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Automatic Litterboxes

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Mar. ~ 2005 May: Hariball Haven (ARCHIVES): Automatic Litterboxes users admin

Author Message
Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 8:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Anyone own one? Or know anything about the features, different brands, etc?

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 9:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
had one, scared the crap outta the cat, it broke. now i'm back to cleaning it manually. waste of money.

Max
Member

08-12-2000

Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 9:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I don't have one, but a friend does. I haven't been impressed with its thoroughness when I've cat-sat for her. Seems like it makes more mess than anything else. And it's so shallow that litter ends up all over the place if you have a cat that likes to dig (like mine).

If you get good clumping litter (I use PetSmar's brand and love it) and a sturdy scoop, it's not a hassle to do a regular box. I use one with a hood over it to cut down on the litter flying around from the digging. :-)

Good luck!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 10:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Our local SPCA discourages the use of clumping litter, because it is harmful to cats. Sometimes, cats eat litter to aid their digestion(when they feel it's awry), and the clumping litter is a nightmare on their system.



Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 8:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Landi (and Max,) which brand did you get (and did your friend get)?

Thanks! They look so "easy" and too good to be true.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 11:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think it depends on your cat. I have a boy and a girl... my little boy does his "business" in the corner of the litter box. The automatic scoopers don't deal with corner business too well.

I've used clumping litter since I first got Costa (7 years ago). And have never had any problems with either him or Kassie eating litter. I use a good brand, that creates hard clumps, and I think that it creates a more "sanitary" environment than other litters. I truly hate Tidy Cats regular stuff... whenever I've pet sat for someone who uses that cheap stuff, I wanna go out and buy 'em some good stuff.

I used to use Dr Elsey's Premium Scooping Cat Litter, but I've recently switched to Scoop (by ExquisiCat, which is PetSmart's brand), and I really like it. It's "extra strength" and creates nice hard clumps. So little pieces don't fall off and hang around the box.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 11:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Costa, do you have an automatic one? If so which one? I know my boys do the "corner hits."

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 11:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Costa, thanks for the hint. I've been using Tidy Cat and I have tremendous problems with it. Not only with clumps breaking up, but in not even creating clumps at all. I'll look for Scoop or Dr Elsey's!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 12:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i had a litter maid. my two girls are so different. my maine c00n (belle) makes these huge clumps in the middle and leaves them. and my tonkinese (ariel) likes the edges and corners and digs and digs. i found they'll both use a regular litter box if it's one with the cover. the noise of the litter maid scared my belle so much she wouldn't use it, and started using the floor. ariel would get litter all outside of the litter maid, so i was constantly cleaning stray litter. for me, it wasn't convenient at all.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 1:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thank you for your opinion/experience Landi!! I am guessing you didn't have one with a hood/tent. I guess it wouldn't matter with the noise though...

I know there is a super expensive one out there. I forget the name but it has "purr" in the name, like Purrfect. I just wonder what makes it worth $260!! The littermaid ones are about $150. There is a new one that starts at $59. But it is brand new and I haven't heard any reviews on it...

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 2:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Julie, nope, I don't. Because I know Costa aims for that corner, I figured it wouldn't even be worth it to spend the money on an item that I'd toss out.

I have a covered box (only one) for both kids. They both use it regularly, and never make "mistakes." Because both of 'em are pretty energetic scratchers, I prefer to cover the box to contain the litter and to also give 'em some privacy.

(Side note: For those of you into feng shui, the box is in my relationship corner! Hee hee... my consultant told me to drape silk over it to reduce the "negativity" of the kids pooping on my relationships! LOL!)

Kar, Dr Elsey's is only available at PetSmart in my area. I switched to Scoop cause my mom's hubby said he liked the harder clumps better. Most Tidy Cats are non-clumping (so you really only scoop out the poo, and swirl around the rest). Meaning you have to dump it out and refill it on a regular basis. With clumping, I don't have to do that very often at all. Scoop seems to have less of a tracking problem than Dr Elsey's, too.

And Jules? Much as I love my four-legged furry-faced children who meow, I'm not so willing to spend $260 to make MY life more convenient. With a high likelihood that the auto box would end up at the swap meet on the sale table.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, December 31, 2004 - 2:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Costa. Your last paragraph is why I am very hesitant to buy an automatic one. I might try the 59.00 one though. But I am gonna wait a few weeks and ask them at PetsMart if they get returned or complained about...



Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Saturday, January 01, 2005 - 11:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
We're on our second LitterMaid electric litterbox and we love the brand. The first one wore out in a year, but it was worth the $89 Wal-mart special price. I bought another at the same price.

My DH says he likes TidyCat clumping cat litter best because it seems to work best. I think the best part of the electric litterbox is that I bought the first one as a CHRISTMAS GIFT for DH last year and he was thrilled! LOLOL, he loves gadgets. I haven't had to change litterboxes for years! Not since I got pregnant in 1996, in fact. It's a rare occasion when I have to do litterboxes! Of course, the occasional messes on the painted floor are my responsibility, as are any hairballs that we find around the place!

Hubby scoops the clumps daily from the LitterMaid because we have four indoor cats, so it needs daily maintenance. Love the LitterMaid!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Saturday, January 01, 2005 - 11:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Sia. But why does he have to scoop the clumps? I thought that is what the automatic litterbox does...

Gina8642
Member

06-01-2001

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 11:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm using Tidy Cat scoop litter, the clumps are pretty good, but is there a better, cheaper brand? I'm trying to not switch their litter around much since they already had some litter box problems early on but I'm willing to switch if there's a better alternative - especially a cheaper one!!!

I've also never had a problem with them eating litter. The box is in my bathroom (oh joy!) so I observe them near it a lot - no eating - just a lot of digging.

I have a corner pee-er too. The clumps often stick to the edge of the box and sometimes fall apart before I can get them out. I'd love to find a litter that works better for corners, but Tidy Cat is already pretty pricey and I don't really want to spend more.

My boy kitty also likes to dig all the litter away from a corner and then pee on the bare plastic and then burries it - that's a mess and very hard to scoop out. He does this with clean or dirty litter. There really isn't a solution for this problem except keeping the litter deep. Even that doesn't work when he's in the digging mood. LOL!!!

I've been changing the box completely every 7-10 days. I wonder if I had a litter that clumped even better if I could extend that?

I also received a "LitterLocker" for Christmas. It's that kitty waste trash can device advertised to lock away odors. (Basically it is long tube trash bag on a spool. You put the litter in and crank the bag around until the bag is sealed.) The thing is HUGE and bright blue, which easily clashes with other color designs, but it does seem to work so far. Not a bad option if you live in house like mine where the outdoor trash is a very long walk away down steep snowy steps in a detached garage.

I also keep a covered litter box. This does NOTHING to hold down the odor, but it does keep the litter contained better. I have a second smaller uncovered box in the same area because my girl kitty will not pee in a box that already has poop in it. The boy kitty won't use her box because it is too small. So it works out.

Why do I have cats again? LOL!!! Actually I know the answer to that, as my Cutie kitty is currently napping on my lap. Nothing like it!!!! LOL!!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, January 03, 2005 - 12:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Gina, you may want to rethink the "cheaper" thing. I think you get what you pay for with some of the litters. The Scoop (ExquisiCat brand from PetSmart) works really well for my corner pee-er. It's cheaper than the Dr Elsey's I used to use, but I think it is still more expensive than Tidy Cat. What you want is an extra strength clumping clay litter. I just don't think Tidy Cats works well enough to even consider using.

I can't remember how much I paid for the container of litter I'm using now. It's a fairly large container though.

And I rarely ever completely dump out and refill. I keep the level pretty high (cause Kassie really gets in to digging around). There are no odor problems at all, and the only reason I dump out is so that I can wash out the box. But I do this only every couple of months.

Since their litter box is in my bedroom, I'm really conscious of any odor issues. And I can guarantee you I don't have any!

I've seen that Litter Locker thingie. Finally realized that I'd just continue to "recycle" the plastic bags my paper gets delivered in, and use them to scoop into. :-)

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Wednesday, January 05, 2005 - 9:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
What about that pine stuff? I'm trying it now and not sure I like it.

I've got two boy kitties, now. (we've been adopted by a cute stray kitten) It's funny, but our new guy is orange, too..LOL



Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Wednesday, January 05, 2005 - 10:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I love Feline Pine. Although it doesn't clump, is has a wonderful aroma until just before you need to change it. I little bit goes a long, long way. We had to get away from the dusty clumping litter because of allergy issues...both human and cat.

Hippyt
Member

06-15-2001

Wednesday, January 05, 2005 - 11:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I just saw a commercial for feline pine where you can get a free 7 lb bag to try. I think you have to visit their website. Let me see if I can find it.

