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Frequently Asked Questions
About The Litter Kwitter
• What do I do, straight out of the box?
• How long will it take to toilet train my cat using the Litter Kwitter?
• Will the Litter Kwitter arrive with instructions
• Is the training easy to do? Can anyone do it?
• Can any cat learn to use the toilet?
• Can you train kittens to use the toilet?
• Can older cats learn to use the toilet?
• What is the Litter Kwitter made from? Can it hold the weight of a big cat?
• Can a de-clawed cat use the Litter Kwitter?
• My cat has a mobility issue (arthritis, less than 4 legs etc). Can it be trained to use the toilet?
• I have more than one cat. Will I be able to train them all?
• Do cats have to be litter trained to use the Litter Kwitter?
• Will my cat fall into the toilet?
• Do I need any tools to fit the Litter Kwitter onto my toilet?
• Will the Litter Kwitter fit any size toilet bowl?
• I have an elongated toilet. Will the Litter Kwitter fit my toilet?
• Will I have to leave the Litter Kwitter on the toilet permanently?
• I only have one toilet in the house. How can I train the cat to use the toilet if I need to use it too?
• Will litter fall into the toilet?
• Okay, so maybe it works, but why would I want my cat to use the toilet?
• Is it hygienic to share a toilet with a cat?
• What about toxoplasmosis?
• Do all cats carry the toxoplasmosis bug?
• Come on, how can Litter Kwitter possibly train my kitty to use a human toilet?
• How does the Litter Kwitter work?
• What are the advantages of having a toilet trained cat?
• Is the Litter Kwitter good for the environment?
• What is the best way to dispose of the Litter Kwitter?
• I’ve heard of products overseas that claim to toilet train cats. How is yours different?
• What awards has the Litter Kwitter won?
• What publicity has the Litter Kwitter received?
What do I do, straight out of the box?
Read the directions and watch the step-by-step training DVD. Then make sure to take away all of the other litter trays from the house. Cats are smart (geniuses, in fact) but they are creatures of habit so you need to make sure the Litter Kwitter is the only option around. Show your cat where it is and help them up onto the seat so that they know it is safe. Keep the Litter Kwitter disk really clean so it is always ready to go when they are, but don’t use an ammonia-based cleaner because that can make it smell like urine to a cat’s exceptionally sensitive nose.
Litter Kwitter starts next to the toilet with a seat device and a red plastic disk full of litter so your cat knows what it is & where to go to use it.
Then, you put it on the porcelain rim of the toilet, so your cat learns to hop up (easy when you’re as nimble as we are).
Once your cat gets the idea that the toilet is where the action is, you can move to the amber disk. It has a hole in the middle and room for some litter around the edges so that your cat can use it but also starts to learn how to perch on the edge of the seat itself.
It doesn’t usually take too long to get the hang of this so then it’s time to use the green disk. It has a bigger hole so that your cat can balance on the seat and go, knowing that everything will end up in the toilet. Brilliant !!!
How long will it take to toilet train my cat using the Litter Kwitter?
This will depend on a number of factors like your cat’s age, temperament, sense of adventure and intelligence. Most cats figure it out in about 8 weeks or so, as long as you are patient and understanding. If your cat is older (above 8 years) or not litter trained, though, it will probably take a bit longer. They have more bad habits to un-learn. Our oldest successfully trained cat so far is Oscar who started when he was 12 years old! And that's not to mention Lucky the 3-legged cat who overcame some obvious issues to become a Litter Kwitter graduate!
Will the Litter Kwitter arrive with instructions?
The Litter Kwitter ships with full printed instructions plus a DVD to lead you through each stage of the training system. The DVD will play on a PC, MAC or DVD player.
Is the training easy to do? Can anyone do it?
The training is organized into 3 color-coded stages to make it simple for the cat owner to follow. The product is supplied with a 30 minute DVD to actually show cat owners what to do, how to do it & what to expect at each stage.
Can any cat learn to use the toilet?
Any cat that can use a litter tray should be able to learn to use the toilet.
Can you train kittens to use the toilet?
Yes. In fact kittens are probably the easiest to train. However, we don’t recommend training kittens below the age of 3 months or particularly small kittens as they may not be strong or coordinated enough to balance well on the toilet rim.
