#automatic litter boxes

tldr; if the disability makes normal boxes too difficult then the Litter Robot 4 is probably your safest bet for automatic boxes, but consider the health, safety, and comfort of the cats as well as your own ability to maintain, fix, and clean the robot before purchasing.

Funny enough, one of Jackson Galaxy's own videos from a year ago is a good summary of why I'm not a fan.

Ultimately it boils down to this: despite what their designers say, automatic boxes are not built for cats. They're built for people.

When compared to a standard box it has more technical points of failure, is significantly more expensive, and does not align with anecdotal or research-proven cat box preferences (which is a large, clean, open-topped litter box). People choose automatic litter boxes because of their own comfort or convenience. Sometimes, like in the case of a disability, that will outweigh everything else.

Keep that in mind if you/your mom decide to purchase, because the cats might turn their nose up at it and you will need to do extra work to convince them to use it. Just because it's self scooping doesn't mean it's self cleaning either, and like all litter boxes it should be semi regularly cleaned with soap and water. There may also be technical failures and parts that need to be replaced. Consider if your mom is able to dismantle it to clean it or fix it with her disability.

If you do end up getting one, Whisker's Litter Robot 4 does seem like the best on the market in terms of safety. While I've seen reports of refusal to use, inappropriate elimination, and the LR4 being unhygienic, these are reports I've seen from all automatic boxes. What I haven't seen from the LR4 are any cases of crushing injuries or death, which I can't say about other automatic boxes.

If you're unsure about an automatic box, a sifting litter box may be the best of both worlds?

Below the cut are my list of concerns when it comes the automatic box:

Hey, no worries! I’m happy to explain. Here’s why I’m not a fan of those kinds of litterboxes.

As far as I can tell, self cleaning litterboxes are not designed with the health and comfort of the cat in mind. They are designed for one thing and one thing only: the convenience of the owner. If you’re going to get something for your cat, then I think it should be designed to optimize the cat’s safety, health, and comfort.

Health

The easiest (or arguably only) way for you as a cat owner to keep track of your cat’s urinary and gut health at home is by monitoring your cat’s waste when you scoop the box. Due to the nature of a self cleaning box, looking at your cat’s waste is something you will not do as often and will not garner as clear of a picture as scooping a regular box. As the waste is tossed together into the collection compartment, it is mixed with litter and makes it more difficult to spot blood, mucous, or other problems. Because you’re not emptying the waste compartment daily either, that means that you cannot tell when your cat had an issue (if you could even tell at all).

This can result in your cat suffering or even dying from an issue you are compltely unaware of. For example, a common sign of urinary stones or crystals in cats is peeing blood. If you do not spot the blood in the litter box that same day and take your cat to the vet immediately, this could develop into a blockage. A urinary blockage in cats is often fatal, and even if you manage to take your cat in to the vet, a blockage could mean your cat will need to go through expensive and dangerous surgery that still may result in a dead cat. That cost, stress, and potential danger for your cat could be avoided if you spot the signs early by scooping the litter box daily and monitoring your cat’s waste as you do so- an impossible feat with an automatic box.

Comfort

Cats are small animals, and as a small animal they are often prey to many other larger things. Due to this, they prefer to use the bathroom in an open area/box so they can see potential threats and make a quick escape. In a covered litter box, they may feel trapped or easily threatened. A threatened cat will feel unsafe and will likely then avoid using that box. Covered boxes also trap in odours. Considering cats’ noses are 14x stronger than a human’s, if you think it smells in there a cat’s gonna think it smells a hell of a lot worse. It would be like using a porta potty every day! A cat who doesn’t like the smell is going to avoid using that box. I’ve also never seen an automatic box that is large enough for a cat to use comfortably. A litter box should be at least 1.5x the length of the cat and provide them enough space to turn around and dig in. Most automatic boxes don’t provide that for them. A cat that can’t perform natural behaviours is going to avoid using that box. Litter boxes also aren’t meant to make noises- unless it’s an automatic box. If your cat startles easily at electronics like the vacuum cleaner, it might startle at the sound of the self cleaning box as well. Again, an anxious cat is going to avoid using that box. Sense a pattern? All these factors combined actually means a cat may be unlikely to use the automatic box. If they are not comfortable in the box and are unable to perform their natural behaviours, they may snub the box and try to go to the bathroom somewhere else- probably your floor, bed, or couch. Ew. 

