The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [56]
Next, do you have what it takes to be a true toilet-training teacher? The chances for success are highest among people who are genuinely interested in their cats, who are sufficiently motivated, and who are very patient. People who don’t like to clean the box and who want to save money on litter are the most motivated to learn. That sounds like you.
This tactic works best when you have one bathroom to designate for training your cat and a separate one for you and your guests. You’ll have to keep the second bathroom door closed so your cat does not have access to the humans-only bathroom, but always leave the cat-friendly door open.
Before you begin, gather up the following materials: flushable litter, duct tape, plastic litter pan liner or kitchen plastic wrap, litter box, newspapers, and an aluminum roasting pan (125/8 by 101/8 by 3 inches deep). Once you have them in hand, follow these recommended steps for toilet training a cat:
1. Post a CAT IN TRAINING sign on the door and a Keep the Lid Up at aLL times sign above the toilet.
2. Place the litter box in the bathroom perched on a sturdy three-inch stack of newspapers for five to seven days. Intermittently reward your cat with a food treat when she uses the litter box.
3. Every couple of days, raise the litter box three to five inches with newspapers until the box is even with the closed toilet seat. Your cat may start to walk on the toilet seat. Praise her.
4. Place the litter box on top of the closed toilet lid for a couple of days to accustom your cat to being on top of the toilet.
5. Replace the litter box with the aluminum roasting pan filled with three inches of litter. Put the pan inside the toilet, securing it with duct tape on the sides. Close the toilet seat (not the lid) on top of the pan for a week.
6. Use a screwdriver to make a hole the size of a quarter into the bottom center of the aluminum pan. At this point, sprinkle only a small amount of flushable litter in the pan so as not to clog your toilet. Each day make the hole bigger. After two weeks, cut the entire bottom out of the pan.
7. When the cat is reliably using the toilet, remove the pan and duct tape. Remember to keep the toilet lid up so your cat can balance on the toilet seat. Important: Never flush when the cat is on the toilet!
Proceed slowly and expect some setbacks. If Bica makes a mistake, go back a step for a few days to reinforce the proper behavior. It may seem frustrating, but it is really the only way to overcome resistance to new learning. You also must get in the habit of always leaving the bathroom door open and the toilet lid up to provide 24-hour access for Bica. Otherwise, you risk incurring accidents and behavior problems.
Once Bica has mastered this feat, you can wow your guests by showing off her bathroom talents. And you can delight in never having to change the litter again. By the way, potty-training kits for cats do exist. Some are available from online pet product supply companies.
Perplexed by Plastic Preference
Q I have read that cats do not like the feel of plastic. So to stop my cat from peeing on the sofa, bed, and certain areas of the carpet, I put big plastic sheets down. Guess what? She now goes to the bathroom more on the plastic than in the litter box. She will also urinate on plastic grocery bags if they are left empty on the kitchen floor. She is an indoor cat, spayed, about four years old. How can I stop her from peeing on plastic?
A Plastic often deters cats from urinating in the wrong places, but your cat is clearly an exception to this rule. Some cats would rather eliminate on a smooth surface than in a pile of litter and will urinate on the bottom of a just-cleaned litter box before owners have time to refill with litter. It has to do with personal feline preference. If you have ruled out a medical reason for not using the box, try providing her with a clean litter box with very little or