Auto litter boxes

ChavayJakov

I've asked this in the pet section a few weeks ago, but didn't get recommendations.  I'm hoping there are cat lovers here with auto-boxes that just don't frequent the pet board.

I recently found out that I have a high-risk pregnancy.  I also have three cats and old fashioned litter boxes.  I won't be getting rid of the cats - new to the area, don't have extended family who could or would take on the cats (one is elderly, the another needs medication daily). 

To reduce risk to the child, obviously I can't be around the cat litter...so I need to know of an auto-cleaning cat litter box that is *reliable*....the *one* brand sold in my local pet store has bad reviews from the sales clerk themselves (tines often break or don't clean).  

doctabroccoli

I've never heard a stellar review for any of them, unfortunately.  They usually end up getting all mucked up and stuff.  You could try the Tidy Cats Breeze system, although I've heard some cats don't take kindly to it.  Are you married?  Can't your husband be the pooper scooper for a few months?  That's one of the few jobs my H actually does on a regular basis!

ChavayJakov

doctabroccoli:

I've never heard a stellar review for any of them, unfortunately.  They usually end up getting all mucked up and stuff.  You could try the Tidy Cats Breeze system, although I've heard some cats don't take kindly to it.  Are you married?  Can't your husband be the pooper scooper for a few months?  That's one of the few jobs my H actually does on a regular basis!

He has been doing it for a while, but I work from home, and the smells are just getting to me (pregnancy) - I don't want to wait till he gets home (swing shift) for it to be taken care of. 

doctabroccoli

What kind of litter are you using?

dmblack

We have a litter made litter box and love it.  Its probably 4 years old and works great.  We usually disasemble it 4 times a year for a good cleaning.  In my book its worth every penny.  I usually have to dump the plastic tray once a week. 

MNVegas

We bought an auto litter box a couple of years ago and it broke. Brought it back to get a replacement and that one broke also. Not impressed at all.

We us this litter http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/ and love it. It is made from corn. We have 2 cats and this litter really controls the odor. Maybe it will help enough with the odor so you can wait until your DH gets home and have it clean out the box. GL

doctabroccoli

MNVegas:

We bought an auto litter box a couple of years ago and it broke. Brought it back to get a replacement and that one broke also. Not impressed at all.

We us this litter http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/ and love it. It is made from corn. We have 2 cats and this litter really controls the odor. Maybe it will help enough with the odor so you can wait until your DH gets home and have it clean out the box. GL

Yeah, I only asked Chavay what litter she uses because I've noticed a distinct difference in smells between the different TidyCats clumping varieties.  I find that the immediate odor control (blue/yellow container) has the least amount of smell associated with it.  Amusingly enough, the "Breathe Easy" and "Small Spaces" varieties smell the worst to me, even though they're supposed to be the best, lol.  With the immediate odor control, the only time I notice a smell is literally right after one of the cats has gone #2, and only if I'm actually in the bathroom where the box is at the time.

onceuponadisaster

I had a littermate when i was still living in a townhome with roommates and the box was in my room. It did a good job, I had to clean the rake off about once a week for some of the "stickies" and it worked well until I was called out of town unexpectedly and my roommates were to keep an eye on it. 


As long as your DH makes sure the rake is clear, I bet it will work fine for you! 

ChavayJakov

doctabroccoli:

MNVegas:

We bought an auto litter box a couple of years ago and it broke. Brought it back to get a replacement and that one broke also. Not impressed at all.

We us this litter http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/ and love it. It is made from corn. We have 2 cats and this litter really controls the odor. Maybe it will help enough with the odor so you can wait until your DH gets home and have it clean out the box. GL

Yeah, I only asked Chavay what litter she uses because I've noticed a distinct difference in smells between the different TidyCats clumping varieties.  I find that the immediate odor control (blue/yellow container) has the least amount of smell associated with it.  Amusingly enough, the "Breathe Easy" and "Small Spaces" varieties smell the worst to me, even though they're supposed to be the best, lol.  With the immediate odor control, the only time I notice a smell is literally right after one of the cats has gone #2, and only if I'm actually in the bathroom where the box is at the time.

