TheBuzzReads.com | Explore Popular Blogs

6 tips to toilet train a house cat

As a cat owner, one might assume that pet training is more suited to dog parents and that one’s hyper-independent feline furball would resist any attempts at teaching. But one might be surprised that it’s pretty easy to train cats. This is especially beneficial if one’s plagued by the stink of an overflowing litter box and wants to toilet-train their feline companion. Here are some proven training tips that can work.

Keep one bathroom only
It’s important not to confuse the cat and have a designated bathroom for its business. One can choose a bathroom that’s easiest for the cat to access.

Move the litter box into the bathroom
Since the cat is used to the functions of a litter box, it will need to associate the bathroom with the elimination area. Move the litter box next to the toilet and let it defecate there a few times to get used to the new spot. Cats are self-learners, so patience is the key to training them.

Raise the litter box gradually
The litter box should be raised gradually to the toilet seat’s height. It’s essential to slow down this process to ensure that the feline is comfortable with the height of the toilet. One can stack up newspapers, phone books, cardboard, or old magazines at the bottom to raise the level of the litter box.

Litter box onto the toilet seat
Finally, place the litter box on top of the toilet seat and let the cat get used to its height and placement for a few days. The cat will eventually learn to jump onto the toilet seat quickly and confidently.

Get a training tray
Once the cat is used to the height of the litter box, replace it with a training tray or training seat with a small indent in the middle. The indent can be enlarged gradually so the cat feels comfortable eliminating directly in the toilet. One can DIY the training tray by drilling a hole into an aluminum roasting pan or tray. It’s essential to fill up the tray with litter so the cat doesn’t notice a drastic change in its surroundings. After each session, one can gradually decrease the quantity of litter in the tray. On a side note, sticking the tray to the toilet seat with duct tape is important to ensure it doesn’t move and disbalance the cat. Any accidents here might drop the training back to square one.

Transition to the toilet seat
Let the training tray sit in its place for a few weeks. Remove the training tray once the cat feels at ease with the elevated position and performs its actions instinctively. Ensure that the cat is comfortable defecating without any litter in the tray by this step. Add some litter if the cat is uncomfortable with water in the toilet. Lastly, always remember to keep the toilet seat up.

These tips have usually proven to toilet-train cats. But one should remember that there may be inevitable setbacks, including accidents or unwillingness to get trained even after multiple attempts. This might usually happen with older cats who experience joint pain and refuse to get on. So, it’s essential to be aware of these concerns as well.

Popular Reads

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

How many times have allergies caused you to sneeze every time you take a ride in the open air? Or rashes on coming in contact with a plant? Or swelling as a result of a peanut allergy? Sneezing, running noses, watery eyes, rashes, swelling all these reactions due to allergies can be quite distressing. Allergies are more common and can be caused by various things. The cause of allergies is still unknown, it could be genetic or just a singular development. However, they can be easily detected by just visiting your doctor and undergoing some tests. Read on to know more about what are allergies and how to detect them. What are allergies? The immune system is designed to fight any entrant in the body that it recognizes as foreign. However, at times, the immune system becomes over vigilant and starts fighting foreign entrants that are not harmful. Substances that cause the immune system to react this way are called “allergens”, and when you display symptoms of these interactions, you are diagnosed “allergic” to the substance. Allergens can include plants, grass, pollen, dust, food, animal dander among others. While symptoms like running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes, itching, and others, are all attributed to allergic reactions.

5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

A common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and progressive disease that affects the brain and motor functions of the body. The disease progresses through stages. It begins to affect the regions of the brain that control language, thought, and memory. In most of the cases, it begins with a slight memory loss. In the final stages, Alzheimer’s disease leads to the loss of various abilities including motor skills, speech, and independent movement. Here are a few frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s. What are the causes? Alzheimer’s disease does not have any definite cause. Research has been unable to conclude whether Alzheimer’s is developed by one cause or multiple ones. The exact cause of the ailment is not yet known. However, there are multiple factors that may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the major causes is ageism. Also, a family history of Alzheimer’s is another major risk. This may lead to the inheritance of genes that cause this disease. Some other possible risk factors that can cause Alzheimer’s include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol. What are the symptoms? In most cases, the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive ability.

Four important steps in anemia management

Hemoglobin is a protein molecule in the red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Its richness in iron gives blood its red color. Anemia is a condition where a person has low hemoglobin or red blood cell count. From an underlying disease to nutrient deficiencies, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the onset of this condition. There are many forms of anemia. Some of them include: Iron deficiency anemia -This is caused due to low iron levels in the blood. Most common causes of this type of anemia are heavy menstruation or internal bleeding. Vitamin deficiency anemia – This type of anemia is caused by the deficiency of vitamin C, B-12 or folate Aplastic anemia – Damaged stem cells in the bone marrow fail to produce enough red blood cells, leading to aplastic anemia. Sickle cell anemia – This is a condition characterized by the development of abnormal crescent-shaped red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia – This is a blood disorder caused due to premature death of red blood cells. Thalassemia – This is caused due to low amounts of hemoglobin in the blood. The blood disorders vary in duration and severity. Prompt diagnosis, and treatment are important because anemia could also be due to an underlying condition.