Kitty Super Bowl...Who's Leading?

Entering week 3 of our toilet training and I know you're anxiously waiting to read updates.  We currently have the red ring (no holes) on the toilet and everybody seems to be happy, so we will be changing to the orange ring soon, which has a small hole in the middle.  How exciting!  So how have each of the kitties been performing?  If you have filled out your Fantasy Kitty Toilet Training roster, you are in for a treat.  Actually, I am going to re-name it to the Kitty Super Bowl. Ha. Ha. Get it. Yeahhhh I amuse way too easily.

If you're like me and like to cheer for the underdogs, er undercats, then you probably picked Milo to lead the group. Unfortunately, this undercat did not perform to his highest ability.  'scratch scratch, scratch scratch' - NOT the most ideal feeling to wake up to at 5:30am on a Tuesday morning.  Thank you, Milo, for showing your frustrations and urinating in my bed while I slept soundly, leading to early morning laundry excursions. *grumble grumble*.  Gross? Yes, but luckily this has only happened twice.  Actually the Litter Kwitter instructions say to keep bedroom doors closed when you're not home/sleeping because cats may potty in your bedroom since it smells like you and is comfortable.  Hmph. Good to know now.  Luckily those are the only two Milo incidents.  We have even caught him pottying a couple times on the toilet.  Good job, Milo!


Merlin, Merlin, Merlin.  If you have followed recent facebook posts, then you know the antics Merlin has been up to.  Whether Merlin is extremely 'special' or extremely intelligent is still up for debate.  All we know, is he started unravelling the toilet paper onto the litter tray.  Much easier to cover the litter with paper than it is with litter!  Picture proof:

Okay so this is funny - hilarious actually.  Angie sent me the second picture via text message while I was walking in downtown Bellevue.  Yes, I became one of those crazy people you see laughing for no reason while walking.  As funny as this is though, it is quite the nuisance and a waste of paper.  Therefore, we keep the paper in the cupboard now. Poor fella. Seriously though, if you want to follow our example, then you should learn to flush!  Other than the paper fiasco, Merlin has had no mishaps.  Yay Merlin!

Dumbledore....our Toilet Master.  Actually, I think we need to name him our Sink Master.  *sigh*.  Were you wondering why there is a board across the sink in the second picture?  Yes, that is kitty proofing the sink. Ever since Dumbledore was a wee little kitty, he has hated litter and would prefer to go #1 down a drain.  Going back to step one with the full litter tray was quite annoying to him!  Whenever possible, we put the green tray (see in first picture above on floor) on for him to keep him happy.  Once we get to the open ring stages, I think he'll be happier and will stop using the sinks. Yes, very gross, but I suppose it's easier to clean than the bed.  Argh! Anyway, he's a pro, just had to take a step backwards.

Dusty. Oh Dusty - he's still a rock star.  Nothing new to report.  He potties in the tray like nothing changed.  He's also a pro coverer.  You know he went potty when there's a big mound of litter on the tray. :-)

There we have it - if you picked Dusty to lead the pack, you are a winner so far!  Time will tell how he'll cooperate with the open trays!  Keep your fingers crossed that we'll have all four kitties pottying in the orange tray by the next time I post....

Newest Activity: Tracking Kitty Bowel Movements

Kitty bowel movements? What? Why?....Really?!  Yes, yes, and...yes.  I can strongly assume that most cat owners will put 'scooping kitty litter' on top of the most hated cat-owning responsibilities.  I mean, I fully understand that it can be quite thrilling as it's a treasure hunt and/or archaeological dig of sorts. However without fail the rewards are going to, well...stink, er...be quite crappy, bleh...you get my point.  Wouldn't it be nice if cats would simply use the toilet like their human counterparts?  Not only eliminating the need to treasure hunt, but also avoiding the inevitable littery/pooey paws on the kitchen counter/stove/tv stand/bookshelf/face while you're sleeping.  It would be nice, and the  Litter Kwitter is going to help us achieve this goal.

If you're now scoffing at me and saying this is impossible - read this: Angie's blog.  Proof that it does work, and proof that two of our four cats have once been capable of this feat.  If you still don't believe it, ask Angie for her video. :-) (Or don't. Really, you don't need to see it. Just trust me.)

Dumbledore and Merlin were successfully toilet trained when they were wee little kitties, thanks to Angie's hard work and dedication.  It was no easy task, but Angie's studio apartment became a litter-free zone.  My two boys, Milo and Dusty, continued with their normal litter usage.  I previously had issues with Milo urinating on my couch after I tried using a more earth friendly litter, so I deemed him untrainable.  Okay, so perhaps I was the untrainable one since I didn't have patience for his pickiness.

Dumbledore, Merlin, Milo, and Dusty all now happily live together.  A few squabbles here and there, but overall, it's a happy (and very fluffy) household.  With much displeasure from Angie, we had to re-introduce litter boxes to Dumbledore and Merlin.  We kept the final ring of the Litter Kwitter on a toilet, but only Dumbledore uses it to do #1 - when he feels like it.  (He really doesn't like getting litter stuck between his toes)  Think about it - every time you go to relieve yourself, you end up getting dirty rocks stuck in your feet that you have to lick out. Ew!

With PE studies and work preoccupying all of our free time, we decided to put any further toilet training on the shelf. Until now! Yippee!  The litter boxes have been moved to the deck and an additional Litter Kwitter has been purchased, so we are yet again tracking kitty bowel movements!  With Milo and Dusty being beginners, we are starting with Step 1 - keeping the red ring (no holes) on the floor of the bathroom which acts like a mini litter box.

Okay, so I can't lie when I view this as a competition of sorts.  Fantasy Kitty Toilet Training? One point for successful #1, two points for successful #2, negative points for non-Litter Kwitter usage, bonus points for making it in the middle ring?  Team D vs Team M?  Team Molly vs Team Angie?  Okay okay, enough already.

Meet the students/competition:

Dumbledore. Toilet Master.:

Merlin. Ex-Toilet Master:

                                              

                                                 

Dusty. Beginner:

Milo. Beginner:

As an update: we have sufficient proof that all four cats have successfully used Step 1 of the Litter Kwitter.  Dusty was the first to brave the new challenge, and Milo had a minor setback by pottying on the guest bed.  Keep cheering them on and wishing us luck in our new venture to have a litter-free home. :-D

(And yes, we'll own up to being crazy cat ladies. Just go with it.)