Calling all cat experts - anyone have experience with self-cleaning litterboxes?

[KimR]

DH has agreed to let us have a kitten, well sort of. He didn't say no, he just said that if there is any smell or mess associated with the litterbox, the cat has to go. I found a self-cleaning litterbox on the internet. It's rather pricey, about $300.00, but it doesn't use traditional litter, so I'm hoping that means it doesn't get tracked around the house. Do these things really work? We'll probably be keeping the box in the bathroom in our finished basement, so there wouldn't be a lot of ventilation. I don't mind spending the $300.00 on this thing if it really works. On the other hand, I'm hesitant to take a chance on getting this kitten, only to have to get rid of it. We've had cats before, but have only used the traditional litterbox...I'm not up on all this new technology!

Kim

 

[Beauty]

Kim,

I am interested in this information too, however, I have 4 cats so think I would probably need 4 boxes and can't afford that.

The main thing I questioned is just how often do you have to replace the cartridge...or where the poop goes...LOL! I think it could get very expensive.

BTW as I said I have four cats and we change their litter boxes (2) every other day with regular litter and I have no smell. I think its all in how often you change the box. Kitties are clean animals and as long as they have clean litter then they are happy.

I also have about a zillion Yankee Candles though so it would take something strong to overpower them in my house

 

[KimR]

Beauty, there are 2 kinds I've found. The most expensive one you hook up to a water supply and drain and it basically works similar to a toilet. The waste gets flushed away and the granules are cleaned, sanitized, and dried. It's $300.00, but I think the real expense comes with the cleaning solution. It's $45 and only lasts a month or so. There is another kind that is much less expensive (around $100 - $200, depending on the model) and uses regular litter. It has a sensor that can detect when the cat uses the box. A comb-type thing is then activated that automatically scoops the poop into a sealed container (I guess it's a similar to the diaper genie!). You don't need any special cleaning solution and they have one large enough to accomadate 5 cats so that might work for you! You can check it out at :

http://store.yahoo.com/youcansave/litmegdelsel.html

I like the idea of the first one because it does away with traditional litter completely so you don't have to worry about the cat tracking it through the house. Only problem is you need a water supply, drain, and electrical outlet and I can't really see that that would work in our bathroom without having electrical cords and tubing snaking all over the place. The other model does come with a mat that is supposed to eliminate some of the tracking, so that might work better for us.

Kim

 

[disneyelaine]

I have the littermaid one. 2 cats use it and I have to change the container once a week. I also add some new litter once a week too. I never smell any oders with the littermaid.
The cats do track some liter around it, but nothing major. It's much cleaner than the regular old litterbox.

 

[CookieGVB]

Make sure the kitten is "big enough" for the self-cleaning litterbox.

(not sure where I read this, but I'm pretty sure I've seen that mentioned)

I'm a firm believer in the GIGO theory...if you give your cat cheap crappy food to eat, then the litterbox will smell accordingly. I feed my cat Eukanuba, because I read that there was much less filler. Less filler - less waste - less food consumed - less smell. We ran out of it once, and I used "regular" food - NEVER AGAIN!!!

 

[Beauty]

Wow, that first one sounds awesome! I'll look at it tomorrow!

 

[MHopkins2]

If you don't want to spend the $$ on an automatic box, try the new crystal / pearl litter - it absorbs the "wet stuff" which is what causes the most smell. You still have to scoop the poop every few days, but that doesn't really smell either, because the crystals pull the water out of it. No idea how it works, but it does.

Also, one unsolicited bit of advice: you might be better off NOT putting the litterbox in the basement, especially with a small kitten. The harder it is for the kitty to find the litterbox, the less likely s/he will be to use it. I'm not suggesting that you put it in the middle of your living room floor, but a bathroom in the basement might be expecting a little much.

 

[2disneywego]

We got two 6-week old kittens in the middle of June and started them right away with the littermaid box. They were pretty small at the time, but had no problems. In fact, Molly used it as soon as we got them in the house. Since they're kittens and their metabolism is so active, I have to change the container every two days. I use Tidy Cats for Multiple Cats and have no problems with odors.
We keep our box in the basement and for the first 4 weeks we would take the kittens down every hour and after every feeding. They caught on in 3 days, but we didn't want to take any chances. They never had an accident!

 

[lisajl]

Hi!

I have three cats and we use traditional scooping litter.
I also agree with the GIGO comment.
Our cats eats Iams food. When they go to the bathroom there is hardly any odor, and they don't go as often.

My sister gives her cat fancy feast and man does her house smell. ( and that is after she cleans it up)!!

I use regular cats pans, but keep them clean. When the litter starts to run out in the pan, I dump it all and sanitize the pan.

A couple months ago, I tossed the old pans and bought three new ones.
That was nice. Wish I could do that every month.

Good luck with the kitten! I hope it goes well. Take it to a vet and get a good healthy checkup! (I work for a vet!)

Lisajl

 

[amid chaos]

We use traditional litter boxes but have a cat door to the basement so the litter boxes aren't even an issue.

 

[Rajah]

Another agreer with GIGO. I feed mine Science Diet or IVD and don't have any problems really. But when I try something else... ewww.

 

[Bumbles]

Cookie makes a very good point with the GIGO theory....that's first and foremost.

Littermaid is a great litter box


As far as this goes:

he just said that if there is any smell or mess associated with the litterbox, the cat has to go

I'd tell him the same rules need to apply to him and the master bathroom

 

[Kermit]

My sister has the second kind of litter box. They like it, but the cat hasn't used it very often. They let their cat go in and out as it pleases, and he chooses to go potty outside. They think that he may be a little scared of the moving litter box, so it's probably a good idea to start them off young. But my BIL is very picky about cat smells like your DH, and he was happy with the box when the cat used to use it.

 

[lisajl]

Bumbles:

LOL I agree with you!!!
Lisa

 

[KimR]

LOL Bumbles!!!!

kim

 

[Bumbles]

also, regardless of what kind of box you use, use a good clumping litter. The Tidy Cat clumping crystals blend is awesome at covering up kitty poo odor.

For extra protection, cover the bottom of the litter pan with baking soda (you can get a monster sized box for like $3 at Sam's Club), add the litter, and then add a little more baking soda and swirl it in there....practically zero odor!

 

[snoopy]

My cats would never use the clumping stuff. They'd rather go on the floor than get involved with cat poop clump.

My cats are so spoiled, though. They are used to Mommy running and cleaning out their box as soon as they take the first step out.

 

[Bumbles]

Mine like to stare at me as I'm cleaning the boxes out...and one of the kittens likes to lay in the box when I'm done. Freaks

 

[luv2nascar]

I have one male cate and one littermaid automatic box
I got it at walmart around $90 I think
use regular clumping good liter
change once a week
check litter mid week & some times clumps up
I love the box hardly notice there is a cat around

 

[MerryPoppins]

We don't have an automatic one. We do use the crystal litter and love it. I think it's loads cleaner than the regular or clumping litter. If you decide to try it, get the crystal instead of the pearls. Those pearls really roll around and the crystals stay put. It's easy to clean up the few that get tracked (nothing like traditional litter). I say that because it hurts to step on those pearls in your bare feet if they roll across the room. Ouch!