Day 34

When I was getting my expectations high, things slowed down…

The cats where doing well with tin number 1 so I upgraded to tin number 2. Ziggy seemed to have no problems at first...

The cake tin, tin number 1, was completely accepted. I was 24 hours away last weekend and the cats used the tin without any problems. It was full when I came back which could have been a problem and lead to devious behaviour. 

The construction of the contraption for tin number 2, the pudding tin.

Tin number 2 in place with the hole half covered.

The reception of tin number 2.

Thus, yesterday morning I moved a step further: the pudding tin, with a much wider hole and less litter. However, I was cautious: I covered half the hole with milk carton, to begin with.

My champion, Mimi, has no problems: discreetly she pees down the hole and does her solid stuff on the litter. However, Ziggy went to my studio carpet twice, once just right NOW!

Mimi doing it on tin number 2 without problems.

Once again, I picked it up and called him to watch the gross stuff go down the drain, so he understands the water covers it all up. Plus, I sprinkled the carpet with an old cloth deodorant I found in the pantry.

In face of this set back I covered even more of the hole in the tin. So now ¾ are covered. I hope Ziggy gets back on track soon, because in two days we will be travelling to the my mother’s seaside house and you never know what can happen when he has access to the outside flowerbeds…

Deodorant for the carpet to discourage Ziggy.

Conclusions until now: the time it takes you to toilet train your cat depends on the cat. If you have a highly intelligent female like Mimi – that likes challenges and may even see it as game  –  it will take you less than a month. If it wasn’t for her brother, Mimi would be doing it directly in the toilet today.

If you have a stubborn digger like Ziggy, expect much opposition as you diminish the litter and open the hole.

Of course if you have two cats you have to go according to the slow one. And never rush because you are only setting back the process. It’s a bit like in life: sometimes it is more productive to take it slow.

Just now I covered the hole in more than 3/4.