Can older cats learn to use the toilet?
The simple answer is yes! Customers have told us of their 10, 12 and 15 year old cats successfully learning to use the loo. Young cats have fewer bad habits to unlearn whereas older cats have more entrenched behaviours. However, each cat is different & if you have an older cat you will know its personality well. If it’s generally bright, easy-going and receptive to change then there should be no problem. As a rule of thumb we’d say that up to the age of five or six there should be no problem. For older cats just be prepared to be a little more patient & make changes more slowly.
What is the Litter Kwitter made from? Can it hold the weight of a big cat?
Cats don't like the idea of getting wet. When a cat goes near water they likly have VERY secure footing. The Litter Kwitter is made from the same material as a Firefighter's Hard Hat - it's about as hard and stiff as plastic can get. It wont bend, flex, crack, split or move no matter how large your cat is. If you had a lion at home (a real one, not a pretend one like me) then it would have no problems using the Litter Kwitter - it's really THAT strong!
Cats jump up on the Litter Kwitter with the weight of a cat more than 3 times their weight. Example: If you weigh 100lbs and you jump up 6 inches in the air you will land with the weight of 300lbs because you will be travelling downwards coffeecup due to gravity.
So, if you have a large cat that weighs 20-25lbs (10kg) the Litter Kwitter needs to cope with 60-75lbs (30kg) in weight to support the cat jumping onto it. Fortunately, the Litter Kwitter copes easily with this.
Some other products are made from the same plastic as disposable coffee cups and might not cope so well...
Can a de-clawed cat use the Litter Kwitter?
We see no reason why a de-clawed cat should not be able to use a toilet like any other cat. If you find your cat has trouble gripping onto the toilet seat you could use the anti-slip tape used in baths and showers to prevent slipping.
My cat has a mobility issue (arthritis, less than 4 legs etc). Can it be trained to use the toilet?
The Litter Kwitter has successfully been used to train a 3-legged cat although naturally more care needs to be taken to ensure the cat is stable on the toilet. We don’t recommend training cats with mobility issues but ultimately cat owners know their cats & can make judgements about their ability to adapt.
I have more than one cat. Will I be able to train them all?
Yes. First ensure they all use the same litter tray rather than having their own trays. Then simply start the training from there. The most common issue with multiple cats is caused by the relative speed at which they progress – some are fast, some are slow.
The Litter Kwitter can train more than one cat at a time, but you don't want to let it get too crowded up there. It's best to use more than one Litter Kwitter if you're blessed with many cats - you can use them on separate toilets or even place the Litter Kwitter on a tray of water or some similar container (like in the picture).
The key issue with training more than one cat is that they can sometimes progress at very different paces.
Do cats have to be litter trained to use the Litter Kwitter?
Ideally, yes. The Litter Kwitter uses the cat’s existing litter tray behaviour & modifies it to use the toilet. Most kittens sold by breeders are already litter trained when you buy them. However, if yours isn’t this needn’t stop you. It is relatively easy to litter train a cat & there are many websites that will show you how. And best of all you can use the Litter Kwitter to litter train your cat so you won’t need a separate litter tray.
Will my cat fall into the toilet?
Cats are nimble creatures & navigating the toilet should be easy for them. Cats successfully navigate rooftops, walls, trees and fences so a wide-rimmed toilet shouldn’t present any problems. Also, cats don’t like getting wet so they’ll try their best to avoid falling in.
Do I need any tools to fit the Litter Kwitter onto my toilet?
No. The Litter Kwitter is not a permanent fixture on your toilet and requires no tools to fit. You just raise the existing seat & fit the Litter Kwitter onto the porcelain rim of the toilet bowl where it fits snugly.
Will the Litter Kwitter fit any size toilet bowl?
The Litter Kwitter has been designed to fit on 90% of the standard oval toilet bowls in UK, USA, Europe, ANZ and Asia. It has special clips to ensure a snug fit. It is not suitable for squat toilets. Please click here to compare the dimensions of your toilet bowl to see if it matches the specifications in the animation.
I have an elongated toilet. Will the Litter Kwitter fit my toilet?
