If you’re exploring solutions for pet waste management, Cat Toilet Training Kits might seem like a modern and convenient option. The allure of ditching the litter box and potentially teaching your feline friend to use the human toilet is understandable. Perhaps you’ve seen videos online or heard anecdotal stories of success, sparking the idea that a cat toilet training kit could be the answer for you.
However, before you invest in a cat toilet training kit, it’s crucial to consider the potential downsides. While the concept might appear appealing on the surface, there are significant reasons why veterinary professionals and cat behaviorists often advise against toilet training cats. It’s important to differentiate this from litter box training, which is essential and natural for cats. Toilet training, on the other hand, attempts to override natural feline instincts and can lead to various problems.
Here are seven key reasons why using a cat toilet training kit might not be the best choice for your beloved feline companion:
1. Missing Crucial Health Clues
One of the most significant drawbacks of using a cat toilet training kit is that it eliminates your ability to monitor your cat’s urine and stool effectively. Changes in urination and defecation habits are often the earliest indicators of underlying health issues in cats. Veterinarians rely on these changes to diagnose a wide range of conditions, some of which can be serious and require prompt treatment.
Conditions like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, bladder infections (cystitis), dehydration, and even life-threatening urinary obstructions can manifest through changes in urine frequency, volume, or consistency. Early detection is paramount for effective management and better outcomes for your cat, potentially reducing suffering and veterinary costs in the long run.
With a litter box, you can easily observe if there are more or fewer urine clumps than usual, if they are larger or smaller, or if there’s any blood in the urine. These daily “updates” from your cat’s urinary and digestive systems are lost when using a cat toilet training kit, hindering your ability to catch potential health problems early.
2. The Toxoplasmosis Threat
Toxoplasma gondii is a microscopic parasite that causes Toxoplasmosis, often referred to as “Toxo.” Cats can become infected by consuming rodents, birds, or raw meat. While indoor cats have a lower risk, they are not entirely immune.
Infected cats shed Toxoplasma oocysts in their feces for a period. Alarmingly, standard wastewater treatment processes are not always effective at eliminating these oocysts. This means that if a cat using a cat toilet training kit sheds oocysts, they can enter the water system and potentially contaminate lakes, rivers, and oceans. This poses a threat to marine wildlife like seals and otters.
Moreover, if a cat using a cat toilet training kit misses the toilet bowl, or if there’s any fecal matter left on the toilet seat, humans in the household can also be exposed to Toxoplasma. This is particularly concerning for pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems.
3. Lid Down, Cat Out of Luck (and Possibly In the Bowl)
Cats are agile, but even they can be thwarted by a closed toilet lid. Successfully using a cat toilet training kit requires constant vigilance to ensure the toilet lid is always open and the seat is down, providing a perch. Unlike the fictional Mr. Jinx from Meet The Parents, real cats lack opposable thumbs and the strength to lift a toilet seat.
If the lid is down, a toilet-trained cat will be unable to relieve itself in its designated spot. This can lead to stress and inappropriate elimination elsewhere in your home – carpets, beds, or potted plants become unfortunate alternatives.
Conversely, if the toilet seat is left up, the cat risks falling into the toilet bowl. Even with the seat down, accidents can happen. The prospect of dealing with a cat soaked in toilet water should be a significant deterrent for anyone considering a cat toilet training kit.
4. Bathroom Access Anxiety
Imagine your cat urgently needs to use the toilet, but the bathroom is occupied. Or perhaps the bathroom door is inadvertently closed. For a cat reliant on a cat toilet training kit, this creates a stressful situation.
Cats, like humans, have urgent needs. If their toilet is unavailable, they are likely to become anxious and seek an alternative location for elimination. This isn’t out of spite; it’s a natural physiological response. Unfortunately, these alternative locations often include carpets, bedding, laundry piles, or any readily accessible soft surface. Restricting access to their designated toilet can lead to behavioral issues and accidents.
5. Ignoring Age and Arthritis
Most cat toilet training kits require cats to jump onto the toilet seat. While this might be manageable for young, agile cats, it becomes problematic as cats age. Arthritis is incredibly common in older cats, affecting over 30% of cats over 8 years old and more than 90% of cats over 12.
Arthritis causes joint pain, making jumping difficult and uncomfortable. Even if your cat is currently young and spry, the likelihood of developing arthritis as they age is high. Forcing an arthritic cat to jump onto a toilet to eliminate can cause significant pain and distress.
Furthermore, cats recovering from surgery or with mobility issues should not be jumping. Using a cat toilet training kit becomes impractical and potentially harmful in these situations. You would then face the task of retraining your cat to use a litter box, ideally one with low sides to accommodate their reduced mobility.
6. Suppressing Natural Instincts
Cats are instinctively inclined to bury their waste. In the wild, burying helps to conceal their scent from predators, a crucial survival mechanism. Domesticated cats retain this instinct, even though the threat of predators is removed.
Observe a cat using a litter box; you’ll notice the scratching and burying motions, even if you are in another room. This behavior is deeply ingrained. Cat toilet training kits eliminate the ability to bury waste. While a toilet-trained cat may still exhibit pawing motions around the toilet bowl, the inability to fulfill this instinct can cause stress and anxiety, potentially leading to elimination problems or other stress-related behaviors.
7. Travel and Boarding Challenges
If you plan to travel with your cat, especially for overnight stays with family or friends, a toilet-trained cat presents logistical challenges. You’d need to ensure your hosts are comfortable with your cat using their toilet and that they consistently remember to keep the lid open. This can be awkward and inconvenient for everyone involved.
Furthermore, boarding facilities and veterinary clinics are not equipped for toilet-trained cats. If your cat needs to be boarded or hospitalized, they will likely be placed in an environment with a litter box. A cat exclusively trained with a cat toilet training kit may struggle to adapt to a litter box in a stressful environment, leading to elimination issues and further anxiety during an already challenging time.
Consider Your Cat’s Wellbeing
While cat toilet training kits might seem like a modern solution to pet waste, it’s essential to weigh the convenience against the potential negative impacts on your cat’s health, behavior, and overall wellbeing. The reasons outlined above highlight why this method is generally discouraged by veterinary professionals and cat behavior experts.
Prioritizing your cat’s natural instincts, health monitoring, and comfort is paramount. A well-maintained litter box, in a suitable location, remains the most species-appropriate and practical solution for feline waste management.
Before considering a cat toilet training kit, reflect on these points and consider what truly serves your cat’s best interests. Choosing a litter box system that works for both you and your cat will ultimately contribute to a happier and healthier relationship.
