I haven’t had an infant since I last wrote – I am most definitely done with childbearing – but we have acquired a kitten. He’s utterly delightful in every way – playful, affectionate, clever, handsome – except one. He is still young enough to have to stay indoors and that means using a litter tray which is absolutely disgusting. Husband is counting the minutes until we can let him outside although I am feeling some trepidation at the prospect. Our last cat, Burrito, disappeared on a jaunt – I fear eaten by coyotes – and my beloved old boy, Pumpkin, who came with us from England now 9 years ago, died few years after we arrived. I found him dead in the driveway at 9pm on Christmas Eve which rather put a pall on the holiday. At first I thought he must have been run over but now I think he probably ate some poison that was left out for a wild critter, of which there are many in these parts. I’m terribly anxious that something awful will happen to Tabasco and they do say that indoor cats live much longer than outdoor cats although I’ve never actually had one.
So, this debate goes back and forth between me and Husband, me and myself, me and the wall, and in the meantime Tabasco has to stay in until he’s had all his innoculations and the litter tray bloody STINKS and of course only I clean it.
So. I have decided to toilet train him.
Don’t laugh.
Okay, laugh, it’s pretty funny.
I have seen lots of cats on YouTube pooing on the loo so in theory it must be possible, right? I started today by buying the LitterKwitter ™ and a box of cat treats. It is a series of interlocking rings that fit on the toilet, starting with a solid pan (no hole in the center) that you fill with a thin layer of cat litter. The theory is that the cat will get used to jumping up and using it instead of its normal cat litter. Then you use the next step which has a small hole in the middle so the cat gets used to its waste dropping into the bog. THen you increase the hole size with the next seat modification until – tadahh – the cat can crap on its own without the litterkwitter.
We’ll see.
Today I put the ‘red’ ring on (solid) and put Tabasco into it. He thought it was marvellous. He played in there for at least ten minutes, scattering litter all over the bathroom, but he hasn’t actually used it. Yet.
I’ll report back tomorrow, or as soon as we get a *cough* result.
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So *that’s * how it’s done! I’ve always wondered. Will be looking forward to hearing your final assessment as to whether the whole process was worthwhile.
Ooh! He did a wee in the red pan. RESULT! I’m so proud. He turned his nose up at the cat treat, though. He must have sniffed out that it was secretly a ‘dental’ treat in disguise. I’ll buy a different incentive tomorrow.
I love the name of you new kitten, Tabasco is such a great name.
Thanks – he’s a ginger as you may have guessed
What a brilliant idea! I must try that – having had cats for years living outdoors and in, two of our cats have suffered from bronchitis and are supposed to spend the cold months indoors. Difficult to explain this to them, as they shoot out of doors and windows at every opportunity … and I find myself weighing up the pros and cons – stinky litter trays versus putting angry cats into a small cage to breathe in their antibiotic. This might tip the balance. Good luck, hope that it continues to go well!
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