Re: Toilet training cats [1 Attachment]

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Rose. Maybe someday I'll try it, but my bathroom where I keep the litterbox is set up in such a way that I cannot get the litterbox next to the toilet, and the other bathroom is worse. Maybe if we move????Thanks again,To: neurosarcoidosis Sent: Fri, September 24, 2010

3:34:01 PMSubject: Toilet training cats [1 Attachment]

The first time I saw it was when ny Carson was still hosting the Tonight Show. Over the years I've heard or read about it, and finally I decided to check it out. There is tons of stuff on the Internet, kits, different techniques, lots of YouTube videos! I went with the cheapest method. First thing was get rid of the extra cat box & just have one in my half bath (which was already there). I put it next to the toilet & over the next couple of weeks gradually raised it an inch or so every few days. I used old books & photo albums wrapped in big towels to elevate it. I have 3 cats & you're supposed to go at the rate of the slowest cat. They all sailed right along, even the tiny kitten. I kept the lid up so that they would get used to walking around on the toilet seat. Once the box was almost as high as the toilet seat, I took it out. I got a large heavy duty plastic mixing

bowl from WalMart ($1.50) & made a wire frame to hold it in the toilet bowl. You are supposed to get a bowl large enough to just sit over the toilet, but I couldn't find one wide enough. I got some heavy wire from Lowe's ($5) that we bent over the sides of the bowl, then just set the bowl down in it. I leave the seat up, because my toilet is on the small side & I want them to have plenty of room. I can just lift the bowl out & put the seat down to use the toilet. I filled the bowl about 2/3 full of litter. Once they are all using the bowl, you gradually reduce the amount of litter until there is none. Then you begin putting in a little water, gradually adding more water so that they get used to the sound of poop hitting the water. At this stage most cats will learn to squat on the toilet rim, but may need a little assistance. Once they are going consistently in the water, you remove the

bowl, put the seat back down & hopefully they'll just go in the toilet. If anyone backslides, you back up to the previous step. We just went to the bowl with litter in it yesterday. The kitten took a nap in it, then pooped & peed. Since then one or both of the bigger cats have pooped in it (haven't seen them, but they do big piles). I have to change the litter every day since the bowl is much smaller than the box & all 3 are using it. But it will be worth it! Some cats actually learn to flush, but they tend to do it over & over as entertainment, so I'm not planning on teaching them that. I'm serious! I'm keeping some cat treats in the bathroom to reward them. So far it's gone very smoothly, with no accidents anywhere. It took about 3 weeks to get to this point.

Here's a photo of the kitten, Sugar, watching the water go down. She'll stick her head all the way down to the water!

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

To: Neurosarcoidosis From: rkelty99@...Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:06:10 -0700Subject: Re: Re: Fw:

What kind of neat trick is that? Tell me how on earth I can toilet train my cats and you will be my hero forever!

To: neurosarcoidosis Sent: Fri, September 24, 2010 3:02:00 PMSubject: RE: Re: Fw:

Hey, kid! Just 2 weeks until the sarc retreat. October is going to be a busy month for me. The first weekend my daughters are going to Chicago with me for the Hike for Lung Health. I'm taking my scooter in case I can't make it a mile. I've been doing a 1/2 mi. with Jon most weeks, but it wipes me out. I'm hoping it will be cooler up there which will make it easier. Then the retreat the next weekend, along with a relaunch of our church under new name, new mission, etc. The following weekend we are hoping to have a church campout, then I'm going to Virginia for 5 days to visit my cousin (and escape). Then Halloween, with a Trunk & Treat. I'm also toilet training my cats. Yes, training them to use the toilet. Adios to the cat boxes, eventually. But this weekend I'm just vegging out.

Ramblin' RoseModerator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

> To: Neurosarcoidosis > Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:36:09 +0000> Subject: Re: Fw: > > Thanks, Darlene. It's good to be back. Hope you are doing well. I'm doing pretty well as far as the neuro symptoms go -- thanks to Imuran. I do have almost daily splitting headaches on the right side of my head, and my left foot still drags when I walk too long or am on the treadmill. I battle daily fatigue and this horrid burning pain all over that I have edured for years. I take way too much medication and look forward to the day when they find a cure for this mean disease. I do know that coping with all this will be easier now that I can have the support of the group again, and I look forward to helping others, too. > > --> > > >> > > > > > Welcome back, ...........> > Hugs,> > Darlene> > NS Co-Owner/Moderator> >> > > > > ------------------------------------> > ~~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~~> The Neurosarcoidosis Community> > > > Message Archives:-> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Neurosarcoidosis/messages> > Members Database:-> Listings of locations, phone numbers, and instant messengers.> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Neurosarcoidosis/database > >