Hippyt
Member

06-15-2001

Wednesday, January 05, 2005 - 11:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's the link for anyone interested:

http://www.felinepine.com/cons_rebates.html

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Thursday, January 06, 2005 - 3:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I just buy Scoopaway at the grocery. Critter has a large littler box (really a 12" deep rubbermaid bin thing.. The top to the bin makes a nice "placemat" for her food bowl. But I just have one, ten pound, female, so life is simpler.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, January 06, 2005 - 8:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sea! <GASP> You don't make Critter eat where she poops, do you???? Shame on you!

Costacat flicks her tail and kitty-stomps away!

<grin>

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Thursday, January 06, 2005 - 8:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good heavens, no!! Miss Critter has her own bathroom.. which has her box in the corner.. now she does have her water dish in that room but it is up on the sink.. and she has her own Britta water filter on the faucet :-)

She eats across the hall in the small bedroom. Her food bowl, on the matt (the top to the bin, but not ON the bin, LOL, is right under a plug with a neat little nightlight that glows when it is dark.. not that SHE needs light to see her food, but I can glance in from the hall to see if she needs more food. Another light comes on when the bathroom is dark.

<seamonkey fluffs and flips her tail>

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, January 06, 2005 - 8:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Costacat headbutts Seamonkey and purrs...

LOL... sorry 'bout that. I didn't think about the top to the bin being OFF of the bin!!!!

My two have their own placemats and matching plates (for when they get their spoonful of wet food for "dinner"). Since I don't free-feed 'em, I use custard cups, with lids, for their dry food. (Costa Cat is too smart for mommy and would jump up on the counter top to get to his sister's food! Then again, he's also smart enuf to open the treat cupboard, which now has childproof locks on it!)

Seamonkey
Member

09-07-2000

Thursday, January 06, 2005 - 9:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Critter free feeds and only dry food and she has some lovely bowls.. the food one is really cool .. it is shaped like a large rice bowl and when she eats to the bottom there is a fat cat face looking at her.. I got it at Sur le table in Berkeley.

Her water bowl has colorful strips around it which match the artwork in her bathroom.

Another bowl has cats running around it.. hard to describe.. Maybe I'll take a picture someday.

Back when we had two cats the slower cat, the girl, had to eat in a crate or the black cat, the male would gobble his food and then eat hers.. of course HE had to be protected from the labradors, who could eat a cat meal in one inhalation.. those cats both had urinary problems so they had to eat low ash dog food.

Graceunderfyre
Member

01-21-2004

Thursday, January 06, 2005 - 9:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
hey I used feline pine and allpet pine for my ferrets. . .it was great at keeping the smell to a min and it makes me feel good about the environment.

Sia
Member

03-11-2002

Saturday, January 08, 2005 - 6:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Up-thread a ways I mis-spoke. Hubby has to dump the accumulated litter clumps from the rectangular litter tray every day, not scoop clumps from the box. I guess that sounded confusing. I'm just glad that I'm not the one who has to do it! You can switch to a new clean plastic liner every time it fills--and with four housecats our bin fills daily--or dump the clumps into a larger bin and reuse the plastic liner for a week or so. He also is the one dealing with disposing of the stinky, used kitty litter, so I guess he's a pretty good DH, huh?

Gina8642
Member

06-01-2001

Thursday, February 03, 2005 - 9:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's a good kitty litter box story:

Everything I've ever read or heard about litter boxes says you should put them in a quiet private place, so kitty won't be scared off from doing his/her business.

So.... I was showing my sister and mom how to scoop out Max and Cutie's box. So, that means that there were three adults in a very tiny area all hovering over the box. I had removed the cover and scooped out about half of the offending contents. We were all making a great deal of noise and laughing at the ridiculousness of all being crammed in the tiny bathroom together.

So, who comes in? Mr. Max comes in and proceeds to use the litter box as all three of us standing there watching. LOL!!!!

I guess he didn't get the memo on needing a quiet private place to do his business.

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Friday, February 04, 2005 - 9:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Phun-knee!

Just try to predict a cat, any cat.

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Friday, February 04, 2005 - 2:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm on my third Litter Maid and would replace this one if it broke (one didn't work so I sent the offending part back and they replaced it at no charge a year later) and I gave another one to my niece when I downsized. I use super-cheap litter and recycle the little rectangular trays until they absolutely fall apart. My cats over the years have not ever had a problem with it - and I have the best situation - I put a kitty door into my garage and the grand Duchess goes outside to do her business (plus also keeps the dogs - disgusting critters - away from her litter box).