What benefits does this give?
Happy is the owner whose cat wants to go to the toilet on its own and does not need to be taught to do so. But more often the cat flatly refuses to go there and then the question arises: is it possible to train the cat to use the toilet.
This process requires patience and gradual progress through all stages. There is no need to rush here, otherwise the cat may be frightened.
Ultimately, this provides the following benefits:
- Cat care will be minimal and will be reduced to flushing the toilet
- The need for a tray disappears, and therefore there is no longer any need to fill and clean it
- The tray always gets in the way, but if the pet is toilet trained, this problem ceases to be relevant
- This eliminates the need for cleaning
- The problem of indoor odor is no longer relevant
Some features
A number of cats tolerate the bathing procedure only if they stand in the bathtub or sink not with four paws, but lean on their hind limbs, with their forelimbs placed on the edge of the bathtub.
- If there is a need to restrain or properly secure an animal, this should be done exclusively by the scruff of the neck, but not by the paw or tail.
- A worried pet should be reassured in a gentle tone, stroking the withers.
- If your pet is very nervous, it is better to free him from captivity in the bath and continue the procedures the next day, gradually accustoming him to water.
Who should be trained and who should not?
No matter how beneficial it may be, in some cases it is better not to do this, namely:
- If the cat is large and leads a sedentary lifestyle. They don't have as much dexterity as some, so they risk falling and getting hurt.
- You should absolutely not try to train a cat if she is pregnant, she has no time for it
- It’s also impossible to train an old and sick cat
By and large, all pets are equally trainable.
- But it is better to refrain from training small kittens, as this can result in injury or even death.
- It is worth training only animals that are old enough to have used a litter box before without any problems.
- And you will have to refuse this option if the owner has more than one pet.
- Sometimes, animals themselves show interest in the toilet and even try to use it, but their independent attempts may end in failure.
There are cases when a cat, unable to stand on the toilet, fell into the water and after that flatly refused to approach it.
Washing process
How long to wash a cat depends on the animal’s preparedness, loyalty to water, and the degree of contamination of the pet. You should only use special shampoos for cats, which are sold in veterinary pharmacies and pet stores.
- The cat must be carefully placed in a bathtub that is one-third full, with an anti-slip mat at the bottom.
- Add a little water and start a conversation with the animal.
- Then pour a little shampoo into your palm, rub it and apply it to the cat’s fur. It is better to carry out the procedure together.
- Foam should not be applied to the ears, eyes, or nasolabial area of the pet’s face.
- After massaging and thoroughly washing the paws, you should rinse off the shampoo and rinse the cat’s fur with previously prepared warm, clean water, or open a tap with running water.
If a cat is fundamentally afraid of water, it is recommended to use dry shampoo to keep its fur clean. Its composition is safe for animal skin and cleanses well of impurities.
Upon completion of the dry shampoo treatment, the cat's fur must be thoroughly combed. The dirt will come off with the excess powder.
Studying time
Cats with a calm, balanced character master the toilet in about three weeks.
- But if the cat has extremely violent behavior and is afraid of its own shadow, this will take longer.
- Sometimes the process in such cases lasts from two to four months.
- The character and behavior of each cat is individual, so you should not rush, so as not to overdo it.
A device for teaching a cat to pee in the toilet
To do this, you can use a special mesh insert. You need to cut holes along the edges and then glue them to the toilet seat. There are a lot of similar devices in pet stores. They are different in terms of appearance, but the same principle of operation.
The idea is to install the tray directly on the toilet. The main thing is not to clean it right away, because after this cats often refuse to go to the toilet and begin to relieve themselves in other places.
We train a cat to use the toilet at home
Some people buy cat litter for their pets with silica gel filler, and the cat masters it without any problems. But after some time, many people get tired of the fact that balls constantly stick to their feet, rolling around throughout the apartment and the need to endlessly vacuum.
If you buy wood filler, it also sticks to your feet. Then something needs to be changed and the question arises of how to accustom an adult cat to the toilet.
- In this case, you will need to buy a special device for the toilet. This device consists of two parts.
- First you need to pour cat litter into the second part of it, you can add cat litter already with the smell of a cat so that the cat gets used to it faster and put it on the floor.
