FU GRADUATED
After having the TT-seat under the human T-seat for two weeks, I mounted it ON the human T-seat. At first, Fu tried to go ON the seat. There's no problem with aiming as to #1 but the problem was to #2. He was able to do it as his bottoms were still small.
I made a low wall (guard) out of a slip of packing box and put it around the TT-seat, pouring a cup of litter on some TP floated on the water surface to encourage him to aim the water. Fu soon got the idea. After I was sure that he was aiming the water with or without the litter in the water, I took off the guard. Five months have past since I started to train him.
Fu had troubles around Feb, but there have been no mistakes since then. He got more and more confident and came to use the T comfortably day by day. Such a flexible young kitty ! Now he's a full-fledged potty cat, affectionate and behaving far better than before. (remember he used to be a naughty wild child )
Here I'm happy to declare Fu's graduation !!
fully T-trained
guard around the TT-seat, with some litter on TP on the water
doing #1, then #2
TT-SEAT INTRODUCTION
Fu has been doing fine without litter over a month. No accidents at all. (YAY!) The hole was enlarged to 18cm/diam. I wanted to introduce him with the TT seat as his back feet started to slip. I roughed the surface of the plastic tray with a sandpaper, put a hot-glue dam around the hole which was somehow working until 17cm hole, but barely after that. He insisted on putting his hind feet in the tray.
I was not sure when or how I should install the TT-seat. I occasionaly mounted it on top of the human T-seat but he simply jumped off and waited me taking it off to get him back the usual setup.
One day, I visited a photo website of a group member and watched some photos of his setup. "Oh, yes ! That's it !" I put the TT seat UNDER the human T seat for a try. I sprinkled some litter on the seat and put some toilet paper on the T-water, then put a cup of litter there to attract him. Fu did use the new setup without a fuss. (YAY!)
As you can see in the pics, it's a moderate transition just like raising the bottom of the LC and making it as a stable platform. In a couple of days, Fu got used to it with no litter again. I think we're so close.
LC under the T-seat
TT-seat under the human T-seat
installing the TT-seat
doing #1 with no litter
#2 with some litter on TP on the water
THIRD ROUND
After taking a week off, we resumed the third TT round. We started off with 5cm hole. It was such an easy transition, that it didn't take long before we got back to the 10cm hole.
At that time around, I emptied the tray for Natsu from time to time. I feared that he might be forgetting his toilet habit. I kept filling the litter for Fu, then emptied the tray for Natsu.
One night before the holiday, I forgot to fill the litter. I went to bed, enjoied oversleeping in the holiday morning. The familiar sound (it's a small world) woke me up., then I went to the bathroom as usual. Fu was already on the T. "DAMN IT!!"---
To my surprise, he scratched the empty tray 5-6 times, then did #2 with no problem. "OH, MY!!"---
Five minutes later, he #1ed with no litter.
It's been a week since I tried no litter. There's no accident at all.
Fu still needs to scratch the tray. I'm planning to cut the ledge slowly and see how it goes.
If he refuses, I will use some litter to attract him, or otherwise, I'd be happy to compromise at this stage.
REDIRECTING LESSON NEEDED
Unlike adult cats', it's hard to detect the smell of kitten's urine. I used a black light and found some spots with reaction but I was not sure whether they're his urine or other substance, like old stain by spilt milk or something.
Once in a while, my daughters went out home leaving the bedroom door open. My husband forgot putting back the tray from time to time.
Also, it's hard for my family members to get back on the TT routine. They were all the way cooperative but started to get sick of me nagging their innocent falts every single time.
I backtracked a bit, then kept putting him up on the T for two weeks with lots of praise, treats, hugs and kisses, sprayed Feliway, played a lot together with Natsu.
One day, he went in the toilet all by himself, the next day, meowed and complained. He was a flexible kitten, but not reliable at all.
I don't know what worked but anyway he stopped having accidents.(perhaps..)
Still yet, I got nervous day by day. My husband said I was too obsessed. Maybe, the kitten sniffed around everywhere just out of curiosity, maybe he complained because he was forced to put on the T repeatedly although he didn't have an urge.
After having some sleepless nights, I decided a major setback to the 4"hole, stopped putting him on the T and waited until he went all byhimself.
It was a big releaf for me. I was not able to be watchful enough as things have been hectic since last month. Fu is going to be neutered in a month or two. It's not the time to move forward.
At first, I hopefully wanted to finish his training by the time he is neutered. Now I forgot the deadline.
We all need some time, for me to rest, for my family to get back on the routine, and for Fu to get him up the toilet on it's own feet.
TRAINING A KITTEN WITH AN ALREADY TRAINED CAT
The saucer had a wide flat bottom (25cm diam) with 5cm deapth. I thought shallower containers were better for kittens.
Fu learned very quickly at the first stage. He learned the correct stance in a few days on the TT seat. But when the hole was enlarged to 3.5cm, he rejected the seat. It was the same reaction as Natsu was in training.
The seat forces cats to aim the center. Many cats avoid the hole (water) in early stage. (That's my guess, though) They have to watch their waste happen to fall in the water tons of times and have to get used to it. (That's my guess, too, though)
OK, I'll slow down and show him tons of times.
I took off the seat, then things went fine. Within a month, Fu progressed to 15cm hole with no problems. I had already made the bathroom "accident-free" before he starts having any mistakes.
Natsu had been always showing the new trainee the good examples. He also attended the Fu's training classes just like Aki did for him.
At early stages, he was trying hard aiming for the small hole, looked frustrated when his waste was left uncovered in the pan. He didn't like it at all.
When the hole was big enough, he started to scratch the water surface (his ritual habit before #2) and ignored the litter in the pan.
In the early Jan, Natsu had bladdy urine. I took the sample and went to the vet. Strangely, there was no signs of FUS or FLUTD. No crystal was found, no frequent #1s. He went regularly with regular ammount, ate as usual.
The x-ray and the ultrasonic examinations didn't detect any bladder or kidney failures.
Fortunately, after taking anti-biotics & hemostatics, his urine went back to nomal. The vet said that it might be an incidental thing. Natsu looked getting along well with Fu, but it must have been a hard work to be a good brother and to deal with this hyper-active kitten (intruder)....
The true cause is still unknown. I really hope it's not the signs of any other serious diseases.
He's been on regular check-ups since then. I've been taking his urine samples as much as I can to make sure if any changes there.
I really recommend that owners of T-trained cats should check their urine samples on regular basis. A small ammount of blood can't be detect once it's in the water.
#1 with 15cm hole
#2 with 16cm hole
roughing the surface of the pan with a sandpaper
urine sample collectors made out of paper cups I found it on the internet.
