Automatic Toilet Flush for Cats

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Potty Trained Cats . . .
There is a new and fast growing trend for cat lovers who train their felines on how to use a human toilet. They are tired of the traditional litter box that is not only messy and smelly, but also poses a health threat to their family members. They are further interested in reducing costs and the environmental impact as litter can amount to several hundred dollars per year and add unnecessary stress to our landfills – over 2 million tons of litter are dumped each year and more importantly, clumping litter is not at all biodegradable.
If you have made the decision to toilet train your kitties or they have already been trained, we as fellow cat lovers and conservationists applaud your efforts! There is an abundance of information on the web and several different potty kits available for getting your kitty to use the throne. However, a major concern that is mentioned over and over again is that the cat obviously can’t flush the toilet after using it . . . but actually it can!
Our FlushMinder Automatic Dual Flush System offers the perfect solution. This high tech product senses when the cat has left the toilet, then seconds later, automatically flushes, eliminating any odor or evidence. The unit is also very quiet, so most cats get used to it quickly or even return to watch the flush. Further, the dual flush feature offers the same water saving benefits for a #1 potty vs a #2 potty just the same as with human usage.
No other autoflush kit on the market offers these dual-flush features.
Customers who have been successful using the FlushMinder for their cats have suggested removing the toilet lid so the unit can be mounted right on the front of the tank where the cat presence will be detected, as well for preventing an unsuspecting human from accidentally closing the lid. But either placement choice is fine and it’s also possible to locate the sensor off to the side if preferred as long as the installation guidelines are followed.
See more testimonies and tips below from cat happy customers. We’d like to graciously thank “MLK“ for providing a video of her 2 kitties (one kitten and one older) with the FlushMinder in action.
Please watch her videos below . . . cats are amazing!
The device is easy to install
By Bo Li on March 17, 2015
“I got it for my cat as I am training him to use the toilet. The device is easy to install. It took me around 20 minutes – mainly to adjust/configure the the full and half tank flush. I had to take the lid off the toilet seat and put the sensor on the front side of the tank on the lower part. It waits for the cat to linger and finishes then auto flush about 10 seconds after the cat jumps off. Also the motor doesn’t make much of the sound when it operates so the cat is not disturbed. Love the product!”
5 stars – FLUSH MINDER IS AWESOME FOR POTTY TRAINED CATS- SEE VIDEOS ATTACHED.
By MLK on February 18, 2015
“I recently purchased the FlushMinder Automatic Dual-Flush System DIY Complete Kit. My reason for purchase was due to my Cats. My 2 year old cat and 6 month old kitten were about to finish potty training. YES- No more litter box!
As I got close to the end of the training I quickly learned that in order to be successful I would need a consistently clean and flushed toilet. Well with 2 cats and a full time job out of the house- the math was not working out! I researched multiple flushing systems and decided the flush minder would best suit my needs. It offered a delayed flush time to allow the cat to finish it’s business before the flush AND a water saving option for when a full flush was not necessary. I would not only be saving on litter costs but now on my water bill as well!!
I got the kit in the mail very quick and installed it the night it came. Set up took about 30 minutes with some tweaking. Because the kit is designed for human use I did some minor adaptations to make it cat friendly. I moved the kit from above the toilet to the front of the tank- where the cat would be in view, I also used Velcro to mount so I could adjust and remove more easily, and I removed the toilet seat lid as this was no longer needed after training and I didn’t want to chance anyone leaving it down and preventing the cat from using the toilet.
The cats quickly adjusted to this new device on the toilet. They learned that when they are done going it will make a sound and then the toilet will flush. My kitten is sometimes amused by this and runs back to watch the toilet flush.
I just ordered a second flusher for my other bathroom so the cats now have 2 places to go, it’s eco friendly and it saves water and money even when us humans use the toilet!
Here are two video clips of my cats using the toilet with the FlushMinder Automatic Dual-Flush System.”
http://youtu.be/kuIJ2CbeOJQ – Kitten Hallie
http://youtu.be/JHa82Im23GM – Cat Piper
 

How to Determine Toilet Size and Toilet Fitting Sizes

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Toilet Sizes  . . .

