Kitty Cosmo: Chapter 4

Kitty Cosmo has advanced yet another step toward using the toilet!!!  The litter pan is in the toilet and she has been using it without complaint for several days.  We’re so so proud of her!!  Here’s the new setup:

First, we tied elastic tightly around the lid and tank.  This is a safety precaution in case kitty Cosmo hits the lid while trying to use the toilet.  I don’t want it to fall on her.  I saw a video of a cat jumping to the seat from the tank, the cat accidentally caught the lid on the way down, the lid fell, and the cat flipped and was caught in what looked like to be a painful position.  I will check and see how kitty gets to the toilet in the future to see if this precaution is necessary or not.  Also, it makes it easy for us to remember to keep the lid up for her.  I guess the smiley face sticky note is no longer needed.

We took her intermediate litter pan (the one that used to be inset in the box, remember?) and placed it on the rim of the toilet seat.  Before we began this process, we measured the toilet carefully and even took a piece of newspaper cut to size when we went to the store to find a pan (we’d already tried all of our pans and bowls, but none of them worked).  We put litter in the pan and waited anxiously to see if she would use it.

We were both talking in the bathroom when kitty Cosmo ventured in.  First, she looked and noticed her litter was not in the usual spot.  Then, she sniffed the toilet seat and LEAPT BACK IN SHOCK when she realized where her litter pan was.  It was HILARIOUS!  All four paws were off the ground at the same time.  I wish we had her reaction on tape, it was so funny.  However, I just spent half an hour in Paint to provide you with this artist’s rendition:

After her initial shock, she spent several minutes circling and sniffing around the toilet.

We made the transition before we went to bed.  After seeing her shock, I was worried and began feeling really guilty.  What am I doing to my poor, sweet little kitty cat?  All she’s wanting to do is go to the bathroom, and here we are trying change everything up on her.  Was she okay?  Was she sad, scared, or thinking we don’t love her anymore?  Oh no, I just fast-forwarded several years in my mind – is this what it’s like having children?  Oh my.  Thankfully, after twenty minutes of worrying, I snapped myself out of it and decided to create a new story in my mind (Thanks Muvie!).  I don’t want to create the scenario I was worried about, and I know the power of positive thinking, so I started believing that everything was just fine.  Kitty is fine with the changes, she’s done well up to now, and she will continue to do well.  She enjoys this much more because it’s cleaner.  We are one loving, happy family.  :)

The next morning, the litter was still unused, but I didn’t think twice about it.  A few hours later, I spied kitty from my desk snooping around the toilet.  She hopped on, fit her body in the pan, and was done shortly after without any fuss.  Yea!!!  Mark and I jumped up, grabbed the treats, and praised her good smart kitty-ness.

After spying on her several times, I’ve made the following observations:

1.  She fits her entire body in the little pan.  I would prefer her to put at least her front paws on the seat, but that will come in future steps.

2.  She balances just fine on the toilet seat without slipping and without a non-skid mat.

3.  After she does her business, she walks around the toilet seat (with all paws on the seat) to paw the litter.  This is so great because she is becoming comfortable on the seat.  Even though she paws the litter a bit, she also paws the toilet seat.  This is great because when she just has water below, she will feel okay pawing the seat without the need for litter.

So what’s the next step?  No, really, what is it?  We haven’t figured out what we’re doing next.  So funny, I just looked over and Cosmo was staring at me with a, “What?!  You don’t know what’s next?” expression on her face.  Or maybe it was, “You mean you’re going to change my bathroom again?!”

Thank you for following along, and I’ll let you know (of course) what the next step is and how it goes as soon as I figure it out.  :)  It’s a learning process for everyone!

Love,

Melanie