How to potty train your house cat     

What’s easier than toilet training your children and teaching your husband to lower the lid? Toilet training your cat.

If Jinxy the cat, from the Ben Stiller film, Meet the Parents, can learn to use the toilet, you can teach your cat to do it to. Plus, you don’t have to be a Hollywood animal trainer to accomplish the task.

The best way to get started is to purchase a cat kit. CittiKitty and LitterKwitter are just a few of those available for purchase. There are also plenty of YouTube videos to help you along. Kits are anywhere from $20 to $100, but the important point is to find one that is sturdy and takes your cat through several stages of training. Cats are really smart, so it wouldn’t hurt to have your cat watch these videos with you.

Seriously, before you start, an important question to ask yourself might be, “Why should I teach my cat to use the toilet?” Money savings, the general hassle and unsanitary issues related to a litter box are at the top of the list.

Having a great pet trick you can brag about to your friends doesn’t hurt either. If you can teach him to flush, you might gain your own YouTube following or you might have to get a second job to pay your water bill. Some cats like to watch the swirly water…again and again and again.

Start with a cat that is litter box trained and around 3 months of age or older. If you don’t have a cat, the local humane society would be more than willing to get you started.

The idea is to get the cat to balance itself over the toilet. Position the litter box near the toilet and begin raising the box until it is as high as the toilet seat. You can use phone books or a box to accomplish this. Make sure it is sturdy or your training will be set back if the box, its contents and the cat take a nosedive.

Once the cat is convinced you aren’t trying to kill it and is used to it in this position, you will place the litter box on the toilet seat. Don’t forget to remove it for your own personal use. Once Fluffy is good with this, you can replace the box with the first toilet insert from the kit. Then follow the steps and you should have a toilet trained kitty in about 4-6 weeks.

Don’t forget to leave the lid up and the bathroom door open. If you follow these tips you will be flush with success and won’t be watching your money go down the drain.