Call me crazy, but...

I have dedicated this weekend to start potty training my kitties. I know, it is crazy. Completely crazy. Borderline nuts. But hear me out. I moved to smaller apartment recently and I don't have good place to put the two litter boxes I had previously used. I found a product online a while ago called CitiKitty and it helps potty train cats. It is especially for those who live in small places, want to save money by not buying litter, and be more environmentally conscious. I have been considering ordering a CitiKitty kit for a while, but once I moved into my new apartment I decided I would give it a shot.

I received my potty training kit on Friday. I hurried home after work and set it up for Bella and Diego. The directions advised that I place the cats (seperately, of course) on the mini litter box that now is placed in the toilet. Here is how it works...at first it is basically a litter box that fits inside the toilet. There are perforated rings in the box and each week (or longer, depending on progress) I remove a ring. When the training is complete, the kitties learn to use the toilet and are not dependent on litter or standing in the box. When I set it up, Bella was a bit curious and Diego was struck with complete fear. He was wiggling around and did not want to be put on the toilet. He fought it all the way. I knew he would be the problem kitty. Ugh.

Anyway, since Friday evening we have had a few developments. The CitiKitty has definitely been used, but I believe only by Bella and not by Diego. I have to remove the contraption from the toilet when I need to go to the bathroom (which I am hoping will be a small sacrifice for the intended outcome). When I have done this, Diego has come in and used it on the floor. I almost wanted to stop him, put it back on the toilet, and then encourage him to go, but it isn't that easy to stop a cat from going to the bathroom when they need to go. I hope I am not inhibiting his progress by allowing him to do this. Maybe he needs smaller baby steps?

Last night, he was running around the apartment, making TONS of noise, meowing, scratching at plastic bags and magazines and I had a sneaking suspicion that he needed to go to the bathroom. A few minutes earlier he was talking a lot and leaded to me the laundry area, where his box used to be. I opened up the door and showed him the box wasn't there anymore and he seemed a bit confused. After this, was when he started to act up. It was after 1am and I was ready to go to bed. I broke down, took his litter box off the toilet, put it on the floor and, needless to say, he couldn't have been more relieved. I felt horrible that he had been holding out for his box, but how am I supposed to get him to use the CitiKitty properly?!

Anyway, if you don't want to read about cats and their bathroom habits, then I do not suggest reading my blog in the upcoming weeks. More interesting updates to come...

Here are some pictures from Friday evening.

CitiKitty arrived!

Diego likes the box it came in more than the kit itself.

All ready to go! The white powder is litter deodorizer, but more importantly attracts a cat to its litter box. I thought I should put some in so they could locate it easier.