How to Teach a Cat to Use a Toilet

Training a cat to use the toilet eliminates the need for messy, malodorous litter boxes. There are cats who will catch on in as few as three to four weeks, while others require more time and patience--and as long as three to four months. Allow the appropriate amount of time for the cat to learn before assuming it's not toilet trainable.

Things You'll Need

  • A stack of newspapers, magazines, or materials that can be gradually elevated and secure the cat box atop
  • Disposable roasting pan that fits into the opening of the toilet seat
  • Flushable cat litter
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Instructions

  1. Getting Started

    • 1

      Choose a spare bathroom to conduct the training, if possible. The transition from litter to toilet is messy and cat litter will likely fall on the toilet lid, seat, and surrounding area. Urine and feces may also get on the seat if the cat misses when eliminating. Be prepared to conduct frequent cleanings, whether you use a spare bathroom or not.

    • 2

      Place a litter box as close to the toilet as possible, leaving it there for several days. This allows the cat to get accustomed to being close to the toilet while eliminating in the litter box.

    • 3

      Place two to three fully stacked newspapers underneath the litter box, gradually elevating it. The cat shouldn't initially notice that the box is elevated. Then, every several days, place another elevation under the box; watch to be sure the cat is still comfortably eliminating in it at each level. Continue the process until the litter box is even with the toilet seat's height.

    • 4

      Place the litter box on top of the toilet seat. This allows the cat to equate it with the location of the toilet. Leave it there for several days, checking to make it secure enough not to fall off the toilet seat.

    • 5

      Cut a small hole in the center of the roasting pan, allowing urine to drain. Settle the pan in the opening of the porcelain bowl, between the liftable seat and porcelain bowl, and secure. It's important the pan is firmly in place to avoid movement, which will cause the cat to feel insecure.

    • 6

      Put enough litter content in the pan to cover the bottom, and help the cat transition more easily from litter box to pan. The object is to disguise the toilet so it looks similar to a litter box.

    • 7

      Remove a small amount of the litter from the pan every several days, gradually increasing the size of the hole. When there is no more litter in the pan, and the size of the hole prevents the cat from sitting in it, he should begin to sit on the side of the toilet to eliminate.

    • 8

      Remove the pan once the cat consistently uses the toilet.