Automated Litter Boxes

ashz

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Hi all

I just wanted to know how many people have an automated litter box. Also what type? Are you satisfied with it? Please answer my poll. I am considering either the litter maid or the litter robot based on the answers of this survey.


Thanx all
 

javern

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i think as of now they are more of a pain, need some beefing up
 

rosehawke

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Man, I would really like to try the Litter Robot, but I just don't think it's big enough for a fully grown male Maine Coon
.

You know, it seems like I always have this problem in some manner, finding stuff big and stout enough for my cats, and previously, finding tack that would fit my little 14.2 Arabian mare. I've said that if I ever get another horse, I would get one that would fit "normal" tack!
 

meiam

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i'm glad you posted this because i've been considering the litter maid and wasn't really sure, i just have a regular litter box and i clean it out every day...i'm a bit of a clean freak and don't want my house smelling like a litter box, my SIL's house makes me sick, she doesn't clean the cat box enough and i've literally almost thrown up because the smell was so bad!
 

starlie

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I had a Littermaid and I hated it. It didn't allow enough time for the urine to clump and it would get stuck in the rake. Not to mention, cleaning it was such a pain in the arse. It was worse than a standard litter box.
 

scamperfarms

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Originally Posted by RoseHawke

Man, I would really like to try the Litter Robot, but I just don't think it's big enough for a fully grown male Maine Coon
.

You know, it seems like I always have this problem in some manner, finding stuff big and stout enough for my cats, and previously, finding tack that would fit my little 14.2 Arabian mare. I've said that if I ever get another horse, I would get one that would fit "normal" tack!
Now now now, LOL I have a 13.3 hand Arabian Mare
and a 13hh er Shes still growing, and a 14hh, and a 14.2 hher I dont have to much trouble. Saddles can be picky but Semi Qh bars usually work, and Briddles I just punch another hole in the leather for tightening
 

emma's friend

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Originally Posted by starlie

It didn't allow enough time for the urine to clump and it would get stuck in the rake. Not to mention, cleaning it was such a pain in the arse. It was worse than a standard litter box.
Couldn't have said it better myself. It was more work than it should have been.
 

5catsandcountin

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We tried a littermade fora week and we took it back. The poop got stuck in the grates too fast and the litter can still fly everywhere.

But, it is one of the biggest money makers for us since we find them at yard sales ALL THE TIME for $5 and resell them for a lot more. lol
 

rosehawke

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Originally Posted by ScamperFarms

Now now now, LOL I have a 13.3 hand Arabian Mare
and a 13hh er Shes still growing, and a 14hh, and a 14.2 hher I dont have to much trouble. Saddles can be picky but Semi Qh bars usually work, and Briddles I just punch another hole in the leather for tightening
Maybe she just had a really small head? Seems like I really, really, had to snug up on bridles and halters. I finally ended up buying a 14" barrel racing saddle for her. Fortunately at the time my b*tt was smaller so I could fit the saddle too
!
 

esrgirl

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I've had the LitterMaid box for about 2 years now and I love it. The poop does sometimes get caught on the little grates, but for the most part it works great. The liter that is marketed for the box is a bit pricey and I've found that my Tidy Cats crystals blend works fine. Arm and Hamer works pretty well with this box as well. Just make sure you buy a good, hard-clumping litter to go with the box. I bought the LitterMaid box because it was the only one I saw that was automatic, so I have no idea if the Litter Robot is good. I still keep a regular box as well. They #2 in the automatic box and #1 in the regular box, I have no idea why.
 

bigorangemenace

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:p tsk tsk.. just like the most popular clothes in clothing stores, automated litter trays just arent for fatter cats! :p Ive always wanted to try one but I couldnt afford it. I saw on anothe rpost about something they got from petsmart, its a pooper scooper with a bag on it ;P so you don thave to ge tyour hands "dirty" though that doesnt mean I scoop it with my hands :p its just easier :p heh. I think im going to get one of those, its only ten dollars :p and my kitties birthdays are in july so its not that long now
 

kpullings

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This is a good forum. I'm getting another cat and am trying to find the best litter box for a multi-cat house(if two cats could be considered multicat
) I'm looking at the Omega Paw Large Self Cleaning Unit. Does anyone have experience with that one?
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by starlie

