Automatic litterbox

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Lisa and Witn (GA)

Lisa and Witn (GA)

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I am thinking about getting an automatic litter box to replace the one my cats seem to use the most. Does anyone here use one? Are they worth the expense and are there any brands you recommend or avoid?

I have 8 cats and even though I have 10 litter boxes, most of them seem to use a couple more than the other ones.
 
I’ve used them but years ago—the more basic models now not the $500 versions. I tried some that needed its own crystal litter. One cat hated the litter. I used one that you could use your own litter (glad they came up with that)—one cat was afraid of the mechanism even though I set it to delay quite a while after cat left. He would get out and sit next to box and get scared. I’ve considered trying again (although not the $500 version as cool as it looks) but one of my cats is very long and I wasn’t sure if he’d be comfortable in it. The ones that need to be plugged in (vs battery) meant less options in placement.
Now my boys are just too old ti try to teach them new tricks. But with each attempt they worked for some cats so with 10 boxes (!) I imagine anyone not happy has plenty of other choices. Since I had unrelated males I was a little hesitant to cause too much of an upheaval in who pees where or they might decide to start marking things. Also cleaning them was more complicated than hosing out a tub on the backyard grass.
Wow. Ten boxes. I’m not going to complain about scooping for a while.
 
If you get an automatic one, check it out carefully first. Our local rescue put up a video showing a less-expensive model that the timing malfunctions and the design has a flaw that then allows it to strangle the cat as it moves and traps it by the neck.

We have 5 cats, and 3 of them are big, fluffy ones. Got tired of butt-hanging-out-while-going problems, and smeared-on-the-box-wall-and-the-cat problems.
So we got a big, huge, deep plastic storage tub, cut a notch a few inches down and a little wider than a cat to make access easier, as one of the cats is quite old. Takes a whole 37 pound bucket of litter to fill it (more if you want it deep). This makes a litterbox that is big enough for 2 big fluffy cats to be in at once, with room to spare, keep their fluffy tails out of the mess, and go a whole day with 5 cats using it and only needs scooping once a day (we do before bedtime. We have one of these downstairs, which is the main one everyone uses, and one upstairs for the three cats who like to go upstairs (two don't ever go up). When I say huge, I mean this box is almost 20" x 30" x 14" tall (I think it's a 96 quart storage box?). We have used smaller versions in the past when we had fewer cats.
And when it gets too stinky (doesn't was clean anymore, as the plastic has just had it over time), they're much cheaper to replace, since it's just a big storage tub, than an official litter box is.
 
I also used a large storage tub for my extra long boy. Worked better than official boxes. But I can see with ten litter boxes (!) a person might want one or two of them self cleaning…
 
I currently use the small concrete mixing tubs for my cats. Anything smaller, they have the same issues mentioned above, like peeing over the edges. I did order one on the litter robots based on a recommendation from a friend that uses one. I should get it this week. While it won't replace all of my boxes, if it works for the one they use most, I will be happy.
 
Lisa and Witn (GA) said:
I currently use the small concrete mixing tubs for my cats. Anything smaller, they have the same issues mentioned above, like peeing over the edges. I did order one on the litter robots based on a recommendation from a friend that uses one. I should get it this week. While it won't replace all of my boxes, if it works for the one they use most, I will be happy.
Click to expand...
Please let us know how you like it
 
I havd one of these https://neakasa.com/products/neakasa-m1-cat-litter-box amd my cats nlike it. Only two problems is that if you have vertical (vice urinating downward) urinators the rine can clump a little by the sifter and that requires removing (I use an old spoon) since since the urine gets behind the sifter and on a non-flexible portion of the mat so it does not fall off when the box empties into the waste bin. Also, it is easy for cats to scratch little out onto the floor by none can get a guard from Etsy to reduce the problem. I have another auto LB but is is a tunnel model like the Little Robot 3 and 4 and my cats really do not like going into the enclosed tunnel.
 
Lisa and Witn (GA) said:
I am thinking about getting an automatic litter box to replace the one my cats seem to use the most. Does anyone here use one? Are they worth the expense and are there any brands you recommend or avoid?

I have 8 cats and even though I have 10 litter boxes, most of them seem to use a couple more than the other ones.
Click to expand...

I have a Litter Robot and like it. I use it with three of my cats (the other two live in a different part of the house as they don't all get along, and they use regular litter boxes). My 3 cats took to it right away, but they were only about six months old when I purchased it. I'm not sure if my older cats would go for it, especially my larger, 16 lb. cat. He could definitely fit in it, but it would be a very different experience for him at this point in his life. I will say that it's a tiny bit glitchy occasionally, but the glitches seem to work themselves out, and I've only had to call customer service for one issue (in the 1.5 years that I've owned it), which resulted in the company replacing the litter box liner. My extended warranty covered that expense, and I strongly encourage that you pay extra for that. I purchased it because I have neck issues, and scooping became an issue for me with so many cats. For that reason, it has been an absolute godsend. I have never had problems with mold, etc., or urine seeping down into places in the machine that it shouldn't be. When I replaced the liner, I had to take the machine apart, and everything was pretty much clean inside. Overall, I would recommend it.
 
Marielle said:
I have a Litter Robot and like it. I use it with three of my cats (the other two live in a different part of the house as they don't all get along, and they use regular litter boxes). My 3 cats took to it right away, but they were only about six months old when I purchased it. I'm not sure if my older cats would go for it, especially my larger, 16 lb. cat. He could definitely fit in it, but it would be a very different experience for him at this point in his life. I will say that it's a tiny bit glitchy occasionally, but the glitches seem to work themselves out, and I've only had to call customer service for one issue (in the 1.5 years that I've owned it), which resulted in the company replacing the litter box liner. My extended warranty covered that expense, and I strongly encourage that you pay extra for that. I purchased it because I have neck issues, and scooping became an issue for me with so many cats. For that reason, it has been an absolute godsend. I have never had problems with mold, etc., or urine seeping down into places in the machine that it shouldn't be. When I replaced the liner, I had to take the machine apart, and everything was pretty much clean inside. Overall, I would recommend it.
Click to expand...
I am curious, how many days does it take to fill up the tray? I have two cats, one who is diabetic and outputs several large pee rocks a day. The second is a tiny girl, not much output. I am going on vacation in a few months and wondering how often the sitter will need to change it. Thanks so much!
 
I bought the litter robot and so far one of cats have started using it. :D

Does Anyone have any tricks to use to get the rest of them to start using it?
 
Lisa and Witn (GA) said:
I bought the litter robot and so far one of cats have started using it. :D

Does Anyone have any tricks to use to get the rest of them to start using it?
Click to expand...

If you're on FB, there is (of course there is) a Litter Robot page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/500310760811157) where people discuss this issue (along with myriad other issues). My cats were kittens when they were first exposed to the LR, so they took to it immediately. I've allowed my older cats into the room where the LR is, and they've never once gotten into it. For that reason, I chose not to purchase a second one bc I don't know if it would be used.
 
Marielle said:
If you're on FB, there is (of course there is) a Litter Robot page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/500310760811157) where people discuss this issue (along with myriad other issues). My cats were kittens when they were first exposed to the LR, so they took to it immediately. I've allowed my older cats into the room where the LR is, and they've never once gotten into it. For that reason, I chose not to purchase a second one bc I don't know if it would be used.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Most of mine are older cats and that is my concern too. The litter box I am trying to replace is the one they all uses the most.
 
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