Worth the effort?

To watch Kit Casanova, super cat, using the toilet go to YouTube.com and type in "Kit the cat learns to go in the toilet."

I'm afraid there are some people out there who aren't convinced that potty training is worth the effort.  Why?  First, even though many cats today use the toilet, it's still not accepted by all cat owners as being a viable alternative to cat litter boxes.  Unfortunately, the concept that cats are untrainable is widely accepted in some areas.

Toilet training your cat requires special techniques and even more important--a special attitude!  New products have simplified the process (see link below), and it's really not all that difficult--as long as your know what you're doing.    Feline toilet training today is unbelievably practical.  Let me summarize some of the reasons why.

• Potty training is much healthier for both the pet and the family.  Have you ever thought about the filth, pathogens, and other organisms a cat tracks all over the house and furniture after having used the litter box?  And, did you know that litter boxes are dangerous for pregnant women, and people whose immune system is compromised?
• Potty training is far less trouble and expense than buying litter, emptying the box, and disposing of old litter over the lifetime of a typical cat. I'm always incredulous when people tell me that they don't have the time or interest in toilet training their cat!  That statement, of course, assumes they do have the time and interest in the many tasks and unpleasantries associated with the litter box!
• Potty training can save you time and money on vet bills. Kit Casanova has a predisposition to struvite crystals which makes it hard for him to urinate.  It's painful, too, as those of us who've had cystitis know!  Instead of taking Kit to the vet when this happens, I simply grab a "mid-stream" catch, and measure the pH by dipping tape into the urine.  If it's high (over about 6.8), I give Kit extra fluids, and rub his fur with a little cranberry extract mixed with a nutritional supplement that helps protect the lining of the bladder. Usually within hours he's back up on the potty and free of discomfort.
• Potty training saves cats and kittens from being thrown outside, abused, and/or being returned to the animal shelter from which they came. Way too many people adopt cats or kittens from a shelter, only to find they can't deal with the litter issues.  Abusing them, throwing them outside where they have no experience taking care of themselves, or returning them to the shelter are cruel and heartless methods of dealing with the problem.
• Potty training, along with other forms of training and intimacy with your cat will make him/her a much more companionable pet.  I enjoy Kit Casanova very much, and take him with me several times a week when I go shopping, to special events, or even the bank.  He always wears a special necklace, shirt, or bandana--and always enjoys the attention he receives.  For more on this subject, read the short article on the Articles page entitled, "Make Your Cat More Doglike."  The more time you spend playing with your cat, training him, and taking him places, the more companionable he becomes.

Peeing on the Floor

Cats who Pee on the Floor on a regular basis may have serious urinary problems.  Even Kit Casanova, who is trained to use the toilet, occasionally pees on the bathroom floor instead.  Why?  Because Kit has what his vet calls "genetically-induced" urinary problems.  This means that he is prone to developing struvite crystals, causing pain when he urinates.  This problem is not at all uncommon in cats. Owners write me all the time and tell me their cat is being "defiant" or showing "hostility".  This is not true.  Although cats may occasionally show hostility toward an owner or an owner's spouse by peeing on the bed, pillow, or personal items, it is rare.  On the other hand, a cat with urinary problems often associates the pain of urinating with the litter box or toilet and will go on a cold floor instead.

When Kit uses the floor instead of the toilet, it is my problem, not his!  I regularly monitor the pH of his urine by holding a small jar underneath him when he's peeing on the toilet.  I measure the pH of the urine with special urinary pH tape and if it's over about 6.6 (darker than a light green), I know he's headed for trouble.  I treat him with special herbs that keep the pH where it belongs.   In addition to treating him for crystals, I make the toilet a better option than the floor.  How?  By placing a small amount of citrus or other smell that he doesn't like on the floor by the bathtub where he sometimes goes. Also, if I see him go into the bathroom, I turn on the sink or bathtub.  Like a kid, he responds to the sound of the running water and pees in the toilet!  Works every time.

Learn how to toilet train your own cat!  He or she will be healthier, happier, and you'll save money on vet bills!

To learn how to toilet train your cat, see Chapter Two in the book, Potty Talk by Toast.  Click here to order this book:

GREAT PRODUCT

In addition, you may want to try CitiKitty, a product designed especially for toilet training your cat.  Click here to go to the CitiKitty website.

Here's Smokey using the CitiKitty seat until he's ready for the real toilet seat.