cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/3610354
Looking to pick up a self cleaning litterbox but there are a lot of options. The coolest one I’ve seen by far is the CatGenie Automatic Cat Box, but it’s nearly $500 and seems a little overkill.
I’ve also seen that the PetSafe Litterbox is a very popular choice, but it uses proprietary litter refills and crystal litter when I’d prefer clay litter.
I’ve been getting away with a $15 do-it-yourself litterbox just fine for a while, but I think I (and my cat) would appreciate something that doesn’t require daily maintenance. Something as simple as an automatic rake would be interesting.
My main goals are:
- Requires as little maintenance as possible while keeping my cat happy and the smell under control
- No proprietary lock-in (I can use my own litter)
- Doesn’t break the bank
- Built well, won’t break / easy to fix / good warranty / cheap enough that I can just buy a new one if it breaks
While I am looking for budget friendly options, I’m also curious on the more expensive options. I can’t imagine what justifies spending $700 on a Litter-Robot when emptying a litterbox manually isn’t that bad and the CatGenie is $500 and promises zero-maintenance. Have you had good luck with premium options like that?
Oh! And as much as I hate cleaning up after those soft poos, I would never get one of the automatic boxes that totally disposes of the waste via toilet or whatever.
Unusual eliminations are often the first sign that your cat isn’t feeling well. If you never see their poo, you might miss the early signs that they need to see a vet.
Sewage (and commercial composting) treatment processes in many cities are not designed to handle the microbes found in cat (and dog) poop, so their waste products should not go down the toilet or into your green waste bin unless you confirm that your city’s processes are equiped to properly treat it.