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Explore the ups and downs of potty training a kitty
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Toilet training your cat is a fun way to teach them a new trick while saving some money on litter. It’s also a pretty simple process that you can do with just some homemade supplies. That said, it’s not for every cat, and there are some things to consider before you take the plunge. That’s why we’ve put together this simple guide for toilet training your feline friend, and also a helpful list of benefits and drawbacks, so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Simple Steps to Toilet Training a Cat
- Move their litter box into the bathroom for a week.
- Elevate the litter box to the toilet’s level over several days.
- Rest the litter box on top of the toilet for a few days.
- Replace the litter box with a toilet training litter tray.
- Remove the inserts in the tray gradually to expose the toilet.
- Remove the training tray.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
Training Your Cat to Use the Toilet
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Move your cat’s litter box to the bathroom for a week. Choose the bathroom in your home that your cat has easiest access to. Move the cat's litter box into the bathroom and place it near the toilet, and give them a week or 2 to get comfortable doing their business here. [1] X Research source
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Create or purchase a cat toilet training seat. A cat toilet training seat , like a Litter Kwitter or CitiKitty, is a device placed over the toilet bowl and filled with litter. As your cat acclimates to the toilet, a larger and larger hole is exposed in the center, until your cat is using the toilet as normal. [2] X Research source These are available for around $30-50 at retail pet stores, or you might make your own:
- Simply fill a shallow, disposable aluminum cooking pan that’s large enough to cover your toilet bowl with about 1 in (2.5 cm) of your cat’s litter.
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Raise the litter box 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) every few days. In order to transition your cat from litter box to toilet, gradually raise the litter box up near the toilet seat. Every 2-3 days, place the litter box on a slightly higher foundation. Use cardboard boxes, stacks of books, or anything else that might give it some sturdy altitude. [3] X Research source
- Keep doing this until the litter box is at about the same height as the toilet.
- Also, move the litter box 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) nearer to the toilet every time you lift it.
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Place the litter box on top of the toilet seat for 3-4 days. Once the litter box is on level with the toilet seat, place it on top of the toilet seat. Leave it there for a few days. This is about how long it will take your cat to get comfortable eliminating on the toilet. [4] X Research source
- Veterinarian Dr. Brian Bourquin tells us that training cats is “all about positive reinforcement.” [5]
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Expert Source
Brian Bourquin, DVM
Veterinarian Expert Interview. 31 January 2020. Whenever you witness your cat use the litter box, offer them praise and treats to tell them to keep it up.
- Veterinarian Dr. Brian Bourquin tells us that training cats is “all about positive reinforcement.” [5]
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Expert Source
Brian Bourquin, DVM
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Replace the litter box with a training seat filled with flushable litter. Once your cat is comfortably using the litter box without any accidents, it's time to use your training seat! Secure your training seat on the toilet according to the manufacturer’s instructions, but don’t take out any of the inserts, then fill it with 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) of flushable litter . [6] X Research source Or, if you’re using a homemade tray:
- Duct tape the homemade tray to the seat of your toilet, ensuring there are no holes and that it doesn’t shift. Then, fill it with 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) of flushable litter.
- Note that while you train your cat, you’ll have to remove the tray to use the toilet yourself. Or, simply use a different toilet, if possible.
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Open a new hole in the training tray each week. Give your cat a few days to get used to eliminating in the training tray, without any holes. Once they use it without any accidents, remove the smallest insert in your tray, and let your cat adjust for another several days before removing the next. [7] X Research source
- If you're using a homemade tray, use scissors or a utility knife to cut a hole about 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) in diameter in the center of the tray, and widen the hole by about 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) each increment.
- Also, gradually decrease the amount of litter you're using. Each time your cat eliminates in the pan, replace the litter with a slightly smaller amount than before.
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Remove the training seat when your cat is comfortable. After about 2-3 weeks of increasing the size of the hole or training trays, remove the training seat completely. Your cat should now be comfortable eliminating straight into the toilet rather than a litter box. [8] X Research source
- We don’t recommend teaching your cat to flush. They may get a little too into it and drive up your water bill.
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Stay patient, and avoid pressuring your cat. Toilet training usually takes about 6 weeks, and that’s without setbacks. If your cat is resistant to a step in the process, they might begin eliminating elsewhere. If this occurs, take a step back in toilet training. It's also a good idea to have a lot of cleaning supplies on hand when toilet training. In all likelihood, there will be at least one accident along the way. [9] X Research source
- Lay pee pads down around your toilet to catch any mess made by spraying males, or tracked across the floor after a toilet session.
- Don’t pressure your cat if toilet training stresses them out. If they begin to behave abnormally, ditch the toilet training and reintroduce the litter box.
