There is hope for the future!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2003
There is hope for the future!
9
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 3:23am

I have a cat that moved in with me about 3 years ago. She belonged to one of my neighbors but they sure didn't take very good care of her. Her hair was so bad and she was pretty skinny when I started deliberately wooing her away from them. She's better now but still not healthy...liver and pancreas issues...so I'm trying to give her a good life for now since I don't think she's gong to be around too much longer.


I think I may have written about her before. She's the one who has a long history of peeing on my stove (which will ENSURE that she doesn't live long!) But a couple of weeks ago, while I was taking a bath, she hopped up on the toilet and peed into the toilet! I was flabbergasted! (When was the last time you heard that word!) And even more so a couple of days later when I saw her doing it again. There's been a long hiatus since then although there have been a few times when the water in the toilet looked a little yellow. I was never sure whether she was still doing that or whether, in my waning years, I was simply forgetting to flush the toilet. However, it occurred to me last night when I noticed the water looked "used" that there was no toilet paper in there. Now, I might forget to flush but I guarantee that I NEVER forget the toilet paper. And then tonight, sure enough, I walked past the bathroom and there she was.


I can't tell you, in these days of economic downturn, waning retirement opportunities, waxing waistline and sagging breasts, short days and way too much mud, how much it means to me to have this cat doing this.She's awesome. (I do still keep a waterproof cover on the stove, though.)


Kat

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 6:08am
That is so cool!! It makes me wonder if she was trained (can you really train a cat?!!) or if she just taught herself by watching you.

       


 


                              &n

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2006
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 8:08am

I think what you cat has been doing is awesome.


My daughters first pet was a raccoon.I raised it from days old.


Anyways Rufus did go to the bathroom in the toilet .He got imprinted I guess you call it.Grossed me out at first.This furry animal was using our toilet.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-08-2004
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 8:39am

Hi Kat,

What a great story! And bless your heart for taking in this kitty (despite the stovetop issues!). There actually are training kits for teaching felines to "use" the toilet. And I've also seen videos of cats who taught themselves to flush. Unfortunately, once they learn to flush, that becomes a game and your water bill goes up-up-up whether or not the toilet has been "used." LOL!

best,
amy




Amy D. Shojai, CABC
IAABC-Certified Animal Behavior Consultant
www.shojai.com, Free Monthly "Pet Peeves" Newsletter
www.petliferadio.com "Pet Peeves Radio"
www.PetSide.com "Pet Blogger"
http://www.YouTube.com/amyshojai
Author, 22 pet care titles, including:


PETiQuette: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multipet Household
Complete Care for Your Aging Cat/Dog
Complete Kitten Care
The First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats
Chicken Soup




align="left">
Amy D. Shojai, CABC

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 10:42am

Hi Kat


Well what a good little kitty. Hopefully this will become her habit and you will need to just make sure the toliet paper is full LOL Nothing like some good news will all that has been going on lately.


Love ya


                          &n
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-1998
Thu, 12-04-2008 - 11:33am

OMG I wish my cats would just up and do that! How cool! Does she only pee in there? Not the other? Maybe that will come in time too.....you live a charmed

Photobucket
Avatar for cl_campmum_of3
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 12-05-2008 - 11:52am

Wow that is amazing... what a lil smarty!


Kat I think you missed your caling... you are so compassionate towards animals, I think you should have been a vet!


Thanks for wooing the cat over... it needed someone like you!


     

 

          

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 12-05-2008 - 10:59pm
I can pretty well say for certain that she wasn't trained. They don't put that much time into their animals. I think that when I covered the burners and the heat vent, it was the next best place to go and have it all just "disappear". LOL.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 12-05-2008 - 11:02pm
Believe me, having them use the heat vents or the stove burners is a LOT grosser! LOL
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 12-05-2008 - 11:08pm

She just pees...for now.


As for living a charmed life...I don't know about that. Remember, she spent 3 years going in all the most inconvenient places in the house. And now, just as it looks like she's mending her ways, I have two old dogs that try (unsuccessfully, unfortunately) to make it outside when they have to go. So usually, every night when I get home from work and every morning when I get up, there's a line of whatever starting at some point in the kitchen or hall and generally ending just outside the door. I know they're trying but, even so, charming it's not!