You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for the best toilet trainer for cats or cat toilet seat reviews. Toilet Travels, discusses everything that has to do with toilets.
Toilets are a topic that most people avoid talking about, however we use them multiple times every day. Can you imagine what life would be like without toilets (it would be gross).
But we’re not the only ones who can benefit from toilets. Our pets, specifically our cats, can learn to use the toilet.
While they won’t be able to flush they can certainly be trained to deposit their waste in the toilet bowl. It’s an amazing feat and something to see, but it’s has many other benefits as well.
Teaching a cat to use the toilet saves money on kitty litter, is much more hygienic, and saves you a lot of time with clean up (no one likes cleaning or changing the kitty litter.
In this article, we’ll review the best toilet trainer for cats and share a few helpful videos that show the process. We’ll highlight the pros and cons of each.
We really like the CityKitty made famous from SharkTank, and we also like the Litter Kwitter.
We hope you find exactly what you’re looking for regarding cat toilet seat training!
Traditional Cat Litter Box (and problems)
Cats bury their waste in litter to hide the smell. Why do they do this? It’s an innate survival skill they evolved in the wild to protect themselves.
Since domesticating cats we’ve accommodated their needs by providing kitty litter in our homes. Owners usually hide the litter box somewhere out of the way, such as a laundry room.
A kitty litter box is unsightly, contains a lot of bacteria, and stinks if not changed regularly.
The box requires routine cleaning to remove the waste and frequently needs changing. The problem is that no one enjoys cleaning the box.
The demands of using kitty litter require two precious things:
- Time
- Money
What is the Cat Toilet Training Seat
You’re in for a big surprise if you haven’t heard of the cat toilet training seat. Don’t worry it’s not a joke and it really works.
The majority of Americans first saw the product on the popular television show called Shark Tank. A women introduced the product and skeptical investors listened to here as she claimed her cat had learned to use the toilet. Could this really be true?
How To Toilet Train Your Cat
In the section below, we’ll share the necessary steps to train your cat to use the toilet. It’s a multistep process that will take time.
The purpose is to teach your cat that they can use the water in their toilet to hide their waste. Once this skill is learned and mastered, the training devices can be removed and your cat will use the toilet regularly without a problem.
Toilet Training Kit Reviews
-
CitiKitty Cat Toilet Training Kit
The CitiKitty is the most popular cat toilet training kit and one reason is because of Shark Tank. I remember watching this episode and thinking “is this a joke” but guess what, it works! 1000’s of people have purchased the CitiKitty.
The CitiKitty advertises itself as a way to get rid of litter boxes and reduce house cleaning. Taking the steps to toilet train your cat will save money on kitty litter and reduce waste.
Many people think training occurs only on kittens but CitiKitty believes otherwise. The toilet training kit can be used on older cats, fat cats, and kittens alike, and even for homes with multiple cats!
Are you worried about the size of your toilet? No worries, CitiKitty fits on round and elongated toilets. The training kit includes:
- Training seat with insert
- Guide
- Tip card
- Catnip that will attract your kitty.
The training takes place over 1 month, so it’s not for people who like quick fixes. As each week passes, one ring will be removed. Before you know it your cat will be squatting over the toilet just like a human.
With almost 2000 reviews the CitiKitty works. One reviewer mentioned that homeowners should take the training process seriously and expect to clean up accidents near the toilet.
Another customer thought 1 month was far too short and cat owners should wait an extra week to remove each ring (making the total training time 2 months). Almost all reviewers said it worked, but added a few tips to ensure the process goes smoothly.
As you navigate toilet training you’ll find your cats may react differently (some cats are smarter than others – just like people). Adjust to a more individualize training session as needed!
-
Litter Kwitter – Cat Toilet Training System
First things first, Litter Kwitter is a great name! Similar to our # 1 ranking the Litter Kwitter is a multistep training kit that takes about 8 weeks for you kitty to master. It takes time, but the results mean no more mess, germs, and smells around the house. And don’t forget, less cleaning for you!
The kit comes with a toilet seat cover that protects your toilet seat and colored inserts that attach inside. Every two weeks you’ll remove an insert and before you know your kitty will be hitting the toilet water (now if you can only get him/her to flush).
The kitty toilet training system comes with a DVD instructional video and guidelines for the user. Similar to the other kit customers offer some helpful tips to make the learning process smoother and less confusing for your cat.
One thing reviews mention is to put kitty litter in the toilet so your cat understands where to go. It’s also wise to start a new insert on the weekends while you’re around to help out. There will be times when kitty just needs some encouragement.
It fits most toilets and weighs 2.6 pounds (shipping weight).