- Keep in mind that toilet training just doesn’t work for some cats—as many as 30%. If your kitty is one of them, consider an alternative, like hidden or self-cleaning litter boxes.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan cats really be trained to use the toilet?Brian Bourquin, better known as “Dr. B” to his clients, is a Veterinarian and the Owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, a pet health care and veterinary clinic with three locations, South End/Bay Village, the Seaport, and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited hospital and Boston’s first Fear Free Certified Clinic. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University.Yes! Cats can be taught to do anything. I've seen cats that have been taught to use the toilet instead of a litter box. Cats can fetch, shake, rollover, play dead, and more. It's all about positive reinforcement.
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QuestionHow long does it take to train a cat to use the toilet?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Not all cats have the confidence necessary to be taught to use a human toilet. For cats with the right character, expect training to take several weeks.
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QuestionCan you leash train a cat?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Yes, however, don't expect to go for purposeful walks, as with a dog. The leash is more a safety measure, to keep the cat secure while exploring. Get a comfortable harness and train the cat to be relaxed wearing it. Put it on for a short time and reward the cat with treats. Remove the harness and feed the cat. This helps the cat link the harness to pleasant things
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Tips
- Never punish a cat for going outside the toilet or litter box. Veterinarian Dr. Brian Bourquin says that cats do not respond to punishment. [15] X Expert Source Brian Bourquin, DVM
Veterinarian Expert Interview. 31 January 2020.Thanks - Talk to friends who come over frequently about how you're toilet training your cat. Make sure they know to leave the lid opened.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://nycvetgroup.com/2019/01/16/how-to-train-your-cat-to-use-the-toilet-and-other-tips-to-keep-litter-tracking-down/
- ↑ https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/should-you-train-your-cat-to-use-the-toilet
- ↑ https://www.prevention.com/life/a20462598/how-to-toilet-train-your-cat/
- ↑ https://nycvetgroup.com/2019/01/16/how-to-train-your-cat-to-use-the-toilet-and-other-tips-to-keep-litter-tracking-down/
- ↑ Brian Bourquin, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 31 January 2020.
- ↑ https://nycvetgroup.com/2019/01/16/how-to-train-your-cat-to-use-the-toilet-and-other-tips-to-keep-litter-tracking-down/
- ↑ https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/should-you-train-your-cat-to-use-the-toilet
- ↑ http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/how-toilet-train-your-cat
- ↑ http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/toilet-training/
- ↑ https://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/should-you-train-your-cat-to-use-the-toilet
- ↑ https://www.inverse.com/article/9566-i-tried-to-train-my-cat-to-poop-in-the-toilet-and-lived-to-regret-it
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-help-your-cats-use-litter-box
- ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/hidden-litter-box-ideas
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-help-your-cats-use-litter-box
- ↑ Brian Bourquin, DVM. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 31 January 2020.
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you want to toilet train your cat, place your cat’s litter box near the toilet. Once a week, raise the litter box a few inches by placing stacks of newspaper or old magazines beneath it. When the litter box is level with the toilet seat, place the box on top of the seat and leave it there for a few days. Once your cat seems comfortable, secure a training seat onto the toilet and fill it with flushable litter. Give your cat a few days to get used to using the training tray, then gradually transition to bigger and bigger training seats, until the cat is successfully eliminating in the toilet. It should take about 2 weeks before you can remove the training seat entirely. Read on for tips from our veterinary reviewer on some of the downsides of toilet training a cat.
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Reader Success Stories
- "I litter trained my first cat in about a month. Two years later, I got a new kitten and fortunately was able to use the Litter Kwitter to toilet train her as well. For 2 years both cats both used the toilet. Then my 4 year old cat started pooping in the tub. I filed it with water and he pooped on the bathroom floor. I put sticky tape down and he pooped on the cat exercise wheel! LoL I finally gave up and, on the advice of my vet, I put an empty litter pan next to the toilet. Success." ..." more
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"I litter trained my first cat in about a month. Two years later, I got a new kitten and fortunately was able to use the Litter Kwitter to toilet train her as well. For 2 years both cats both used the toilet. Then my 4 year old cat started pooping in the tub. I filed it with water and he pooped on the bathroom floor. I put sticky tape down and he pooped on the cat exercise wheel! LoL I finally gave up and, on the advice of my vet, I put an empty litter pan next to the toilet. Success."
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"It was very helpful that there was a price guide for the different training products. I suppose it doesn't really matter which you choose, because once your current cat/s are trained, you can then clean and store it for the future."
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"Our cat was using the tray on the floor just fine, but once we moved it up about 9 inches high, our cat started using the floor. Loved the idea of just moving it up a little bit at a time, I think this will do the trick. Thanks!"
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"Very informative and easy to understand. Simple but precise instructions with steps. Anyone should be able to read one of your instructional articles and follow steps without a problem."
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"This is so fantastic, we really love your product, thank you. Make sure to clean the cat seat every time, cats only like clean toilets. If you do this, you will see it work."
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