The Litter Kwitter will fit most toilet bowls of regular width. The length is not so important. You can see some measurements to check whether the Litter Kwitter will fit your toilet bowl here.
Will I have to leave the Litter Kwitter on the toilet permanently?
No. The last step in the Litter Kwitter training is to lower the toilet seat on top of the Litter Kwitter to get the cat used to the feel of your regular toilet seat. Once he’s happy with that simply remove the device from the rim.
I only have one toilet in the house. How can I train the cat to use the toilet if I need to use it too?
The Litter Kwitter has been designed to be easily removed & replaced on the toilet rim. Simply lift the device from the rim & put the seat down to use the toilet yourself. Afterwards, raise the seat again & replace the Litter Kwitter on the porcelain rim. It’s as easy as that, no tools required. You don’t need to remove the litter & the whole process takes 5 seconds.
Will litter fall into the toilet?
The Litter Kwitter Training Discs have ridges – or returns - to prevent litter from falling in to the toilet pan. When using litter be sure to only fill just below the height of the ridges on the discs. It is possible small amounts of litter may still fall into the toilet pan if your cat scratches around vigorously. We recommend using either recycled paper litter or crystals which should not cause any problems in the small amounts likely to be involved.
Okay, so maybe it works, but why would I want my cat to use the toilet?
A litter box stinks! And that means Germs. And Mess. And therefore, hassle!
Is it hygienic to share a toilet with a cat?
The toilet is specially designed to deal with bodily waste in the most hygienic way possible – by immersing it in water to reduce odore then flushing it away to be treated in a water treatment plant or septic tank. When cats use the toilet it is only their paws that come into contact with the toilet seat – the same paws that already walk on bench tops, pillows & laps. The waste goes in the toilet pan & the cat does not come into contact with it.
By contrast, the litter tray allows the cat to dig in the soiled litter, get waste on their paws & then tread it around the house – on the same food preparation areas, bedding and carpets as before. A cat with cleaner paws is a more hygienic cat. The choice is this: share a toilet seat with clean paws or share every other surface in the home with dirty paws.
What about toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is a rare but serious disease that can be carried by infected cats (and other animals) and can affect pregnant women & other vulnerable people. The regular litter tray presents a small but significant risk of infection and special care needs to be taken when dealing with it. We also don’t recommend commencing the Litter Kwitter training if you are pregnant or nursing an infant. If you are in a vulnerable group please consult your GP for advice on cat ownership & dealing with their waste.
Do all cats carry the toxoplasmosis bug?
No, they don’t. In fact the disease is quite rare. There are some misconceptions here. The disease does not start in cats: cats can become infected only if they come into contact with the disease - by eating infected meat from wildlife for example. It is relatively difficult to become infected. However, if you have any concerns please check with your vet and your doctor before beginning the training.
Come on, how can Litter Kwitter possibly train my kitty to use a human toilet?
I know what you're thinking - it's just a gimmick, cats hate water, they'll fall in. It is hard to imagine, which is why the inventor puts a training DVD in every box so you can see what to do, how to do it, and what your cat should look like while they're learning.
But it's not magic - it's science. So, what the Litter Kwitter does is slowly modify the cat's behaviour until he or she 'does their business' into the toilet and discovers that the water in the toilet pan hides the smell much better than litter. And then the cat's happy - and so is everyone else in the house! This is the understanding behind the science of the Litter Kwitter developed with PhD animal behaviorists.
What about cats hating water & falling in? Cats like water if they're drinking it... or going to the toilet in it... they just don't like jumping in.
How does the Litter Kwitter work?
The Litter Kwitter uses the cat’s existing ability to use a litter tray & modifies it in small behavioural steps until it happily uses the toilet. Cats have a need to hide the smell of their waste which is why they try to bury it in litter or elsewhere. The underlying principle of the Litter Kwitter training is to gradually expose the cat to the toilet & allow it to experience the toilet’s ability to take away the smell of its waste.
What are the advantages of having a toilet trained cat?
Toilets are designed to deal with the waste better than any other device in the house (and definitely better than plastic trays on the floor in the laundry room).