I had a Littermaid and I hated it. It didn't allow enough time for the urine to clump and it would get stuck in the rake. Not to mention, cleaning it was such a pain in the arse. It was worse than a standard litter box.
i have 2 littermaids, & much prefer them to the non-automated boxes. i keep an old toothbrush in the closet to clean between the tines (i have a corner pee-er so clumps do get stuck). i feel the odor is far less, especially when i come home from work. i'm not walking into a smelly house! the cats much prefer 1 over the other, not sure why. the preferred box's receptacle needs emptying about every 2-3 days. i line the receptacle with a plastic bag, so i can reuse the receptacles. also makes emptying it easier. i use arm & hammer litter - it seems to work the best, clumping-wise, & the odor control is good.
 

philbert

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I had the bigger size litter maid (mega i think it was called) for 2 or so years. eventually, the sensors stopped working. unplugging and replugging would move the rake, so it wasn't a mechanical problem. i took the little plastic covers off the sensors and cleaned with alcohol, but still wouldn't work.

the other problems concerned the waste area. it didn't trap all the odor, and the refills could get pricey. i would dump them out and reuse a few times, but this wasn't a perfect solution. i also found the clumping litter to leave a mess.

i'm currently using a standard box with tidy cats crystals, along with a litter locker to dump solid waste (i live in an apartment). this works pretty well. though i've now seen some corn based clumping litters that are flushable (Worlds Best Cat Litter and Vetbasis Nature Derived Herbal Cat Litter), which seem like they should be even more convenient, and would eliminate the need/cost of the litter locker.

cheers,
phil
 

fancysmom

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I, too, am considering the Omega Paw, Kpullings, and would love to hear from someone who owns (or has owned) one. 

I had a Littermaid several years ago, and it lasted only a couple of years.  A friend tried to repair it for me, but Littermaid is amazingly UNhelpful with any repair info or parts. I even purchased a Littermaid repair manual, written by an independent person, but the "fix" they suggested didn't work.   My rake kept stopping when there was nothing there to impede it.  I decided $100 (not even available at this price now) for 2 years wasn't really worth it!  The reviews I've read about Littermaid are mixed - some say the older models were sturdier, and newer models are really flimsy.  So, moving up to the more expensive model doesn't seem cost-effective, either.

I looked for reviews on this site, and the Omega Paw sounds like a good option.  Requires the owner to turn it on its side to move solid waste out of the clean litter.  Wonder how that works with a large solid "pee" clump?

Some smart entrepreneur needs to come up with a better concept and give Littermaid a run for their money!!
 

carebearbaby1

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I had a Litter-maid, the jumbo sized. I have large cats and the poor little motor couldn't move some of the larger clumps. The motor pooped out completely after a year or so. It also was a pain to take apart and clean. I have regular litter boxes again now and they're much easier to maintain and cheaper to replace.
 

fancysmom

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My additional problem is a dog who likes to invade the litter box, then throw up on my carpet after eating some of the contents. So gross to think about! First dog I've had who did this - she's a rescue, but I don't think that would contribute to this behavior. I looked at 2 non-automated litter boxes online that might help.  One has a hole in the top where the cat enters;  the other has kind of a hood that extends a little beyond the cover, and requires the cat to get under the hood and then jump inside. 

By the way, I know this is off topic, but does anyone have a good idea for a dog proof cat feeder?  Those on the market are pretty pricey.  I'm considering looking for a small used crate I could make a cat sized opening in.  My cat is getting too old to jump up on the counter where I've fed her for years, but my dog helps herself to cat food unless I put up ridiculous barriers. I think most dogs try to eat any available food - especially if they know it's for the cat!  My mother's cat, a big, bad humored Tom, started eating the dog food when my dog and I visited.  I know he did it to get back at the dog for eating his food!  :-)     
 
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