A near-carefree cat box

[Stinky The Clown]

We started with your basic open cat box. Yuck. Since then, we've had nearly half a thousand dollars worth of Litter Maid electric litter boxes. The first one worked fairly well. It lasted a whole four years. The second one lasted about 2 years until the motor was no longer able to move the larger clumps. I called Litter Maid and told them the problem. They helpfully suggested we spray the box with Pam. (Yeah.) After hemming and hawing, they agreed to replace our unit. They made us open the old one and break off a part of the logic board with a bar code on it and either send it to them or take a picture of the broken piece in the same frame as the logic board from whence it came and email that. So that's what we did. The replacement box lasted two years, at which time we were emptying the damned thing like an old fashioned wooden crate with sand it it.

Dis Gusting.

Litter Maid is crap. Period.

My son has had one of these for more than 10 years, with never a problem.



So we got one. It assembles in about 13 seconds.

The initial litter fill is a lot, but after that you just top it off. It works *exactly* as advertised. If you clean it every other day and refill it once a week, you have virtually nothing else to do. You can clean it without gloves, while wearing a gown or tuxedo. Each time you empty it, it takes no more than 30 seconds. We keep a closed top trash can, lined with a plastic grocery bag, next to it. Roll, pull the drawer, empty in can, replace drawer, done. It *really* is that easy.

The cat likes it, too.

The only downside is that it needs some room. Assume that, as a minimum, you need three times its width to roll it.

I would recommend this to anyone.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754459&utm_source=googleproduct&utm_campaign=1822084&utm_medium=cse&mr:trackingCode=A9C22C64-C881-DE11-B712-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Looks interesting - I'll check it out.

Doesn't some of the litter fall out the hole when you roll it? I also don't have much room where the box is; I suppose I'd have to move it to roll it. Right now we use a type of litter box where the entrance is on top. This is nice because the cats don't track nearly as much litter onto the floor. But the scooping part is kind of a hassle. Next time I'm at PetSmart I'll have a look at this one.

Wish I could teach the beasts to use the toilet.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. You would think the litter would come out, but it doesn't. Never has.

We have to rotate ours 90 degrees on the floor before we roll it. No big hassle, but you need to be mindful of this.

We ordered ours online. I am under the impression that PetSmart, Pets R Us, etc., don't carry them in the stores.

They're made of typical plastic, just like any other litter box. They also come in two sizes. We mistakenly got the big one when the small one would have been enough for the one cat.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I stopped at PetSmart today (or was it PetCo? I get them mixed up),

and didn't see any of those. Guess they're online only.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. Yes, that's what we found, too. Online only.

[badgerpup]

9. I've got the open type of boxes...

...and am inured to having to scoop disgusting stuff.

Are those boxes BIG enough for fairly large cats? Three of my clowder are over 12 lbs (and my Sainted Vet, who they just visited reassured me that they weren't fat, they are indeed big cats) and all four of them like some room to turn around (and around and around....) in the litter box.

Does this box have it? And how much do they run? Cos I'd need more than one just to keep the peace...



True Story: When Wimsey joined us, we had ONE litterbox which got scooped twice a day. Wimsey was peeing inappropriately, often making sure that I was watching when he did so. :banghead:
I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT what his problem was!
Then I finally hit on "Four cats...one litterbox. :think: Bad ratio!"
Went to The Store That Must Not Be Named and got another box...and the problem cleared up INSTANTLY. :woohoo:

[Stinky The Clown]

10. These boxes come in two sizes. I mistakenly got the large size.

I mention this only to say I am familiar with the different sizes. The small size is fine for regular sized cats (10 - 12 - 15 lbs) and can probably handle two cats easily.

The big box noticeably bigger. I'd say it can handle three cats, no problem.

[spooky3]

3. VERY similar experience with Litter Maid.

When they work perfectly they are great. But they don't work perfectly for long, and one of mine has a manufacturing flaw that results in litter all over the floor under the unit.

Threw one away; returned parts of a second as you did; have two left (one of which was a replacement for the second), neither of which works well. We also have two basic traditional pans, which the cats like just as well. As soon as the machines entirely die, I will investigate your alternative, though my cats have never liked covered boxes. So thanks for the info.

We tried the ScoopFree mechanical box. Replacement liners with the litter were expensive and lasted a much shorter time than advertised. In practice, neither cats nor I liked the idea of the litter's absorbing urine rather than allowing it to be scooped or combed away. And "stuff" was always getting stuck to the tines--same problem occurs with the Litter Maids, and cleaning is a huge hassle, when it has to be done.

The Litter Maid litter does clump well, though.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. THANK YOU! I have also had terrible experiences with the Litter Maid P.O.S.!!

I will be looking into this...I have 6 cats and 4 litter boxes. Anything that can make that less tiresome is more than welcome.

[david13]

5. It rolls??!! No way, my cats would roll than to the stairway and down the stairs

smashing it in about 10 minutes. Scooping ain't that bad.
dc

[Stinky The Clown]

6. There's no way a cet can lift and roll this thing.

[david13]

7. Famous last words on the litter box. They know how to move the

furniture, you realize.
dc

[Stinky The Clown]

8. You must have extraordinary cats

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Amazon has this cheaper and no shipping charge....

[hamsterjill]

14. I echo the sentiment that Litter Maids are total crap.

I've had several, each one with some issue. The common issue being that the rake portion kept coming out of alignment and then not being able to move.