Teaching your cat to use the toilet is a bad idea for so many reasons. Ender, the cat in the video above, demonstrates one — or all — of them.
Being a cat parent can be a dirty job sometimes, and we’re all probably pros at cleaning up messes by now. At least we got some laughs out of Ender’s little “accident.” Send this video to someone who could use a laugh today, but make sure they don’t get grossed out too easily!
Maybe after watching this video — or the movie Meet The Parents — you’re wondering if you can teach your cat to use the toilet. Well, if you watched the video closely, you might see a few flaws in that plan. Here are some reasons your cat should stick to the litter box instead of the human toilet.
Why Your Cat Should Use The Litter Box, Not The Toilet
(Picture Credit: © copyright 2011 Sharleen Chao/Getty Images)Your cat will be much happier eliminating in clean litter boxes where they can feel secure and cover their excrement. If you try to teach them to use a toilet, Ender’s mishap in the video above may seem like the least of your worries.
Here are three reasons it’s a bad idea to train cats to eliminate in toilets:
- In addition to the physical reasons for elimination, urine and feces are part of a cat’s communication system. Cats need to be able to dig and cover their excrement. Sometimes they may choose not to cover it. Toilets do not give them the choice. This can result in a cat becoming stressed. Stressed cats often resort to instinctual behaviors, such as finding other, less stressful places to go to the bathroom.
- Some cats enjoy playing in toilets. The lid has to remain up for cats who use toilets. This can be problematic. I don’t think I have to go into details.
- Cats can feel trapped in bathrooms. They can feel vulnerable and stressed in situations where there’s no way to escape. Again, stressed cats often resort to instinctual behaviors, such as finding other, less stressful places to go to the bathroom.
Has your cat had any mishaps in the bathroom like Ender did in the video? What would you do if your cat tried to use the toilet? Let us know in the comments below!
