Aug 4, 20006—We’ve heard about it, maybe seen it in the movies, but come on now, cats can’t really be trained to use the toilet, can they? Oh, yes they can, and not only that, the practice is really taking off! Why? Because new products make it easier, and everyone wants to give it a try!

According to Trisha Yeager Menke, who has been training cats for the past ten years, “Most cats aren’t hard to train, but owners must be motivated and consistent. Cats are naturally athletic and can easily perch on the edge of the toilet and let nature take its course. But, you don’t just plunk your kitty on the potty and say ‘You go, girl!’ It may take up to three months or longer, and careful instruction is required.”

Trisha Yeager Menke, who teaches Kitty Kindergarten (training basics) and Kitty College (toilet training) in Austin Texas, has just come out with a delightfully funny but fully informative book giving readers precise instructions on how to toilet train their cat—as well as teach him a multitude of other useful habits and skills. Entitled Potty Talk by Toast, the book is written partly in the voice of Trisha’s Abyssinian cat who died last Christmas.

The author of four books and several articles for national magazines, Trisha has been a guest on several national talk shows, including the Oprah Winfrey show.

The kitten in the photo above is Sheriff Kit Casanova, Trisha’s new 7-month old Aby. In addition to being almost potty trained, Kit walks on a leash, dresses up in cute outfits, can jump through hoops, and is learning to catch a small football wearing his Dallas Cowboy shirt and helmet. He’s shown using the cat seat available at www.catseat.com.