------------- Isky's Quick Guide to Toilet Training Your cats : PART B -------------
***** Phase IIb: Building a Litter Barrier *****
So... what I did was to build a mini-wall around the hole to trap the litter. I started with A4 paper(s) long enough to go along the side of the inner hole (you will need to staple some A4 together as the hole gets bigger). I then folded it to a height where I have about 1 - 1.5 inches above the tray and about 0.5 to 0.75 inches below the tray (so total height is between 1.5in to 2.25in). I used duct / cloth tape (waterproof) to tape up the top part of the folded paper, then made little cuts along the bottom part (Pic#8). I then placed in into the hole that I made (Pic#9), taped up the bottom (Pic#10), and sealed up the top (Pic#11). Pic#12 and Pic#12?? (oops!) show the tray in the toilet, but it's only half complete - just wanted to show the basic idea. FYI, the hole in the picture was the final hole size before I completely removed the tray.
Building the barrier pretty much stopped all the accidents for now. The boys had litter that they could scratch and dig. Although some litter would still fall into the toilet bowl, there was always plenty to absorb their urine or partly cover their poop. Cleaning up was also easily. Just scoop, throw it into the hole, and refill.
***** Phase III: Bigger and Bigger hole *****
The next set of hurdles happened as the hole gets bigger. You obviously want to try to get the cat on the toilet seat (partially at first) and off the tray itself. What I did was to try and catch them pooping / peeing as often as I could and slowly adjust their position while they are doing their business. Whisky had no problems at all, and quickly figured out how to sit on the toilet seat. Guinness would sit on the toilet seat to poop, but wanted to straddle over the hole to pee. I had to keep them at the last hole sizes for over two weeks, just to get Guinness comfortable with his peeing / pooing position. I had a feeling that he would have difficulties near the end.
At this point, there's less space with litter and a bigger hole in the middle. Occasionally, they'll poop and pee directly into the bowl instead of into the litter on the tray. YAY! You'll want to keep them at this stage a bit longer, so they get used to the sounds of pee and poo falling into the water. The litter barrier does get a bit dirty at times (skid marks from falling poo), so you will either have to clean it up, or replaced with a new one. Sometimes the pee will soak through, causing the cloth tape at the bottom to peel off. You'll definitely need to replace it at that point.
***** Phase IV: Removing the Tray *****
After about 2 weeks at the final hole size, the boys were already consistent about using the bowl / tray to do their business. One day, I was about the clean up the tray to replace the litter barrier when I thought, what the hell... let's see if they are ready. Well, Whisky just went straight up, perched on the seat, and did his business. Yay, but not surprised!! Guinness was a bit more hesitant, and needed more coaxing. He did ok with pooing, but when he wanted to pee, he kept trying to straddle the hole with his feet on the sides of the toilet seat. Mmm... hole's too big, so I took out the kiddie toilet training seat I got from my sister a couple of months ago, and put it on the seat. The cushion was too high, so I took it off, quickly cut off the outer part, trimmed down the foam seat inside, taped it all up, and put in back on the seat (Pic#13). With the new seat in place, Guinness plonked his ass on the side of the seat and peed. Phew!!!
At this stage, I'd say they have been trained, but under probation awaiting for full certification.
***** Phase V: Toilet Training Probation *****
It's been almost two weeks since phase IV, and I have to say that Whisky deserves his full certification already. Guinness has had three accidents... all pooping-related. Once was right in front of me... he was on the seat getting ready to poop, but got pushed off by the brother cause he was taking too much time finding the right position. So while Whisky pooped on the toilet, Guinness couldn't hold on any more, and let go on the toilet floor. Ok.. I can deal with that.
The second time, I had begun noticing that Guinness tends to back off from the toilet bowl if it's not flushed. I didn't think about it before, so I just flushed until he was happy. One day, I had been out all day, and I came back to find Whisky's poo in the toilet bowl, but Guinness's poo on the floor (I can tell from color and consistency). I suspect that Guinness wasn't happy with using an unflushed toilet, so he decided that as long as it was nearby it was OK. Hmmm... not good. Right now, I'm in the process of retraining Guinness to overcome his clean toilet thing... which means not flushing after Whisky pees or poops. Thankfully, their poop sinks into the water so there's less smell. Although it can get rather...fragrant... while they are doing their business (and for some reason, they tend to do their business while I'm showering or worse when I'm brushing my teeth), the urine or poo smells go away rather quickly. Training is still ongoing.
The third time... errmm, I was hogging the toilet.
-- continued in Part C --