Raising kittens is a complex and lengthy process that is carried out gradually. In order to teach your pet something useful, you need to show a lot of patience, strength and devote enough time. Cats are quite difficult to train, but still, their owners try to do everything to accustom the animals to the toilet.
Thanks to this, you will not have to worry about the availability of filler or keep the bathroom clean. Naturally, in order for cats to go to the toilet, you need to spend a lot of time than just teaching your pet to go to the litter box, but the result is worth the time spent. Next, you will learn all the stages of training on how to accustom a cat to the toilet, which must be done gradually.
Why train
Teaching a cat to go to the toilet in a civilized manner is not an easy task. Therefore, you should know what is worth spending time and effort on.
What benefits do owners get from teaching a cat to go to the toilet like a human?
- no need to spend money on filler, which saves family money;
- there is no need to regularly clean the tray;
- the tray will no longer spoil the interior with its unesthetic appearance;
- cleaning the room will become easier, since there will be no filler scattered on the floor;
- The specific cat smell in the room disappears.
Accustoming a cat to the toilet brings a lot of positive aspects for owners.
Now it will be enough to press the water release button after the pet has finished its toilet chores.
Particularly developed representatives even give a signal when it is necessary to do this.
Useful observations
Some external signs can help the new owner train the pet to use the litter box.
- If the cat starts looking for a secluded place, sniffing corners, scratching its paws and fussing - these are sure signs that the pet wants to go to the toilet. In this case, it is necessary to transfer the cat to the tray as soon as possible. If the procedure was successful, be sure to praise the animal.
- If the cat has chosen a place and is already paving, then it is also necessary to quickly move the animal to the toilet. At the same time, you should not make sudden movements, because you can scare the delicate creature, causing severe stress before going to the tray.
- If trouble has already occurred, and traces of the cat’s vital activity are observed on the floor in the room, then you should not angrily scold your pet. You should carefully remove the puddle with newspaper or paper, and place the waste in a tray. Its own scent will help the cat navigate the space and find its toilet without any problems next time.
- It is common for both kittens and adult cats to go to the toilet immediately after eating or sleeping. You can regularly remind your pet of the sequence of actions, and in the future you will be able to train your cat to use the toilet quite easily.
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What breeds can be trained
Any cat, even a very stubborn one, can be taught to go to the toilet in a civilized manner. True, some breeds will not be able to master such a skill. We are talking about pets with short legs. They simply will not be able to jump to great heights. For a similar reason, it is not recommended to toilet train a kitten. Problems are also possible with cats that like to bury.
There are especially gifted breeds of cats that themselves begin to relieve themselves in the toilet. These include Maine Coons and Siberians.
Training instructions
This training system is applicable for adult cats that use the litter box flawlessly. It is important to follow the instructions exactly, respecting the time intervals.
First of all, it is necessary for the animal to get used to the noise of the draining water and not be afraid. They take him in their arms and, standing in the toilet, flush the water several times. If the cat does not show any anxiety, move on to the next step.
Move the tray to the toilet
Every day the tray is brought closer to the toilet.
If the tray is located far from the toilet, it is moved closer. Every day they shift it by 5-6 cm, no more. Otherwise, the cat may not get his bearings and shit in the place where the box used to be. After the animal gets used to being in the neighborhood with a white friend, they move on to the next level of training.
Raising the tray to the height of the toilet
The goal of this stage is to level the tray with the level of the hole so that the cat develops the skill of jumping. They do this slowly so that the pet understands what they want to achieve from him. It is enough to add a few centimeters per day. To do this, put unnecessary waste paper, a box, or something else. It is important that the structure does not swing. On average, this training period lasts about 12 days.
Stages of raising the tray to a height
If the cat categorically refuses to climb the hill, it is worth suspending the process for 7-8 days. Then they try again.
Moving the tray onto the toilet seat
Now they gradually move the cat litter onto the toilet. It is better to first remove the cover to stabilize the device. If the cat feels the precariousness of its position, all previous efforts may be in vain and you will have to start over.
The tray is completely installed on the toilet after 4 days and left there for some more time. This will allow the animal to develop the skill.
Tray refusal
If all stages are successfully completed, the tray is removed from view. It’s better to throw it away, otherwise it will give off a smell that will prompt the pet to search for it. Not finding their toilet in its usual place, many purrs begin to get nervous and fuss. But they quickly understand what to do - they sit directly on the toilet.
Video training guide:
When to start learning
There is an opinion that getting used to the toilet is possible until the cat has grown up, and it is easier to accustom a kitten at an early age. This prejudice is at odds with reality.
- Firstly, before 5-6 months, veterinarians do not recommend teaching a kitten to go to the toilet. He may slip, fall into it, get very scared and even drown. After such an enchanting somersault, the animal will flatly refuse to use the human restroom. The pet must reach a size that will allow him to independently climb onto the faience throne and maintain balance.
- Secondly, you need to start training when the animal has mastered the tray to 5+. This is the main condition for a successful result.
- Thirdly, as practice shows, there is no problem in accustoming an adult cat to the toilet in an apartment.
It must be remembered that you should not train a weakened individual during periods of illness or stress. The same goes for a pregnant cat. Pregnancy is not the best time to develop new skills.
How long will it take
The guarantee of successful acquisition of a useful skill is slowness in action.
Rudeness and punishment are unacceptable, only a gentle approach.
It is possible to train emotionally stable pets in 3-4 weeks. Animals with a more capricious character will take a little longer to adjust - approximately 8-9 weeks.
