Some people are fierce advocates of toilet training their cat.
Their points are quite striking: less landfill because you no longer use litter. No more abusing the environment as some see the mining of clay for certain litters. And, more importantly for many: no more having to scoop out dirty litter.
Of course, there are some detractors of this practice.
First of all, cat feces can contain the parasite toxoplasmosis, which has been linked to killing otters from our waterways (believed to be from people flushing used kitty litter down the toilet).
And some feel that a cat using the toilet is a little undignified for these proud and private creatures.
But we’re not judging. If you want to toilet train your cat, go ahead. There are plenty of sites devoted to step-by-step toilet training your cat out there, so if it’s what you want to do then go for it.
If you aren’t sure if you should, then clearly define your reasonings for it.
Environmental? Sure, it cuts down on litter and wastage and the like, but if you work on greening your life in all other arenas and even switch to one of the new environmentally friendly litters that are constantly hitting the market, then there’s no need to toilet-train kitty. For instance, we use a cornmeal litter and when we shop we only use cloth bags we bring from home. For the plastic bags that do make their way into our home? We use them to put the used litter in. We tie it with one knot that can be loosened and only throw it out when it’s full.
Grossness Factor? Hate to clean the litter box on a daily basis? Well, you could leave it until it’s quite dirty but that’s not ever a recommended strategy. The litter still needs to be cleaned and is just going to get more icky the longer you leave it. And also, you might find yourself left with pooping and peeing outside the box, courtesy of an angry cat who refuses to go in a filthy box. Well, would you? We didn’t think so. The best way to deal with this is to invest in a self-cleaning litter box!
Stinky Litter? Cat pee is much, much stronger than dog pee. This is because cats were desert creatures and their bodies evolved to be highly efficient at using and preserving the water they drink. This means their kidneys use all the water they take in as much as they can to keep everything else going strong (ever noticed your cat rarely seems to drink water? This is why.), and when they expel the waste it’s highly concentrated and thus highly pungent. The best way to deal with this is daily litter box cleaning. If you are still on the cheap, old school clay litter, switch to clumping. It helps reduce odour by sealing the waste in tight clumps and is very easy to clean. Also, a daily clean makes the job light and easy and pretty much stink free.
Cost? Sure, some of the new-fangled, environmentally friendly litter can make you wince when you reach for your pocket. But if you shop around and find the one you and your cat like the most, then try buying in bulk. The bigger the container, or the more you buy is often much cheaper than buying a small or individual amount. And a word about the run-of-the-mill clumping litter…if it’s cheap and your cat likes it, use it. There are more ways you can help the environment. And daily or even twice daily litter-box cleaning can help the litter last longer.
If you still find you want to train your cat to use the toilet, then go ahead and try it.
But remember, it really isn’t a necessary step for the enlightened cat owner. It’s merely a choice that every can owner can make if they want to.
