I think I've posted about this before, but my desperation for a solution is growing. So if you're a mom...and you have any ideas, TELL ME!!!
My cat (yes I know she's not a kid, but she acts like one) has taken up the habit of flushing the toilet. It's very annoying because I don't like paying for her frivolities. As of now, I just keep the bathroom door closed all the time to keep her out of it. But my bathroom decor (circa 1982) has gotten the best of me and I'm contemplating a mini-makeover in the near future. I don't want to go to all the trouble just to keep the door CLOSED.
I've searched on pet store sites AND kid/baby store sites and can't find any safety device for the flusher handle. I can find things to keep the lids down (so far that isn't an issue) but nothing for flushing. I wondered if the devices you can get for stove knobs might work - but I don't know if they're big enough or how they go about fitting on...so I don't know if that would work.
Anything, no matter how ugly, would work. Any ideas?? Any suggestions??? (No, Chris, shooting the cat is not one of the options.)
45 minutes ago
8 comments:
When my toilet was broken (the plastic "chain" that went from the handle to the flapper at the bottom of the tank broke in two), I kept a wire coat hanger by the toilet. The hanger was bent to be a doubled, long handle with a hook on the end. I flattened the hook a little, and then when I needed to flush, I raised the tank lid, hooked the hanger under the edge of the flapper, and pulled it up. (It didn't take long before I fixed that.)
I'm presuming your kitty isn't capable of such a delicate operation. You would, of course, have to disable the chain. Then your cat can play with the handle all she wants.
Oh now see I hadn't even thought of it from that out of the box (out of the tank?) angle. It is so annoying that even that sort of a rig might work for me.
Sigh. It's a good thing she's cute. Keeps her out of a lot of trouble.
Bekah,
I don't know if any of this would work, but here go my "off-the-top-of-my-head" suggestions...
1. Can you remove the handle easily?
2. You could try using a cat repellant spray on the whole toilet. I don't know if they work, but it might be worth a try.
3. Maybe try putting some sticky double-sided tape or anything sticky on the handle so that it becomes an unpleasant experience for the cat. This might get messy, but maybe it would break the habit?
I don't know....you've stumped me, so I'll have to give this some more thought. Good luck!
Christina,
I like the double-sided tape idea! Just think, when you (not the cat) flush, the tape makes you lift the handle back into place (sometimes the handle on my toilet stays down and the water runs & runs until I notice). It works for the people and works against the cat. Brilliant!
Christina and Skyepuppy - I agree. that might be a very good route to take. i have to go to my favorite store on earth friday night so maybe I'll just pick some up while i'm there!! :)
Oh, and Christina, yes, i could probably REMOVE the handle...the issue would be in REPLACING it later.
You will tell us what you decided to try and how it works out, won't you?
Oh yes - absolutely! I'm goign to try the sticky tape first and work from there. I also got soem emailed links of door safety devices that might work. Options are good.
1) Clean toilet
2) Stick cat's head in toilet water.
3) Flush toilet
After swirlee, cat will never go near toilet again.
You're welcome.
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