- The cat follows its scent, gradually gets used to this toilet, and after a week or a week and a half, when it has mastered this potty well, it can be placed on the toilet.
- Next, you will need to gradually cut out the holes so that the cat begins to see that there is water inside. One hole takes 5-7 days.
Ultimately, silica gel balls remain on the last circuit, that is, the cat does not immediately see the state of this vessel, but gradually gets used to seeing the entire toilet bowl.
There are no problems, there is no smell, nothing sticks to the feet, a very simple device that saves the owner’s nerves.
How to wash a British cat, cat, kitten? Accessories
In the modern world there is a wide niche of accessories and special grooming products for pets.
Wash with regular human shampoo, baby products, human laundry soap, unless there is a special product, because... The pH of a cat's skin is different from that of a human, which will cause irritation.
The market for products for cats includes the following, depending on the intended use:
- Shampoos: for sensitive, for moisturizing, for volume and shine, tinted, for long-haired | short-haired, hairless, for kittens, adults, etc. Brands: BIO-GROOM, 8in1, Jerob, Beaphar;
- Special for fleas;
- Leave-in: dry, foam | mousse, spray. These products are applied to the pet’s fur, then cleaned off with a comb. Follow the instructions on the package;
- Degreasing paste for wool;
- Conditioners: are divided into leave-in and leave-in sprays. We recommend using it as a final step. Brands: BIO-GROOM, Doctor VIC, Jerob, Beaphar;
- Powder for show preparation. Popular Jerob, BIO-GROOM, Chris Christensen;
- Wipes: universal, for eyes, ears, nose, paws, wool, intimate hygiene, dental hygiene;
- Rubber brushes for combing wet wool;
- Protective collar;
- A mesh bathing bag is a bag in which the pet is placed. We do not recommend it, it is not convenient for water procedures.
Rubber wool brush
CitiKity simulator
The essence of this simulator is that it includes plastic in the form of a tray and there are 7-8 sections on it. That is, the question of how to train a cat to pee on the toilet can be resolved in 7-8 weeks. This tray should be placed under the baby cat and covered with cat sand, and then left there for a week.
You need to train the cat to jump in there. After a week, you need to cut out the first section - the smallest circle that is in the middle. The cat continues to get used to walking.
- After a week, cut out even more. Eventually, when there are no sections left at all, you will end up with a healthy hole. Thus, the animal learns to relieve itself in the toilet on its own. If you teach it from two months, it takes about a year and a half.
- The instructions say that you can train from 6 months, but the sooner you do this, the better, because the older the cat gets, the more difficult it is to influence him.
- During this time, there will be cases when the cat will go the wrong way, relieve itself in all corners, for which it needs to be punished. This punishment lasts for a week, after which everything is repeated, but patience is important here.
- Teaching a cat to go to the toilet is not an easy job, but at the same time, it is an opportunity to study his habits, character, and behavior.
In the future, the owner will already know that if a cat, for example, rushes around the apartment and meows loudly, this means that he wants it big. If he starts clinging to the carpet with his paws and spinning around the wall, it means that he wants something small.
How often can cats be bathed?
Bathing should not be considered a regular activity, such as deworming. Washing is an optional procedure. Therefore, it is impossible to say how many times a year or a month a bath day should be arranged or, for example, to say that an animal should be bathed every 3 months.
The hair follicles on a cat's skin are surrounded by sebaceous glands that produce secretions. Sebum protects the skin from germs and bacteria. Therefore, you cannot bathe your cat often - it becomes susceptible to skin diseases and especially lichen. Washing reduces the protective functions of the skin and weakens the immune system. The hairs become thinner, dry out, and the cat may develop dandruff.
The frequency of washing a cat directly depends on the degree of pollution, lifestyle, nutrition, hair length, and level of shedding. It is believed that long-haired cats should be bathed no more than 5-6 times a year, short-haired cats - 2-3 times a year. The main thing is not more than once a month. The exception is sphinxes and show animals.
Final tips
When a cat learns to relieve itself in the toilet, it will be important to follow some rules:
- Leave the toilet door slightly open so that the cat can pass through without any problems.
- The toilet seat cannot be lowered. The cat should relieve itself without hindrance
It is recommended to create a diet and track when the cat relieves itself after eating. The owner can adjust this mode to suit his schedule.
