toilet train my cat

After staying on the green stage of the litter kwitter for around ten months, I decided to try to push past it. At this point, Charlie was contentedly going straight into the toilet water. So I took out the green ring, and put a bit of litter on the small lip that held up the rings. He went number two after a bit of trouble. Finally, he scratched at the floor like he was preparing to go. I bothered him, and he jumped on the toilet and went.

Then went it came to his number one… I knew he needed to go so I followed him around the house for a good half hour, then gave up and went into the living room. He was very quiet and I found him in the closet, going in a cloth bag. GAH. I’m now trying the “ignore” method to show him he was bad. Not talking to him or petting him. The strange thing is that he doesn’t seem to care. Usually he wants to sleep on me or meows all the time. Now he’s very quiet, sleeping away from me. Maybe he knows he was bad?

I put the green ring back in, but put down the toilet seat. It cuts down on the area of the ring he can stand on. Now all I can do is wait until he needs to go potty again. He usually only goes twice a day, so I have quite a wait. ;_;

Super dead in this forum lately.

Anyways, Charlie has been doing well EXCEPT, he had his first accidents. It’s my fault, really. I soak my feet pretty often, as I’m on my feet all day at work. So I have this basin that I sometimes forget on the bathroom counter. Usually it’s just overnight… Well one day Charlie decided that the shape is close enough to his old box, and guess what he did at 4:00 AM? It was just #1, though. He then ran to the toilet to go #2. I forgot it again a couple days later and he did it again. He’s training ME to be less forgetful, I guess.

So things were going well, but then Charlie got into the garage. I didn’t think anything of it but… He discovered his old litter box. Noooo. Now he knows it’s in there and holds his #2s and yowls at the top of his lungs to get in. I feel so bad, but then I remember that I’ve had no trouble until this, and that once he forgets about the garage litter box he’ll go back to using the toilet contentedly. I hope.

At this point the hole is about 4”. I’m afraid to enlarge it any more until he’s comfortable.

So I cut out the part that Charlie was going #1 on. Annnnd he started going #1 straight in the toilet! Still straddling the hole, with two feet out, two feet in, but I still think it’s awesome. And now all I have to do is flush! Even if I’m stuck at this point for a while I’m totally fine with it. Already way less work than cleaning his box. No litter tracked everywhere, either.

I was out of town this last weekend. Luckily I bothered my mom into cat sitting, so we have had no relapses! Tomorrow I’m going to enlarge the hole to about 4”. I want to wait until he’s all settled down. He tried to go in a potted plant before I left, so I’m being careful.

Today Charlie went #2 straight into the toilet! The hole isn’t that large (still around 3-3.5”), so I would assume that he was aiming for it. But I was at work and have no idea, really. I do have him on a feeding schedule now, but he eats so slowly that I don’t think it’s helping him. He’s still only going #1 twice a day. I hope to switch to at least half wet half dry, to help him get more water, and that might increase the #1’s. From what I have read, 3-5 is more normal.

Charlie went #1 three times today! He never went more than twice a day when the pan had no hole in it. Now that the hole is the size of a silver dollar he… Likes it?? If this is true, and not a fluke, I will be the luckiest cat owner EVER.

(ha, who really owns a cat?)

I made the hole in the pan a little bigger than a silver dollar and Charlie seems okay! I heard tinkling when he was using it and thought that maybe he was going straight into the toilet, but it was just uh… run off. At least the sound doesn’t bother him, because I’ve read that some cats don’t like it. Wait till we get to the splashing…
I started this exactly one month ago! In a week I’ll make the hole larger. I have to set dates like that, or else I think I’ll push too fast. But he’s doing so well~

For the past 8 out of 11 days Charlie has managed to go #1 twice a day. I know this is low, but not once has he gone three times, so I’m moving forward. I cut a quarter sized hole into the bottom of the pan. Charlie, curious little brat, immediately pawed around in the pan and even acted like he was going to go~ He didn’t, but I’m hopeful that this change won’t set this whole thing back.

I decided that since Charlie hasn’t had an accident yet (knock on wood) that I didn’t need keep reminding him of where the toilet is. Instead, after I hear that he’s used it I go up and give him a treat. I’m not sure if this is helping, but at least he doesn’t hate the bathroom anymore. Now that he’s gotten over eating the litter, the times he’s going per day is slowly going up. Still not up to a healthy amount, but better!