9 Genius Steps To Toilet-Train Your Maine Coon!
Toilet training your Maine Coon may sound like a radical idea, but imagine never scooping litter again…
If you’re tired of sweeping litter, dealing with odors, or want a greener, cleaner home, toilet training might just be the smart, space-saving solution.
This highly intelligent, agile breed is well-suited to learn this unique trick, especially when guided through a patient, gradual process. So, here’s how to do it the right way, why it matters, and how to keep your cat happy and your bathroom tidy.
Why Train A Maine Coon To Use The Toilet?
Training your Maine Coon to use the toilet offers more than just convenience:
- Cut the Undesirable Chore: Without litter boxes, you’ll save time and effort on daily scooping, saving your back and your schedule.
- No More Odors or Mess: Toilets flush away waste immediately, leaving no smell or tracking of litter throughout the house.
- Eco-Friendly & Cost-Saving: Less litter means fewer plastic bags, less dust, and lower costs over time.
- Clean Health Monitoring: Though this is sometimes cited as a drawback since you can’t inspect the cat’s waste, you can still keep an eye on your cat’s behavior and habits via veterinary checkups.
- Maine Coons Are Made for It: Their intelligence, agility, and sturdy build make them ideal candidates so long as training is gradual and stress-free.
9 Steps To Toilet-Train Your Maine Coon
Step 1: Start With A Familiar Litter Box
Begin by placing your Maine Coon’s usual litter box in the bathroom, wherever the toilet is located. Let them get used to the location of the tray and the idea of doing their business in that area.
Step 2: Raise The Height Gradually
Align the litter tray next to the toilet, then slowly elevate the litter box over the next few days or weeks until it’s level with the toilet seat.
Make sure the litter tray is resting on a sturdy platform to prevent accidents.
Step 3: Shift The Box Onto The Seat
Once your cat is comfortable with the height of the tray, carefully place the litter box on the toilet seat itself. Allow your cat time to feel secure by exploring this new arrangement (source 1).
Step 4: Introduce A Training Seat
Replace the box with a toilet-training insert, such as this simple cat toilet training kit sold on Amazon. Kits like this are ideal as they fit over the seat and hold a small amount of flushable litter.
Step 5: Gradually Reduce The Litter
Begin to use less litter in the training insert. This helps your Maine Coon transition to using the toilet without the feel of digging or smelling litter.
Step 6: Increase The Hole Size Slowly
Cut a small hole in the center of the training seat and gradually enlarge it over multiple sessions. This encourages your cat to aim into the bowl and get used to the final setup (source 2).
Step 7: Remove The Training Seat
Once comfortable using the toilet seat alone, fully remove the training insert. Encourage your cat to use the bare toilet (with the lid up, of course!).
Step 8: Maintain Cleanliness And Access
Keep the bathroom door open, ensure the toilet seat is always up, and flush after each use to keep the environment clean and inviting.
Step 9: Reward And Monitor Progress
Offer your Maine Coon praise, treats, or affection every time they use the toilet successfully. Be patient and watch for any signs of stress or regression.
Expert Tips
- Patience is crucial: The process can take 8-12 weeks. Owners should not rush the process.
- Beware of regression: Stress, environmental changes, or negative experiences can cause setbacks. If this happens, revert slowly and offer reassurance.
- Watch for health signals: Some behaviorists caution that toilet training can hide urine/feces abnormalities. Regular vet check-ups help offset this concern.
- Listen to fellow owners: Many Maine Coon owners report success. They are the best people to ask for tips! Be aware, however, that aging cats may struggle with jumping up to the toilet.
Most Common Toilet Training Problems
Below are the most common toilet training problems that cat owners experience:
1. Refuses the bathroom entirely
The new location, smells, or the sound of a flushing toilet might feel “unsafe” to your cat.
To fix this, keep a regular litter box in the bathroom alongside the training setup. You should also feed and play near the toilet to build a positive association.
2. Uses the bathroom but not the toilet
The jump, height, wobble, or seat angle feels risky to your cat.
To fix this, add a stable step stool; tighten the seat bolts; use non-slip pads on the seat; keep the routine identical (same door position, light level, seat up/down every time).
3. Perches but won’t eliminate
Your cat might be experiencing balance anxiety or substrate preference (they want litter underfoot).
To fix this, slow your cat’s progression by reinstating a training ring with a thin layer of litter on the seat, then gradually reduce the litter level over days, not hours.
4. Aiming “near” the bowl (splash or rim accidents)
Your cat either has a poor stance or is rushing. Large cats may also hang off the edge of the toilet seat.
To fix this, ensure the seat opening isn’t oversized relative to the cat. Also consider a wider, oval seat or abandon toilet training for a high-sided jumbo litter box if misses persist.
5. Will urinate but won’t poop (or vice-versa)
Many cats split locations by preference.
To fix this, train your cat one function (poop/pee) at a time. For the “hold-outs,” keep a litter pan available for the resistant function, then slowly move that pan onto the seat ring before phasing it out.
6. Regression after removing the final training ring
The jump in difficulty was too big for your Maine Coon cat.
To fix this, go back one step for 3-7 days. Reward every success your cat makes, and only advance to the next step when you have 3-5 consecutive perfect days.
7. Night accidents
Was the bathroom door closed? The seat position changed? Or, did your cat hear a noise that scared them?
To fix this, put up a “door stays open” sign, automate a night-light, and agree on a seat position rule for everyone (e.g., seat up, lid up). Place an emergency litter tray within reach for your cat to use.
8. Fear of water / falling in
Your cat may find the toilet a slippery surface or have previously experienced a scare while sitting on the toilet.
To fix this, add non-slip seat pads to the toilet. If your cat fell into the toilet, pause training for a week and reintroduce toilet training with ample treats for simply approaching and perching on the toilet.
9. Constipation or urine retention
Stress can make cats “hold it,” risking medical issues.
To fix this, if your cat doesn’t eliminate for >24 hours (urine) or >48 hours (stool), revert to a litter box and call your vet. Ensure ample fresh water and wet food to keep cats’ stools soft.
10. Straining, crying, or very small/frequent pees
A cat might have a urinary tract disease or (in males) a dangerous blockage.
To fix this, an immediate vet visit is needed. Toilet training stops until any medical issues are cleared. Your cat’s health trumps training!
11. Choosing soft targets (bath mats, laundry)
Your cat might be seeking litter-like footing or scent-marked items.
To fix this, remove soft targets; use an enzymatic cleaner on any accidents; provide an alternate large litter box during training to preserve habits.
12. Multi-cat conflicts
One cat “owns” the toilet, causing others to avoid it.
To fix this, train cats separately at their own pace. Offer multiple elimination stations. If you notice resource guarding, go slower and keep at least one box per cat + one extra.
13. Seat wobble or wrong angle
Any instability kills your cat’s confidence, especially for heavy breeds.
To fix this, tighten the toilet seat; choose a sturdy, one-piece seat and add rubber stabilizers.
14. Too-fast progression
Cats generalize slowly.
To fix this, advance only when success is boringly consistent. If you get 2+ accidents in a week, drop back one stage.
15. Scent/cleaner aversion
Strong bathroom cleaners may smell “dangerous” to your cat.
To fix this, switch to unscented, pet-safe cleaners. Avoid citrus or phenolic odors on the seat.
16. Maine Coon size issues
Big cat frames like that of a full-sized male Maine Coon can cause a cat to struggle with balance on standard toilet seats.
To fix this, use a wider, elongated seat and a broad non-slip surface. If the cat still looks cramped, it’s kinder (and cleaner) to revert to a jumbo, high-sided litter box.
