Electric (self cleaning) Litter Boxes for Cats
By stary1
@stary1 (6612)
United States
October 20, 2011 12:52pm CST
Our cat died recently. I am not ready to replace him and as I packed up his things, it occurred to me how much easier life was with a cat or cats after we purchased an electric litter box. In fact, when we had 2 cats, we bought 2 litter boxes and I would never go back to a plain pan again.
We had a tent around the box..lol for 'privacy' ,but mostly because I just thought it looked better. The boxes were faitrly expensive and the replacable trays are an expense, but cleaning litter boxes is a horrible job ..lol for my husband...that the cost is worth it. Of course I prefer the cats go outside but in our last place that was not always possible.
5 people like this
7 responses
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
20 Oct 11
I had considered getting one of those self cleaning litter boxes but I didn't know if it would be worth the money. I don't think we could afford to keep buying the replaceable trays. I don't mind cleaning the litter box too much. I do it about half the time. My daughter wanted the cat so I make her be responsible for helping take care of him too.
2 people like this
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
20 Oct 11
ravinskye
I recognize it is an expense...I have also wondered if the replacement trays could be rinsed and reused...though we never tried that.
I think having your daughter help is a good thing and helps her learn responsibility...I was not as strict as I should have been and my poor husband always cleaned the boxes …what a saint!
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
20 Oct 11
I have never had an electric litter box. I had seen them and thought about it but I don't have the funds to look into one or several as we have 3 cats. Though I may like one for winter as I don't mind it in the summer as I can hose out the pan outside but in winter it's not pretty.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
20 Oct 11
3SnuggleBunnies
Yes winter and rainy days are especially good to have self cleaning boxes. They are an investment, but I think worth it. We tried as much as possible to have our cats outside during good weather and were happy they they didn't use the indoor box.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Oct 11
I have never heard of an electric litter box! How exactly do they operate?
I have always had cats, and at the moment have two.
I have the od fashioned litter box. Although the latest one I bought has a cat flap as the opening, and one of the cats doesn't like it.She was used to an open type litter box.
I agree that it is a big nuisance claening out litter trays. The job improved a great deal for me though when I bought those litter tray liners. Someone else also told me of the idea of lining the liner with newspaper, and then putting powder on it. This has improved the situation even more.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
21 Oct 11
jennybianca
It looks like a regular box just with electroinc stuff..lol The cat jumps/steps in, does their business and leaves. The echanism won't operate with any extra eweight and there is a pause after the cat leaves.
Then a scooper comes from one end and picks up anything in the litter and drags it to the opposite end, and dumps it in a disposable tray.
LOL I don't know if I explained this very well, so I suggest you do a search on electric litter boxes, or self cleaning litter boxes.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
20 Oct 11
How come that thing is not invented yet or available for the market yet when my cat is still alive and kicking. My cat doesnt use litterbox though, she goes outside, But in the future,I want my next cat to be indoors cos my last cat is poisoned by neighbors, I wanted my next cat to stay at home so I have to learn litterbox training a cat cos I dont want another cat of mine be poisoned by neighbors.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
22 Oct 11
They poisoned her cos she always steal their meals and she killed their lovebirds, Its not my cat's fault if their pet birds looks delicious, she is just being a cat, If they dont want cats to kill their birds why place their cage on the window.
..that is just a nasty thing for them to do
@rmendoza123 (637)
• Philippines
21 Oct 11
That is no nice of you, it's a good thing that you enjoy having a cats. I don't like pets, although my mother has pet at home i don't really get myself involve with her pet.
But, it's a a good thing though, having a pet inside your house because it somehow relieve your stress especially for a dog. Because they always play around with their master.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
21 Oct 11
Our cat is an indoor outdoor cat, but I do have a problem with the litter box. The litter we get is too much for the litter box so and yet there is not enough to give it a complete refill. And of course, you have to change it at the most once a month and possibly every three weeks. I did check into the electric litter box, and found it a bit too expensive.
