Are self-cleaning litter boxes worth the money? It depends on the cat

Cat self-cleaning litter boxes are one of the hottest items on the pet supplies market these days, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re effectively marketed as a way to avoid the messy, smelly experience of unboxing — and that’s not their only benefit, according to satisfied cat parents.

But they’re also a great investment, with some automatic litter boxes costing upwards of $600 (and not including litter). Can the perks really justify the price tag? We take a look at the market and see if a self-cleaning litter box is worth it for cat parents.

The Quest for the Perfect Self-Cleaning Waste Box

The first patent for an automatic litter box was filed in 1991 — and since that day, pet dealers have modified the design in search of the perfect self-cleaning litter box. (Just look at Kickstarterwhere there are dozens of campaigns right now.)

For the most part, though, the goal of the automatic litter box remains the same: to minimize your exposure to cat waste.

There are many ways self-cleaning trash cans can achieve this. Some screen waste into large-capacity deodorizing bins that can hold a few days’ worth of waste. Others scrape solid waste into disposable trays while absorbing liquid waste in the form of silica crystals. One that washes and dries reusable litter particles, flushing the waste down a nearby household drain.

In addition to making automatic litter boxes time-saving and convenient for humans, manufacturers must also make them appealing to cats. Early models were noisy, cramped, difficult to get in, or prone to breakdowns. The latest models have smooth engines, wide entrances and good warranties.

They can be a game changer in litter management — if the litter box fits a household’s needs.

Types of self-cleaning litter boxes

If your picture of a self-cleaning litter box is a traditional rectangular litter box equipped with a motorized and noisy rake, you have some pleasant surprises. Over the past ten years, companies have designed and refined several types of robotic trash cans that fall into four categories.

Rotary sieve. The Litter-Robot 4 is the most famous set of rotating sieves, although Leo’s Loo Too are increasingly popular. These self-cleaning bins sit on top of a large trash can. Electronic sensors and timers ensure that screening will not begin until the cat has left the box.

The latest rotating screening models come with Wi-Fi so you can keep an eye on what your cat is doing in the box and see if the litter box is full. You’ll pay well over $500 for one of these large pieces of equipment (plus buying premium litter).

Wash and reuse litter. Present, CatGenie AI Automatic Cat Box There is a corner on the trash can of the robot that can reuse the garbage. CatGenie connects to your cold water system to wash away reusable litter and cat waste deposits in household drains. Then the equipment to heat and dry the litter has been cleaned. This unusual system costs more than $500, but there’s no need to buy any trash—or ship the waste bags to the trash.

Scratch the litter box with silica crystalline litter. This affordable self-cleaning litter box — ScoopFree Super Automatic Drain Box— Looks like a traditional rectangular box but includes a rake that goes through the box after the cat comes out. Waste is poured into a disposable tray (or optionally cleanable tray), and the silica crystals absorb the urine and deodorize the litter box. It requires the use of the proprietary ScoopFree silica crystal holder and tray.

Slow screening litter box. PetSafe Simply Clean is a relatively inexpensive device (usually selling for around $100) that allows you to use any clay you want. As the container rotates, the litter will pass through a sieve to transfer the waste to the disposal bin. This process is so slow that the cat using the box will not notice that it is moving.

For more information on automatic litter boxes on the market, see “The best self-cleaning litter boxes for cats — and their parents. “

Is A Self-Cleaning Cat Box A Good Investment?

First, the bad news. The bottom line here is that it’s not really a litter box if cats don’t use it, and there’s no way around the problem that a self-cleaning litter box isn’t for every household or every dog. cat.

Reviews of these products (like this is by Leo’s Loo Too), and our experience as cat parents, make it clear that while many cats use these gadgets, others refuse. Some cats simply don’t want to handle the noisy litter box. Many older, arthritic cats (myself included) are unable to climb the high entrances of the rotary sieve.

That makes self-cleaning trash an expensive gamble.

Good news, however, is that the return is real. If your cat is ready to try one of these self-cleaning litter boxes, there are many reasons why one of them could be a game changer for your family. Here are some situations where even an expensive $500 nesting system could be worth the money:

• If you have health problems that make handling cat waste dangerous. Instead of daily shoveling, you can ask someone to come in once or twice a week to clean out your trash bin for you.
• If you can’t lift heavy bags or cat litter. The wash and reuse litter box system uses recyclable waste and will put the waste directly into your home’s sewer system.
• If litter box smell is a problem in your house or apartment. Most automatic litter boxes (especially Leo’s Loo Too, have an ultraviolet germicidal feature) can significantly reduce the cat’s box odor.
• If you have a long business trip or a short trip. Any of these bins will ensure that you don’t come home with a box full of stench (and your cat won’t be lured elsewhere).
• If you are short on space and need to keep the toilet box in a visible place in the house. Automatic toilet box like Litter-Robot and Leo’s Loo are discreetly covered and have a sleek, attractive look.
• If you or another member of your household needs to be reminded to tend to litter. The WiFi-enabled litter box can handle it, while providing data on your cat’s litter box usage habits.

So should you buy an automatic litter box for your cat?

If the risk is worth the reward — or you have a friend waiting to save you from failing — an automatic litter box can be as much a time-saving investment as some in the pet world. .

If your cat is not used to a box with a hood but you are considering one of the automatic models with a hood, you can try buying one. box with hood is cheaper as an intermediate step, or create a DIY lid for the box they already have, to see how it goes.

There are also some tricks you can try to help your cat acclimate to a mechanical litter box, such as adding old litter to the new box so they seem familiar and avoiding automatic cleaning cycles. until the cat has tried a few times. .

But if your cat has a long history of not liking cleaning in their bathroom, a self-cleaning litter box can be an unprofitable investment.

While there is no old cat, my pet cat has finally arrived Litter-Robot that I bought, my friend Ken reports that the same model was a great success with his two kittens. And he has a tip for other owners of self-cleaning boxes: Ken puts the Litter-Robot in his garage and installs a cat door that leads from the house to the garage. This way, the entire trash can’s operation is completely inefficient — except for changing the bags in the waste bin once a week. “It was perfect,” he said.

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