I do use TidyCats and agree with you on the Breathe Easy/Small Spaces irony.  Sometimes we're stuck buying those because the immediate odor control boxes are just gone from our store shelves. 

mandapanda18

dmblack:

We have a litter made litter box and love it.  Its probably 4 years old and works great.  We usually disasemble it 4 times a year for a good cleaning.  In my book its worth every penny.  I usually have to dump the plastic tray once a week. 

This! I have had mine for nearly 6 years LITTER MAID is the best invention ever, especially if you have multiple cats that won't potty in a dirty box! I use standard fresh step clumbing litter and change or dumb the plastic holding container about once a week. 

ChavayJakov

mandapanda18:

dmblack:

We have a litter made litter box and love it.  Its probably 4 years old and works great.  We usually disasemble it 4 times a year for a good cleaning.  In my book its worth every penny.  I usually have to dump the plastic tray once a week. 

This! I have had mine for nearly 6 years LITTER MAID is the best invention ever, especially if you have multiple cats that won't potty in a dirty box! I use standard fresh step clumbing litter and change or dumb the plastic holding container about once a week. 

Since you have multiple cats, and luck with this brand, let me ask: do you have one for each of your cats or do they share? 

msmerymac

FYI, if you wear gloves, you should be fine to deal with cat litter. You'd have to literally pick up cat feces with your hands and then eat without washing up in order to get an infection. But I don't blame you for not wanting to tell your husband that. ;-)

doctabroccoli

msmerymac:

FYI, if you wear gloves, you should be fine to deal with cat litter. You'd have to literally pick up cat feces with your hands and then eat without washing up in order to get an infection. But I don't blame you for not wanting to tell your husband that. ;-)

You could always get a box of hospital masks too if you want to be really safe!

Mashara

I agree that Tidy Cats Small Spaces litter is awful. We buy the one with a blue lid.

We had a LitterMaid automatic for years, but always had issues with the tines clumping up because my two cats always peed in the back corner. At least they both used it.

Last year, we got a CatGenie for my cat who got sick and has diarrhea all the time. The other cat is absolutely terrified of it. So now we have the 'Genie and a manual scoop pan. One caution: If our cat has a really bad poop day (every couple of weeks for ours), the smell travels through the heating vents =(  Otherwise, we never have to think about that pan except to order or top off the litter. It really is amazing.

Carol*Brady2

dmblack:

We have a litter made litter box and love it.  Its probably 4 years old and works great.  We usually disasemble it 4 times a year for a good cleaning.  In my book its worth every penny.  I usually have to dump the plastic tray once a week. 

Ditto!  We've had ours over 4yrs & had no problems!  Love that thing. 

MarriedinCali

I had 2 littermaid boxes and they both really sucked- they jammed constantly, and the boxes filled up every 1-2 days (we had 2 boxes for 2 cats and a kitten).

The scoop free box has a cartridge that you buy, you replace every 2-3 weeks depending on the # of cats- we have 2 boxes, and 3 cats and replace them every 2 weeks.  You can order them online to be delivered to your house on certain intervals, so you don't even have to go out and buy litter! We bought the covers to cover the litter boxes so the cats have privacy- but you can get it without if you have limited space.

Plus they're cheaper than littermaid and don't have the dusty clay litter.  I love them and would recommend them over littermaid any day of the week.

ecleptic

Two words: Litter Robot.

Been using it for 7 years now. Did have to replace after 5 years but that was our fault and not the box- we left it outside while moving in a rainstorm and fried the electronics. The current one has been going 2 years without issue and we just got a second. We have 2 cats and they have litter wars... and I was tired of the extra two regular litter boxes to accommodate their crazy.

It doesn't use special containers- kitchen trash bags, it doesn't smell, it keeps the litter sparkling clean, and I don't have to touch anything that came out of the back end of my cat. They're pricey but I promise they're worth it.

http://www.litter-robot.com/