Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

Forget the litter box: This cat was trained to use the toilet

Can cats be potty trained? We looked into it (plus a video guide)

Rebekkah Adams
By

Cats are one of the best pets out there because they’re smart, independent, and cute. Unfortunately, they usually go hand in hand with a litter box, which isn’t necessarily our favorite part of the cat equation. Regular litter changing is essential to kitty life but can also come with smells, bugs, and even some risk of disease. Wouldn’t it be better if they could just be potty trained? While it won’t work for every household, some cats can indeed learn to use the toilet.

@_kot_tsar_

#cat #pet #goestothetoilet #toilet #toilet #kitty #catintheCzechRepublic #home #tile #кот #mellygoeslaw #ходитвтуалет #унитаз #туалет #котик #котиквчехии #домашний #плитка

♬ оригинальный звук – Tsar

This trending TikTok showcases the steps you need to take to teach your feline to use the bathroom human style.

  • First, we see an owner setting up a makeshift litter box on top of the toilet seat. Note you do need a special insert for this first part to hold the litter and cat poo. It goes on top of the toilet bowl and beneath the seat.
  • After this is in place, he adds some kitty litter. Our explainer shows the audience how his cat approaches and sniffs about before climbing up to try out his new bathroom. We also discover that the special insert includes a hole in the middle that can open and close, meaning while at first you will include the litter, the goal is to eventually have your pet go straight into the bowl.
  • Finally, this handy mouser demonstrates how to potty train a cat.
Recommended Videos

Commenters loved this trick, with many stating they had tried it or even managed to train their kitty this way. “I tried and was successful,” said nguyentrang8692. However, many started to poke holes in the plan, including cailyn who asked, “What if we only have 1 toilet?” Rosa Lin had an even more important query, “This is good, but how do I train him to use the bidet!?”

A cat sits on the table looking mad
Paul Hanaoka / Unsplash

Can you teach your cat to use the toilet?

A few additional posters questioned whether this was safe and healthy for the animal. “This is great and all, but it’s not that good for them,” mentioned nads. Of course, many pet parents manage to train their kitties to use the bathroom without any concerns, but you should keep a few things in mind.

First, cats are hard-wired to bury their feces, and that’s why we get them litter boxes in the first place. Some just won’t learn this method at all and might retaliate when you start to take their box away. Others won’t have the agility to jump onto the cat toilet without falling through (and remember, you’ll have to keep that seat down all the time). Lastly, it can become incredibly difficult to board your pet in a facility if they no longer use a litter box since there almost certainly won’t be toilets (you may face similar issues traveling).

All in all, you should discuss with your family and vet to ensure this will work for you and your cat before giving it a shot. In reality, it’s probably more of a TikTok thing, and that’s totally okay.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
Why you should feel honored if your cat sleeps at your feet
If you've ever wondered about this cat behavior, this article is for you
Calico cat lying on a white comforter

Have you noticed that when you go to sleep, your cat automatically heads to the foot of the bed and curls up by your feet? It's no mistake, and it's not your cat giving you the cold shoulder, either. This is a deliberate decision on your kitty's part, and there are many reasons why they might choose to sleep there instead of curling up on your stomach or by your shoulder. In fact, if your cat sleeps by your feet, you should take it as a compliment and feel flattered.

So, why do cats sleep at your feet? It's a mix of your cat's affection for you, a feeling of safety, and even the body heat you generate that play into your cat's decision to sleep at the foot of the bed.

Read more
Can cats eat raw chicken? Yes, but there are huge health risks you need to know about
Facts about feeding you cat raw chicken
A bowl of raw chicken plus supplements to feed to a pet

You've probably heard all about raw diets for pets. After all, more pet owners than ever want to give their animals a healthier diet! Given that wild cats eat raw meat all the time, it seems to make sense that your domestic cat would also benefit from these kinds of meals. But feeding uncooked meats, including raw chicken, is complicated, and it carries some risks.

There are definitely benefits of feeding raw chicken to cats, but it's also important to understand the concerns and to talk to your vet about your cat food plans so you can make the dietary choice that's right for your animal. Can cats eat raw chicken? Yes. But whether it's a good idea to feed cats raw chicken is a better question to consider.

Read more
4 reasons why cats wag their tails while lying down
This behavior is almost always never something to worry about
Cat yawns while sitting in a window

We know all about dog tail wagging, and most pet owners can spot the difference between a happy twitch and a cautious one. But did you realize that cats use their tails to express themselves, too? Like with dogs, the cat tail swish could mean a few different things, and it's important to have some sense of feline behavior — and your specific kitty — to decipher their movements. So why do cats wag their tails while lying down? We'll walk you through the most common causes and when you might need to step in.

Why do cats wag their tails while lying down?
If you stumble upon your kitty lying down and only moving their tail, it's probably because of one of these four reasons.
They feel happy or playful
You might see your cat lying lazily in the sun, but suddenly they give a little tail twitch as you approach. It's not your imagination. They're excited to see you and ready to play. Assuming you don't note any signs of aggression (we'll get to those later), you should head on over to pet your cat or grab their favorite toy and start a game.
It's hunting time
We can all picture the lion stalking their prey while slowly moving their tail back and forth — your cat does this, too. Oftentimes, this one will happen when they're lying on a perch or near a window and can spy on birds or small mammals in the yard. It could even be that they've spotted a fly and will pounce at any minute. All you need to do here is reach for your camera and enjoy your silly kitty at their best.
They're stressed
A cat that feels stressed will often floof their tail and start to wag it. Kitties generally puff up their fur to appear larger and more menacing. This action may also combine with an arched back or a hiss. Alternatively, sometimes tail thumping comes from overstimulation. You'll recognize pretty quickly which movements indicate fear and which mean fun.
They're dreaming
Sometimes, you'll observe your mouser twitch their tail while sleeping. It could come from a simple muscle spasm just like you get when you sleep (it also might mean they're hunting down prey in their dreams). Additionally, your sleepy kitty may be, well, faking it. They might look asleep but are actually just resting and waiting for you to come over.

Read more