If you’ve ever wondered how to train your cat to use the bathroom, you’re not alone. Toilet training a cat is not only inconvenient and stressful for both you and your cat, but it’s also not eco-friendly and isn’t always comfortable for your feline friend. Cats are not designed to learn to use the toilet and will likely grow old with joint pain and limited movement due to a limited range of motion, which makes training your cat to do it impossible an eco-friendly option. Plus, cat diarrhea is a very common side effect of ill health, which can lead to serious problems later on.
Problems with training your cat to use a toilet
Toilet training your cat can be a nightmare for you and your pet. No more pooper scooping, smelling trays, or cat litter treading through the house! Here are some tips to help you toilet train your cat. Start by moving the litter box closer to the toilet. Make sure it is small and firm enough to hold your cat’s weight. You can also buy several commercially available training devices. For an alternative solution, tape a layer of wax paper over the toilet seat and use a litter box to place the litter on.
Toilet training your cat doesn’t encourage its natural instinct to eliminate. While using litter boxes promote this behavior, toilets take away this outlet. Cat urine can show signs of various health issues, including diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney problems, and urinary tract infections. Even worse, some cats may develop urethral blockages, which are fatal. So, toilet training your cat shouldn’t be attempted if you’re pregnant or nursing.
Side effects of training your cat to use a toilet
When you train your cat to use a toilet, you are removing one of the reasons your cat would want to bury its waste: the instinct to dig. While your cat might have stopped pawing at that location because it no longer has a need to do so, it will still feel the need to do so. This lack of ability to bury waste can lead to stress for your cat, which can result in frequent accidents.
Using a toilet with your cat is dangerous to both of you. Not only does it cause unsanitary conditions, but your cat could also carry disease-causing agents. Moreover, cats are known to defecate or urinate on toilet lids, and infectious agents can easily reach them. Not only that, but cats also enjoy flushing toilets, wasting water and other waste materials.
Requirements for training your cat to use a toilet
There are some requirements for training your cat to use a toilet, and you should follow them religiously. Keeping a clean toilet is essential, as diluted urine and feces can be difficult to spot unless they are properly diluted. Besides, your cat may have certain health issues that you will not be able to notice without checking its urine and poop regularly. Toxoplasmosis is one such condition, and flushing this parasite down the toilet puts other humans and wildlife at risk. Most wastewater treatment facilities don’t kill parasite oocytes, so they end up in lakes, rivers, and drinking water.
Once you have determined that your cat is ready to learn how to eliminate in the toilet, you must place a “training box” over the toilet. You can use waxed paper or litter that’s flushable, and trap the edges of the training box with the toilet seat. You’ll need a box that’s secure enough to withstand your cat’s weight. Many commercially available boxes are designed to fit inside the toilet seat, and there are several sizes available. You can also switch sizes as necessary to teach your cat to eliminate in the toilet.
Cost of training your cat to use a toilet
There are many advantages to toilet-training your cat. It reduces the amount of energy needed to clean the litter box, and you can avoid the unpleasant smell of kitty pee and waste. A toilet also reduces the risk of contracting cat waste-borne diseases. The cost of training your cat to use the toilet depends on the level of difficulty you want to give your cat. Here are some costs to keep in mind.
The first major cost savings associated with toilet training your cat is the elimination of kitty litter. Your cat will no longer require litter box litter, which could cost you $75 to $150 per year. You’ll also be able to save space and money by not having to keep your home free of litter boxes. You’ll also avoid vacuuming, cleaning stains and odor from cat litter. Toilet-training your cat can also be a great option for cost-conscious pet parents.