Believe it or not there are a growing number of kitty parents who have taught, or are in the process of teaching, their feline companions to use the toilet. Many kitty moms and dads can easily relate to the idea of no longer having a litter box in their home, which can be messy and let’s face it, sometimes smelly. But before you run out to your local pet supply store to pick up a kitty potty training kit, read through our list of pros and cons.

Benefits of teaching your cat to use the toilet

• No longer having a litter box frees up space in your home. For smaller homes this can be a bonus, especially if you have to share your bathroom with your cat’s litter box.
• You will no longer have to clean up litter spills or litter that may get scattered around your litter box
• No more litter dust lingering in the air
• Instead of spending money on litter you can spend money on cat treats, cat toys or maybe even save it to spend on a vacation for you and your favorite fur ball.
• You will no longer have to scoop out dirty litter or clean and wash the litter box, which can be quite messy.
• The smell of urine and feces lingering around your cats litter box will be a thing of the past.
• You and those who live or visit your home will no longer be exposed to cat waste and the germs and bacteria that thrive on cat waste.

Disadvantages of teaching your cat to use the toilet

• You can avoid the negative behavior your cat may exhibit because you are changing up their routine. For example, a frustrated cat may poop or pee on you floor or other parts of your home, like your bed, to show you their displeasure.
• Toilet training your cat can be a lengthy process
• You will have to wipe down your toilet seat before going to the bathroom every time.
• You won’t get to observe any changes in your cat’s waste that could suggest a health problem
• An older cat may have trouble jumping up on the toilet seat
• Your cat could fall in the toilet, this would be quite traumatic
• If you accidentally keep the toilet lid down your cat will have nowhere to go potty
• Your cat can’t flush the toilet

Whether or not you decide that toilet training your cat is right for you and your pet, make sure to do some research and learn about the various toilet training kits available on the market. They all seem to have the same general idea in mind but one device may work better for your cat then another. If you or your cat find yourself getting frustrated or overwhelmed by the process, take a step back and maybe try again at a later time.