Lyons Leadership

With the recent popularity of cat training, more and more people are looking into teaching their cats how to use a toilet. Just so we’re clear here, I’m not talking about litter box training. I’m referring to a proper toilet that you or I would use! Do a quick search on youtube and you’ll see that this is indeed possible.

This is a very difficult task though. Learning how to pee in a litter box is pretty easy for most cats. Aquiring the abilty to use a proper toilet, however, is a different matter. If this is something you think your cat can do, there are a few methods you should consider.

A common way to go about getting your cat to use a toilet involves the use of a special kit. You can find a lot of these types of products online. Make sure you read the directions carefully though. A lot of these kits are recommended for use by smaller cats only.

The other method that you might want to consider is a bit different. It’s cheaper and doesn’t require any aftermarket items. There is only really one criteria if you want to give this method a go. Your cat needs to be extremely comfortable with the idea of using a litter box.

The first thing you want to do is place the litter box near the toilet. Let your cat get used to the idea of doing his business close to the toilet. Don’t overlook this step! It’s very important to get your cat associating his litter box with the toilet.

Now that we’ve got your cat peeing beside the toilet, let’s make it a bit more challenging for him. The goal here is to get your kitty doing his business at the same height as the toilet bowl. I’ve found that placing the litter box on a chair next to the toilet accomplishes this goal nicely. Let the kitty get used to this setup. It will probably take a couple weeks.

If you’ve done everything right so far, here’s what you should see. Kitty should be completely ok with the idea of peeing near the toilet and at the correct height. Now it’s time to combine these two factors. Put your cat’s litter box on the toilet. This will train your cat that it’s a good idea to pee on the toilet. It will probably take a while before you can proceed with the final step. When you think your cat is ready, remove the litter box from the top of the toilet. Cross your fingers and prepare to be blown away! If all is well, your cat will get himself up on the toilet and pee like it’s his regular litter box.

As you go about teaching your cat these methods, please keep one thing in mind. Whether you’re using a kit or not, the most important thing you’ll need is patience. This will take a serious amount of time and dedication. It’s definitely possible to have a toilet trained cat. Work hard and in not too long you won’t have to buy kitty litter ever again.