Is Your Cat EasilyToilet Trained?

Not every cat is suitable for toilet training. Some cats resist the idea simply because they don’t like water. Some cats also don’t like the sound of toilet because it frightens them.  However if your cat likes hanging around the bathroom or toilet in the first place then he or she might even enjoy toilet training.  

The ideal candidate is the type of cat that is always hanging around when you turn on a faucet in the house, sitting in the sink or playing in toilet water.  Animal experts say that outgoing and confident cats make better candidates for toilet training simply because they are more reckless and cocky in general. Shy, submissive cats get very nervous if they can’t cover their feces after they go. They are terrified of being tracked by predators.  Confident and outgoing cats don’t care who sees their business after they do it. They deliberately leave their urine and feces exposed in the litter box to mark territory. When they do this, this means that they are not scared of anyone. The cat that does this is going to mind having his or her feces exposed in an unlashed toilet.  An insecure cat however may be very distressed by the fact that the feces cannot be covered up as usual. If you are not around to flush the toilet then the cat might resort to yowling.  

Before trying to train your cat, observe its behavior in the litter box for a bit. Does it spend a lot of time scurrying around and shuffling sand and fussing physically over its feces?   If so you are looking at a cat that might have a nervous breakdown if you to try train it , the feline equivalent of the anal human.  If the cat leaves the feces completely exposed or gives his feces just a few kicks then you have a good candidate for toilet training. A cat that kicks litter out of the box also is showing the kind of cockiness that is needed to be toilet trained successfully.  

It would be a mistake to think that a cat that won’t learn how to toilet train is not smart. In fact it is probably the alpha cat (the leader of the pack in the den) that will be the most difficult to condition to toilet training behavior.  The cats that do succeed at toilet training are the ones that aim to please you. These are the friendly cats, that love to be patted and that seem to have no fear. Usually these cats are more vocal than other cats and are willing to talk to you and make eye contact.  Overweight cats are not great candidates for toilet training. If they fall in the toilet they have difficulty getting out because they are unwieldy. Falling in the toilet, by the way, is very nightmarish for most cats and could cause other types of neurotic behaviors in the long run such as developing a fear of going outside or of water.

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Drawbacks of Kitty Toilet Training

Although toilet training your cat may seem like a good idea at first. There are some situations where it may not be the appropriate thing to do.  

For instance you might find it hard to teach an old cat new tricks. An older cat may find it difficult to jump up on the toilet lid or balance itself. The result might be an animal that urinates or defecates beside the toilet instead. Older animals might also get angry with you and defecates elsewhere in your home anyway.  

Toilet training on kitties will also not work if any one in your house (including your spouse, guests and your kids) forgets to leave the toilet lid up. This is incredibly frustrating for a feline who is trying to please you but can’t because you won’t let him. If the cat constantly encounters a closed lid he or she may eliminate elsewhere in your home. One solution to this problem however is to simply remove the lid from your toilet permanently.  

Visitors and guest might be disgusted by the idea of having to share a toilet with a furry animal. They may not like seeing cat hair on the toilet seat.   In some cultures this idea would be very objectionable as cats are seen as vermin or rodents.  One plus about having a litter box is that it can be easier to see if your kitty is suffering from health problems if you are looking at his or her feces. It is harder to see problems in their feces or urine if it is diluted by toilet water.  

Some cats will naturally object to fouling where they like to drink. Your cat may refuse to use the toilet because it would rather drink from it. Cats like to drink cold, fresh water and may see attempts to convince him or her to go in the bowl as being a sin that is hardwired completely against their natural instincts.  Your cat may leave footprints on the seat or decide to play in the toilet water. This means that you may need to clean the toilet seat every time before you sit on it. This is also something that will not be enjoyable to your guests.  If your cat is fluffy he or she may shed in the bathroom so bath mats and towels could be covered with cat hair.  Another drawback is that training your cat to use the toilet can take a long time , as long as six months in some cases.

All of these months you will be looking at a messy bowl or tray of some kind filled with feces, litter and also possibly water. This will be in your bathroom, beside your toilet and then eventually in your toilet. If you don’t like the smell of cat urine or feces in your bathroom then toilet training your cat may not be for you.   Many people who have two or three bathrooms reserve one especially for the cat to solve this type of problem.

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