Cat business

For all the cat owning bloggers I know to be out there, here is a genuine STOP PRESS! 

My personal sentiments regarding cats have been made known.  I have an aversion to cats sharing homes, which in recent years has been fuelled by observations made through my involvement in the child welfare system - in particular to do with maintaining standards in households where small children are being cared for in a professional capacity. 

When visiting private homes where a cat (or even two or three) is in residence, I  am constantly astounded when I see Tom or Thomasina leaping up to prowl across a dining table or kitchen bench top - often to sample or sniff at any food it may find.  I also tend to notice things like litter trays that are readily accessible to toddlers.

I've never owned a cat or had to deal with their 'business', but a television program tonight offered cat owners what appeared to be a better option to the messy, smelly litter tray.  On the ABC's 'New Inventors' program, an Australian mother and inventor, Jo Lapidge, demonstrated her toilet training device for cats, which she calls the Litter Kwitter.

Inspired by the movie, 'Meet The Parents', and the scene where a cat was seen to be using the family toilet, she worked out a system for training her own cat to use a toilet.  Using her device, a set of three different sized rings that fit over the toilet seat, she claims that any cat, young or old, can be toilet trained in a matter of weeks.

Full details of the invention can be seen at the ABC website for the New Inventors.

Meanwhile, out of interest, I'd be keen to learn whether any of the cat experts out there see this invention as exciting, innovative and practical as the television panel seemed to think it was.  Perhaps Elsewhere was watching the program this evening and already has Leonard and Jessie lined up for their intense training course.  After all, getting two cats trained for the price of the $80 plus 'Litter Kwitter' would be good economics.

Perhaps this might herald a new era for the management of household cats.  I have a vested interest in seeing cats clean up their act.

Note:  This illustration is for the purpose of clarifying the text and does not constitute a 'cat photo' as such.

 

Comments

[Tjilpi]

Yet it still looks remarkably like a cat photo!

Next you'll be discussing the Bush Administration under the guise of the Presbyterian Burning Bush icon!

I'm worried by this slippage.

[pat]

I had a cat that did that. She just picked it up herself. It was kind of disturbing at first. She never did learn to flush.

[elsewhere]

Ok, you've gotten me out of the woodwork (or cat litter).

I pondered the litter kwitter matter last night and at $80-150 a pop, I didn't think it was such a great economic investment for three cats (you forgot Otty, but he is quite elusive). All my cats are old, so at best, I calculate they might have a combined total of 15 cat years left in them. Add to this the possibility of aged cat losing its balance and falling in the toilet.

Also, you may not want to hear this next bit, but all my cats, past and present, have always poo'd over the shower plughole if the litter tray was full.

Somehow, I'm not convinced of the hygiene of sharing a toilet seat with little cat feet, tho...and the cat in _meet the parents_ flushed!

[Jude]

Interesting topic! I suppose it's good to know there are a few clean and clever toilet trained cats out there - but I've heard nothing to persuade me to change the cat free status of my home. Can't see that sharing the shower is any more hygienic than sharing the toilet. Yuck - I think that is quite enough on cats' scats. Meanwhile, I regret the temporary slippage and this blog will henceforth revert to its cat free format.