Month 2 (of the Red Stage)

Right ... it's been a nightmare, but there is light at the end of the tunnel ... we've gone from the Red stage to the Amber stage and BACK to the Red stage again. The kids had a phobia with a big(-ish) hole with what looks like a swimming pool(!) at the bottom of it. We'd put the Amber on - kids will poke around, look thru the hole and refuse to do ANYTHING (except Scratch has taken to peeing in the bath of all bloody places!) ... and after a couple of days of "nothing" then I'd start to panic and put the Red stage back and *boom* Sniff'll be doing his "thing" (omg I swear he pee's and poo's like a dog - THERE IS SO MUCH!!!)

After much prodding from Paulie (ouch) ... I found via the Net that others had the same problem - their kids refusing to progress from the Red stage *argh!*

So ... 2 fundemental issues ...

1) the kids are uncertain about doing their business over a big(ish) hole
2) the litter (crystals) hisses when it hits the water (during their digging routine) which I gather is very off-putting

So ... now we're back on the Amber stage ... LOTS of treats and encouragement ... AND a piece of webbing over the hole - and we've got progress YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sigh* omg ... so much for "8 weeks" ...






This was using cling film ... not good - can still see thru it ... and on digging, their claws would cut thru it!

(I'll take a pic of the webbing we're currently using once the kids are used to it - which I hope is SOON!)

Day Whatever(!)

Omg I am so OVER this!!! :'-(

Kwitter thingo on the loo ... stool in the way ... kids are using it properly ... clean it out every 2 days or so ... unclip it every time we have to use the toilet ... maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan I can't wait until the kids join the Land of the Adults!!






















The Amber stage wants to take control now ...



AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the middle of switching from red to amber, Scratch (luv her dearly, but she so tries my patience!) decides to pee in the bleedin' shower!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then it's sniff-sniff-scratch-scratch-dig-dig and inspect the hole ... AND DO NOTHING!!! :'-(

*sigh*

Back to the red stage ... I suppose they're not ready (and I should watch the training DVD too)

Hmm ... I am calm now ... have just seen the DVD - VERY informative. Can see where I'm going wrong - am too impatient (duh!) and the kids are stubborn buggers!!! We have to do things at THEIR pace (lordy) ... stay tuned

Day 7

Hmm ... interesting how the Litter Kwitter people don't tell you how MUCH litter you're going to have to go through to make this training effective. Lucky I bought 6 litres of the stuff - and we've already used almost 50% of it!

With the 2 kids, the pee DOES tend to build up very quickly and there's only so much the crystals will absorb (forget the clumping stuff - too much wastage and "sprinkles" all over the floor lol). I've found I have to replace the crystals every 2 days ... and lucky I do; I think I've found the limit of the kids' (especially Sniff's) endurance in holding their bladder! Day 5 - the inner ring of the red container was SWIMMING in it *ack*

*sigh* it's for the best - it has to be!

Anyway - here's a cute pic (I think it is - tough if you's don't lol) - err ... excuse the mess in the background sorry

Day 5

Omg ... unreal ... while cleaning out the "toilet seat" out (more on that later) with Sniff sniffing around me, I thought "Hmm ... why not?!"












That's my boy!!! Scratch (little girlie that she is) passed - methinks she needs a few more days of getting used to this thing (so back down to the floor it went)

Day 3

I'm too hungover today to blog anything ... needless to say, the kids are doing their bit for the envionment :-)

Day 2

I'm so proud of our babies ... not 1 minute after placing the Litter Kwitter thingo in the bathroom (and hiding their original tray), it got christened!!! No dramas, no fuss ...





Sniff is immediately interested and starts pawing around ...





Scratch (the spoilt one) now wants to know what her brother is doing ... and join in! Talk about space issues ...








Girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl ... can't a man be left in peace???










Houston, we have pee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





... and later on in the evening, we have poo!!! (yes - Yours Truly has clear it out *gag* ... but it is a very promising start)

Day 1

Here we go ... unwrapping the box (after 5 days of just sitting there unopened hehe) ...






... and leaving it on the floor for the kids to get used to ... hmm ... Sniff certainly seems intrigued hehe






Now THIS is what we have to put up with (*gag*) ... DISGUSTING isn't it? Plus having to sweep the floor of excess litter ... not being able to walk around barefoot ... *bleurgh* ... it had to go!!!

Day 0

G'day everyone ...

We're Scratch (left) 'n' Sniff (right) - and our dads (Paul and Dale) have decided that it's about time we grew up ... and stop using our litter tray! Omg ... that means we're going to have to queue up like they do!!!

Right ... Dale here (Paul's a bit of a technophobe hehe) ... I was down at PetBarn in Alexandria shopping for yet more kitty litter crystals (omg - I may as well just line the tray with $50 notes and throw them out when the kids have finished their business!) ... when I saw what I originally thought was an April Fool's stunt ... the Litter Kwitter! I couldn't believe it ... it was for real ... training any aged cat to use the toilet (flushing is an optional extra - pass!). So naturally, without consulting the other dad, I made an instant decision - and bought it!

And here begins the 8(!) weeks journey of discovery ...