Still not convinced? Think about this: cats use the litter tray, bury the waste (by treading in it) then tread around your home on benchtops, beds, laps and rugs. A toilet trained cat treads on a clean toilet seat (it is clean, I hope!), deposits their waste in the water, then treads around your home with clean paws: no more mess, no more germs, no more smells, no more hassle.
Is the Litter Kwitter good for the environment?
Well there are two environments to discuss here - your personal environment and THE environment (the big out there place where all the nature stuff is). Your personal environment will definitely be enhanced by having a toilet-trained cat- no more mess, no more germs, no more smells, no more hassle, as we like to say. A hot room with a full litter tray is NOT a nice environment.
Think about this: when a regular litter tray is full it gets emptied in the garbage & ends up in landfill. In fact, about 200 kilos (440lbs) of the stuff gets dumped per cat per year. That's 3 tonnes of the stuff over the life of an average cat! That's not good for the environment.
Secondly, the cat's waste is left to wash untreated into stormwater and then into our waterways. That's also not good. Same goes if a cat does its business outside - that waste washes away in the rain but it doesn't vaporize, it ends up in the environment. Untreated.
On the other hand, if a cat uses a toilet then its waste gets treated the same as ours - it goes through whatever processes are used to neutralize germs & toxins before being either recycled or disposed of responsibly. The exact treatment will depend on where you live & what your local authorities do. Whatever they do it has to be better than just letting the waste sit in landfill or wash down the drain, hasn't it?
What is the best way to dispose of the Litter Kwitter?
The plastic from which the Litter Kwitter is made is fully recyclable. However, as the Litter Kwitter can be cleaned & reused almost indefinitely most people keep it for future feline friends, or share it with family, neighbors & friends.
I’ve heard of products overseas that claim to toilet train cats. How is yours different?
The Litter Kwitter is a unique Australian design that uses an understanding of cat psychology to train them to use the toilet. The training & product design has been developed & tested with input from cat owners, vets and animal behaviorists – in particular Dr Joanne Righetti. Dr Righetti is one of Australia’s leading animal behaviorists and a regular commentator on cat behaviour for Channel 9 TV, ABC Radio, national magazines & other media. Her recent book ‘Cat Toileting’ is devoted to issues surrounding cats’ toileting behaviour & features a section on the Litter Kwitter. Dr Righetti is a Brit who studied at Edinburgh University in Scotland before moving to Australia.
The product itself is unique in allowing the sharing of a toilet, enabling training steps to be revisited, in supporting the weight of all sizes of cats, in requiring no modifications to the toilet and in understanding that cat owners as well as cats need guidance too (via the step-by-step DVD that is supplied with each product).
If you wish to compare the Litter Kwitter with other products we've produced a ready-reckoner kind of document for you to have a look at.
What awards has the Litter Kwitter won?
The Litter Kwitter won the PIAA (Pet Industry Association of Australia) New Product of the Year award, was awarded Best Invention on ABC TV New Inventors program and was a finalist in the Fresh Innovators 2005 national competition. It was nominated for a DuPont Innovation Award and won the 2005 award for Significant Contributions to the Pet Industry. It was also named as Product of the Week by Jonathan Ross last Christmas but I’m not sure if that counts…
What publicity has the Litter Kwitter received?
It has appeared more than 400 times on TV in over 40 countries and in countless press articles. You can see some of these appearances here. Some of the details are below:
Australian TV on Channel 10’s 5pm News, ABC’s New Inventors three times, CNN Global News Bulletin, Rove Live on Channel 10, Ch 7’s Better Homes & Garden with Dr Harry, Ch 7’s Sunrise breakfast TV show, Reuters TV News Website, CBS, Fox, CNBC TV news in the US, BBC News in the UK, BBC’s Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Animal Rescue Live, CBBC and The Money Programme, Channel 4 in the UK with Richard & Judy plus an endorsement by Ricky Gervais of The Office fame. It has appeared in many international, national, state & local newspapers including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Sun-Herald, The London Sunday Telegraph, The West Australian and The Courier Mail. It has been featured on national and local radio including ABC National Radio, 2GB, 2UE, Today FM, WSFM in Sydney and equivalent stations in the other states.