has only been one issue, and that is hogging most of the bed!!
Jenny
Sounds like you and Diva really communicate with one another, which is wonderful.
Teresa Reid
Completely agree. Let your cat be a cat and enjoy and love them for that.❤
Patti Johnson
Amen, Sister!!! 🙂 <3 <3 <3
Teresa Reid
Hehehe! Love you!
Patti Johnson
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