-
Hkin Cat Toilet Trainer – Kitty Training System
The Hkin toilet trainer is very similar to the other products listed on this review. However it is a simplified version without some of the extras. It is also less reviewed.
It uses the same concept of trays on top of the toilet. Week by week the trays are removed until all that’s left is the toilet seat. Once this occurs and your cat will be defecating in the toilet water!
The blue plastic trays are non toxic and safe for pets and humans. The trays use a grooved design that makes each section easy to remove. As expected the training trays fit most toilets.
At a reasonable price point, this cat toilet training kit is another option for you and your kitty. It comes with instructions that help with the process!
-
Studyset Pet Cat Toilet Seat Training
Our 4th option for a kitty toilet trainer comes from Studyset. Although we’d strongly recommend the #1 and #2 training kits, we wanted to provide more options.
Studyset is most similar to the Hkin toilet trainer and boasts no special extras.
This training system takes the same amount of time as the others on our list and features 4 trays that are slowly removed over a period of weeks. Apply the kitty litter to the tray and reduce the amount over time.
Once your cat realizes the toilet water will hide the scent of their waste you’ll be in business. No more buying kitty litter or cleaning the box. No more smell!
How Long Does Cat Toilet Training Take (Less Than A Day?)
Everyone wants a quick fix. We lack time so we aim for results that can be achieved quickly with minimal effort. Know this: You will not be able to train your cat to use the toilet in less than a day.
Developing a new skill isn’t an easy task. If you were to start surfing today, how long would it take for you to learn? I’d estimate at least a week and more-than-likely a month of continuous practice.
Cats learn just like us but some skills, like going the bathroom, take more time to develop. Why? Because cats have an innate desire to bury their waste – innate behavior is a tough habit to break.
We’ve reviewed a few toilet training kits and notice they all have one thing in common; time. On average expect your cat to become toilet trained in 1-2 months. The time it takes also depends on the owner’s effort as you’ll be the trainer.
Many customer reviews mention it’s a wise idea to do the training over a longer period of time. Take it slow and make sure your cat has mastered each step before moving on. By moving slow you’ll avoid setbacks.
Toilet Training Cat Tips
We’ve noted the feedback from these kitty toilet trainers. Below are a few tips that will help your cat master the toilet.
- Place the kitty litter box next to the toilet
- Place a small amount of kitty litter in the toilet or on the rings during training
- Feel free to use a stool at the base of the toilet to help your cat jump on the toilet
- Cats are observant, make sure they watch you when helping them with going the bathroom
- Don’t hesitate to leave each ring on longer than the instructions say (hammer home each step before moving on)
- Expect to clean up some mistakes – and let your cat watch you clean up
- Allow your cat to become familiar with the “flush” of the toilet
- Be patient with your cat – the process takes time
Step-By-Step Toilet Training (Teach cat to flush?)
Can You Toilet Train Your Cat Without Buying Anything
If you have a lot of spare time and ingenuity, you can make the rings yourself. To do this you’ll need tools and materials that you’ll need to purchase at a hardware store.
Our honest opinion is that it’s easier to buy the kit rather than make it. Including the cost of materials plus time it will take you is probably not worth the hassle.
Remember, the upfront cost of the cat toilet trainer will be insignificant to the amount you’ll spend on kitty litter over time. The investment pays off over time.
Cat Toilet Training Accidents and Problems
We’ve mentioned above that you should expect a few accidents on and around the toilet. Your cat will be relearning how to use the bathroom and won’t always be accurate.
Be prepared to put some gloves on a get dirty, however it shouldn’t happen frequently. If there happens to be an accident, have your kitty watch as you clean it up and place it in the toilet. Cats are great observers and we should take care of every teachable moment.
Conclusion
Cleaning up a cat litter box is one of the least enjoyable aspects of having cats. The litter box stinks, is riddled with bacteria, and needs frequent changing.
Thankfully, cats can be toilet trained – it sounds crazy right. Cat will use the toilet because water helps eliminate the smell of their waste (in a similar fashion as litter).
The toilet training will take time so don’t expect results overnight. It’s also wise to change steps (remove trays) on the weekend while you’re around the house to help your cat learn.
In this article we reviewed 4 kitty toilet training systems:
- CitiKitty
- LitterKwitter
- Hkim
- StudySet
All 4 work in a similar way however the CitiKitty is the original (as seen on Shark Tank). Our number 1 and 2 options also come with guidelines and more detailed instructions but don’t worry you can find additional instructions and videos on youtube!
Thanks for reading another toilet travels article! We hope you found a few good options for cat toilet training. Follow the process, be patient, and we’re sure your cat will learn.