Bringing a new cat or kitten into your home is an exciting experience, but it often comes with the need to manage their bathroom habits. While litter boxes are the traditional solution, many cat owners are curious about toilet training their feline companions. This method, while requiring patience and consistency, can lead to a significantly cleaner home environment. This guide will walk you through the process of toilet training your cat in seven easy steps, transforming their bathroom routine gently and effectively.
Step One: Relocate the Litter Box
Begin by moving your cat’s current litter box to a location directly beside the toilet. Ensure your cat is comfortable using the litter box in this new spot and allow them ample time to adjust. This initial step is crucial for acclimating your cat to the general vicinity of the toilet. Remember, moving too quickly can confuse your cat, potentially leading to accidents in other parts of the house, which can be challenging to correct. Let your feline friend set the pace for advancing to the next stage.
Step Two: Gradually Elevate the Litter Box
Once your cat is accustomed to the litter box next to the toilet, begin to gradually raise its height. Use stable objects like stacks of newspapers or phone books to elevate the litter box incrementally. Each time you increase the height, remove a small amount of litter from the box. It’s important to secure the litter box to the elevating objects to prevent it from shifting when your cat jumps on or off.
Step Three: Position the Litter Box Over the Toilet Seat
Continue moving the elevated litter box closer to the toilet, about one inch each day, until it is positioned directly over the toilet seat. Concurrently, reduce the amount of litter in the box to a thin layer, no more than one inch deep. This phase helps your cat become accustomed to balancing and aiming while on a higher platform.
Step Four: Introduce a Training Box
This step involves replacing the traditional litter box with a specialized “training box” that can safely support your cat’s weight. You have a couple of options: you can purchase a commercial cat toilet training system or create your own. To make a DIY training box, tape a piece of wax paper securely over the entire toilet seat, then add flushable litter to the wax paper. Alternatively, you can tape a bowl or aluminum pan to the edges of the toilet seat, place flushable litter inside, and then lower the toilet seat to hold the pan in place. It is recommended to clean out the litter after each use and consider adding a pinch of catnip to the clean litter to further encourage your cat’s use of this new setup.
Step Five: Transition to Using the Toilet Bowl
Now, begin transitioning your cat to using only the toilet bowl. This is achieved by gradually increasing the size of the hole in the center of the wax paper or aluminum pan. As the opening gets larger, you will simultaneously decrease the amount of litter provided, working towards a point where no litter remains when the cover is removed entirely. This phase teaches your cat to eliminate directly into the water.
Step Six: Encourage Flushing (or Flush for Them)
After your cat has successfully used the toilet, it’s important to flush it. However, it is generally advised not to teach your cat to flush the toilet themselves. While cats can learn this behavior, they might find it amusing and flush repeatedly, leading to significant water waste.
Step Seven: Reward and Reinforce
Positive reinforcement is key to successful toilet training. Offer your cat a treat and praise them immediately after they have successfully used the toilet. This reward system helps your cat associate the toilet with a positive outcome. If your cat seems hesitant about the water in the bowl, you can add a small amount of litter to the water. This can help them associate the smell with their familiar litter box, easing their apprehension.
For a visual aid, you can download an infographic detailing these seven steps.
This toilet training process, when followed with patience and consistency, can be a rewarding experience for both you and your feline companion, leading to a cleaner and more convenient home environment.
References:
Hartz. (n.d.). Toilet Training a Cat. Hartz.com. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.hartz.com/toilet-training-a-cat/
Hartz. (2023, July). Toilet Training Cat Infographic. Hartz.com. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from /wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Toilet-Training-Cat-Infographic.pdf