Cats, like people, are individuals. The owner, who knows his ward better than anyone else, must feel when it is better to pause the training process so as not to ruin everything. According to reviews of some cat lovers, even stubborn purrs were able to make friends with a porcelain friend in 3 months. Therefore, you should be patient.
Special attachments
Often difficulties arise at the final stage of training, when the tray needs to be installed on top. The box may not be the right size, making it difficult to jump into. It is more rational to use special attachments sold in pet stores.
With the help of such a pad it is much easier to teach your pet to go to the toilet
The principle of operation of the system is to sequentially expand the hole in the middle until a regular lining is obtained. They come in 2 types:
- plastic container fixed to the toilet. It already contains markings for cutting out circles of different diameters. Start with the smallest one and increase it by one contour every 5 days. When the cat confidently begins to stay on the rim and recovers, the nozzle is removed;
- a system that includes several rings of different diameters, inserted into each other according to the pyramid principle. It is enough to periodically remove one ring at a time to expand the hole in the center.
More advanced designs are also sold, equipped with folding legs (for gradual lifting) and retractable curtains. With their help, the process of training a pet will become as simple and convenient as possible.
When choosing a system, be sure to take into account the weight of the animal. Large representatives require durable plastic to withstand heavy loads.
Third stage
At the moment when the tray is level with the toilet, and the cat can calmly walk on it, you can begin the final stage. First, it is recommended to sprinkle a little litter on the toilet seat so that the cat sees and realizes that where the granules are scattered is his toilet.
At this stage, special attractive aerosols will again help speed up the process. At the final stage of training, the tray is placed directly into the toilet. It is important to monitor how your pet's paws are positioned when he goes to the tray. All four paws should be clearly on the toilet seat.
You also need to gradually place the tray in the toilet. First, the cat litter should be moved a quarter towards the toilet, then halfway, and only then can it be lowered completely. When the cat went to the litter tray in the toilet for the first time, you should not be prematurely happy and rush to clean it up. The animal should go to the litter box regularly for several days. If these actions do not cause discomfort to the cat, the tray can be removed.
Prohibitions when you can’t toilet train
Despite the many positive aspects of accustoming to civilization, not everyone enjoys this. In what cases is it better to abandon the idea?
- Too well-fed, sedentary pet. Due to its slowness, it can slip when jumping to a height and be injured when falling.
- The cat is pregnant. She is not in the mood for learning because she is preoccupied with other things.
- The animal is elderly or weakened after illness.
- Little kitty. Due to clumsiness, he may fall into the water and get scared. It is advisable to wait up to six months.
There are also restrictions for animals with the following health conditions: gastrointestinal disorders, constipation, joint damage.
Disadvantages of cats going to the toilet
Cats quickly figure out how to relieve themselves when they don’t find a litter box.
Along with the positive aspects, there are also negative ones. These include:
- inconvenience when visiting the toilet for family members, especially when there are many of them;
- in an effort to bury its “goods”, the pet will scratch sanitaryware or tear a roll of paper;
- The toilet lid must always be raised;
- in the case of using systems with filler, there is a high risk of sewer clogging;
- accidentally dropping the lid on the animal will frighten him and instill fear, from which he may begin to avoid the toilet;
- often walks by and urine drips onto the floor;
- If the animal loses its balance, it may fall straight into its feces and become dirty.
If you teach a kitten to go to the toilet, and then temporarily move to live somewhere (for example, at the dacha), you will have to teach it again upon return.
Benefits of using a toilet instead of a litter box
Why train an animal to use the toilet, when to maintain cleanliness in the house it is enough to regularly change the cat's litter box? On the one hand, this is true. But if you look at the benefits of letting a cat use the toilet, it becomes obvious that this method of organizing a cat’s litter box is much better. It has a number of advantages:
- There is no need to look for a convenient place for the tray so that it does not interfere or catch the attention of guests.
- No unpleasant odor. It is unlikely that the owner will clean up after the cat immediately after filling it, so the presence of an unpleasant odor, albeit temporarily, will always be present.
- Saving time on cleaning the cat litter and regular disinfection.
- Cleanliness – the toilet tray for cats has a very modest size, and no matter how clean the cat is, granules or sand will always be scattered around the tray.
- Money savings - cat litter costs money, and in order to maintain cleanliness in the tray, it is recommended to change the granules as often as possible, and this, accordingly, is a constant waste of money.
And of course, what owner of a mustachioed pet would not be pleased by the enthusiastic cries of the guests watching how the smart cat not only went to the toilet, but also flushed after himself.
Adviсe
When the task has been completed and the cat has begun to use the toilet properly, it is important to consolidate the result. Here are some useful tips:
- the door to the toilet room should be left ajar or a special entrance hatch should be made in it;
- the lid is not lowered so that he can recover at any time.
We must not forget about rewarding your pet for correct behavior. It will not be difficult for the owner to pet his pet once again and give him his favorite treat.
First stage of training
The main thing is not to rush. The tray to the toilet must be moved gradually so that the cat “smoothly” gets used to changing its position. If the toilet is immediately moved to a great distance from the usual one, the pet may refuse to go to it. But this does not mean that you need to move the tray a few millimeters, so toilet training can take many weeks.
After moving the tray to a new location, it is recommended to wait a couple of days until the cat gets used to the new location. As soon as the pet stops experiencing discomfort from the new location of its toilet and goes to it without problems, it can be moved further.
If the first stage is problematic, you can use a special spray with a scent that attracts cats. You can buy it at any pet store. Every time your cat goes to the litter box, you can reward it by petting it or giving it a favorite treat or treat. However, if an “embarrassment” occurs, you should under no circumstances scold the animal for it.