Most common standard toilets are generally considered to be either “2-inch or 3-inch” by naming convention. This refers to the INSIDE pipe diameter within the toilet and down through the floor drain. There are also some in between and larger size toilets, but these are considered non-standard and require fittings from the original manufacturer because no standard flush valves of any type will fit, whether they are standard flapper or dual flush piston valves.
Since the toilet size refers to the inside pipe diameter, this means the drain hole cut-out inside the tank will naturally be larger. How much larger depends on the initial hole cut-out and the after-cure tolerance of the ceramic or plastic composite during manufacturing.
Toilet Fitting Sizes – Flush Valve Drain Hole Sizing
In most cases for 2-inch toilets, this will result in a drain hole size in the range of 2 3/8″ to 2 3/4″, and so the flange and gasket combinations on our 2″ dual-flush valves will fit and seal this size range effectively. Any drain hole size larger than 2 3/4″ does not allow enough gasket overlap and may result in leaking. It is certainly possible to substitute a larger gasket or base adapter, but that gets beyond the scope of a basic DIY retrofit and is best left up to the advanced installer or plumber.
Similarly for 3-inch toilets, the drain hole should fall in the range of 3 3/16″ to 3 3/4″, and so the flange and gasket combination on our 3″ dual-flush valves will fit and seal this range. Any drain holes size larger than 3 3/4″ does not allow enough gasket overlap and may result in leaking.
Note that in most cases, the toilet size can be determined by measuring the lip of the flapper valve base. If the flapper lip is roughly 1 7/8″ to 2 3/8″ in diameter, that indicates a 2-inch toilet. If it is more in the 3″ range, that is most likely a 3-inch toilet. See our illustration of measuring the flapper valve base lip over on the Products > Help Me Choose tab.
In other cases where the flapper base is an odd design or the valve is not a flapper type, the valve and tank will need to be removed to allow direct measurement of the tank drain hole.
Filler Valve Inlet Hole Sizing
The filler valve inlet hole in the tank is much easier to fit because it is almost always 1″ or slightly larger and fits standard 15/16″ threaded filler valves. Most filler valves, including our models, will fit and seal a hole size in the range of 1″ to 1 3/8″.
Flush Handle or Push Button Actuators Mount Hole Sizing
The flush actuator mount hole can be a little tricky sometimes because there are two commons sizes, 5/8″ and 3/4″ square, which will also vary a little due to the same manufacturing tolerances. Most flush actuators, whether lever handle or push button, will have a removable rubber collar that will accommodate both sizes. All of our kits have this collar arrangement unless otherwise specified. In extreme cases where the hole is a little smaller than 5/8″, the plastic shoulder of the flush mechanism may need to be sanded or filed slightly. Then on the other extreme, where the hole is slightly larger than 3/4″, the rubber collar may need to be shimmed with tape or other suitable material to enlarge it further for a tight fit.
Still other flush actuator mount holes are round or odd-sized, again intended for a specific manufacturer actuator.
Anytime a non-standard smaller hole size is encountered, there is always the option of enlarging it with a ceramic file or grinder. This may sound like a lot of work, but in most cases, the hole only needs to be enlarged slightly and the ceramic or plastic composite usually cuts away fairly quickly and easily. Then upon completion, the resulting fitting hole is now at a standard size and can accept any number of standard fittings on the market.

New Dual Flush Toilet Vs. Dual Flush Toilet Conversion Kit

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Background on Dual Flush Toilet Conversion Kit:

Often taken for granted and underappreciated, the humble flush toilet is a major innovation . . .
The first consumer flush toilets started appearing in US homes in the late 1800s. Like many other plumbing appliances from that period, they really haven’t changed all that much since then because the original design is solid, reliable and proven – they simply work and have become the single most important sanitation devices in the modern world. Why would you consider a dual flush conversion kit? Traditional toilets were never intended to conserve water and quite the opposite, most older toilets are not water smart and are simply wasting water for each and every flush – up to several gallons per flush. It wasn’t until 1980, when concern for water conservation started rising to the fore front, did the low flow toilet or more commonly “dual flush” toilet arrive on the scene.
The first big change and future of all toilets is the modern water saving dual flush . . .
Now, all the major manufacturers including American Standard, Toto, Kohler and Mansfield offer a number of models and styles of dual flush toilets, some with the familiar flush handle and others with a European push button actuator. The lever handle models work just the same as a traditional flush handle toilet, but with one big difference . . . when the handle is toggled in one direction, it produces a water saving “Number One” half flush and then can be toggled in the other direction for a higher water volume “Number Two” flush as required. Similarly, the Euro-style push button actuator is split into a smaller button for those little “Number One” flushes and a larger button for higher water volume “Number Two” flushes. Whichever model you choose, all of these newer dual flush toilets can save up to 67% of the water use over standard single flush toilets. But does this mean you have to replace your older toilet? What re the pros and cons of using some kind of dual flush conversion kit?
 

The cost of toilet replacement vs. fitting a dual flush conversion kit:

The cost to replace a perfectly good standard flush toilet with a new dual flush toilet is high . . .
While a new dual flush toilet costs from about $150 to $250 to buy and does not seem like a big investment for the desired water savings, there is much more in the total replacement cost to consider. First of all, removing and replacing a toilet is fairly major and messy job, best done by a certified plumber. The floor mounting may have to be modified for the new toilet footprint and then the old floor “donut” seal has to be carefully removed and replaced with a fresh one to ensure a leak-proof toilet-to-floor connection. Then the new toilet water line may require different fittings and/or rerouting, followed by any additional floor or wall caulking and then possibly some paint touch up. Most plumbers charge in the neighborhood of $250 for a basic install and if any complications arise with the floor or wall, that cost can go up considerably.
Finally, but certainly not to be discounted, is the fact that putting a perfectly good toilet into the landfill is environmentally unsound and simply does not make sense.
 

Dual flush conversion kit results:

Achieve the exact same results at a much lower cost with a dual flush conversion kit . . .
Most modern dual flush toilets still work on the exact same principles as the original old style toilets that are probably in your home right now. The real change in water efficiency is inside the tank compartment where the simple “flapper valve” has been replaced with a modern dual-float piston valve that provides the dual flush functionality.
The good news is that these same dual flush valve components used in the newer dual flush toilets are in fact available in dual flush conversion kits that can be retrofitted to existing older toilets. Even better for the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) type, a dual flush conversion kit is no harder to install than any other regular flush kit (such as the Fluidmaster kits) and yet achieves nearly the same water saving results as a new toilet and at a fraction the cost. There are many articles and videos on the web that explain how to replace a flush valve and how to convert to a dual flush toilet using a dual flush conversion kit. Note again that most of the dual flush components used in new dual flush toilets are EXACTLY the SAME from the SAME manufacturers and built to the SAME standards as our retrofit kits.
Keep your perfectly good toilet in place and simply upgrade it yourself using a dual flush conversion kit – get the same water saver results for a fraction the cost and save a toilet from the landfill!