US 4,437,430 AGranted

Method and apparatus for training cats to use a toilet bowl

OwnerMartha G. DeBardelebeninventor

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Abstract

A receptacle for holding cat litter material is secured in a toilet bowl in such a fashion that it can be easily used by cats. The apparatus includes a substantial flange for providing stability and a rim overlapping tab to secure the receptacle to the front of the toilet bowl. Holes are provided in the bottom of the receptacle to drain liquid. The size and location of the receptacle is such that it covers only approximately 1/6 of the total opening of the bowl. Therefore the apparatus can be used with cats at will and without assistance and does not have to be removed in order for the bowl to be used by humans. A cat can be trained to use the apparatus with progressively smaller amounts of litter material until the cat uses the apparatus without any litter material at all. At that point it may be possible to remove the apparatus so that the cat relieves itself directly into the toilet bowl.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A toilet apparatus for training cats to use a toilet bowl comprising:

a unitary plastic receptacle means for holding cat litter material, including a substantially vertical back wall and a sloping floor;
a substantially flat flange attached to said receptacle means, said sloping floor extending from the bottom of said back wall upwards towards said flange;
aperture means in said receptacle means for draining said receptacle means, said aperture means being sufficiently large enough to drain said receptacle means of liquid, but small enough to prevent any substantial portion of said cat litter material from passing therethrough, said aperture means comprising holes in said sloping floor;
and,
attachment means for attaching said receptacle means to a standard commode so that said receptacle means sits substantially inside of said commode, said attachment means being attached to said substantially flat flange and including an overlapping tab means for engaging the front exterior portion of said commode bowl, said tab means comprising a single wide overlapping tab,
wherein said receptacle means takes up no more than approximately one-sixth of the open area of the top of said bowl and is located towards the front of said bowl so that said commode may be used by human beings without necessitating removal of said apparatus.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.