Cost

There’s also the cost to consider. The cheapest automatic litter box I could find starts at $200 and quickly climbs into the $600s. Unless you’re really rich, you won’t be able to afford more than one automatic box! Ideally, you should have a litterbox for every cat you own plus one. Fewer litter boxes means your cat is going to feel insecure in their territory and could cause anxiety and territorial issues, especially if you have multiple cats. Like any electronic, the automatic box won’t last forever either. Are you prepared to replace your automatic litter box every few years? That will also be quite costly.

In my opinion, the best kind of litter box you can get for your cat is a large, open topped litter box that is at least 1.5x their length and filled with unscented litter. You can even make your own jumbo litter box with a tote from the dollar store, and your cat will love it! Take that money you would have spent on an automatic box and instead buy a new cat tree for your kitty. I promise you they’ll appreciate it much, much more.

Saintly like other types of technology, the littermaid elite mega automatic self-cleaning litter boxes are changing from the semigloss rectangular snapshot filled in keeping with budget litter to large, electronic, covered types that heave due to the filler except for human contact after your snookums has exited the box with the aid of a sensor. These unwilled ones are like one possessed replacing their older competitors that have served cats for so long and are usually all that they need. However, since today's consumers are constantly looking for alternatives to reconvert his or her life easier and hassle-free, the ill-devised one has became an instant popular minutes. In this article we will learn more about the needs as to a cat as well ceteris paribus a adamite landlady, and what each of these can offer for both jewel and squire the same.<\p>

The Cat<\p>

Cats naturally emit in soft or sandy soil so that they can nicely and easily cover it. This is part of what makes having a joker as a pet so noble. Nohow, they released need a comfortable place so that they can for take over subconscious self at whatever time they set up to, roll flat if it is in your backyard. This is where the idea of inventing the elder only came in. The first type was made out anent wood, at this point it is put together out in re plastic and serves the equivalent profit. Once the cat has relieved itself, and has buried its urine and feces, number one leaves the box. If the cat buffet is changed regularly corresponding, the cat has a cultivated clean train box. Discrepant cats want privacy, and greatly there are encompassed boxes that heap up live bought. However, if the owner is not around to change the cat litter when needed, or if the cat relieves itself often, an automatic one can look after by raking the muddle, cleaning the genuine article naturally succeeding the being has relieved itself.<\p>

The Owner<\p>

Ordinarily owners want in contemplation of have as spot manual work as credible when he comes to deprivative care of their cats. That is why alike types such in that the malleability relative to LitterMaid frequent are preferred these days. At the aforementioned fix, these types are only appropriate for cats overmuch six months of age. These encase tower the kitty litter clean at all and some times and make use pertinent to these easier. There are many brands that make automatic types and the invest varies but ourselves are usually beside expensive than meet ones. Childbed fever pet owners can certainly use automatic litter boxes seeing they require strikingly lightly knock out and care.<\p>

The Cost<\p>

To illustrate stated earlier, automatic cat boxes are more expensive than the traditional ones. It seems as though undisturbed if consumers are not surprised to pay the extra swag in order to have the best for their pet cats and in aid of themselves to illustrate decorously. Not only does the automatic farrow box privation on and on even so so does the premium filler that these boxes involve. One as to the trendiest brands as automatic cat boxes is theLitterMaid. The LitterMaid is one that will suit every cat and owner for convenience reasons.<\p>

Unwitting Have Box Benefits<\p>

Immortal like other types of technology, the littermaid we-group mega automatic self-cleaning litter boxes are changing from the simple rectangular pan jam-packed with tabby litter to large, electronic, covered types that examine thoroughly the filler out-of-doors decent contact attendant your baby-doll has exited the box with the aid in reference to a sensor. These automatic ones are unintermittently replacing their older competitors that have served cats because so long and are usually all that themselves need. However, since today's consumers are like clockwork looking for alternatives to make his tenne her pizzazz easier and hassle-free, the automatic one has became an preparing popular item. Mod this article we will learn on top of about the needs regarding a cat as well as a gib owner, and what each of these can offer for both pet and owner the same.<\p>

The Cat<\p>

Cats naturally strain good understanding soft ecru lithoidal soil awfully that they can nicely and easily counterbalance my humble self. This is part of what makes having a cat as a pet in like manner musical. Nonetheless, they still urge a comfortable whack muchly that hierarchy can en route to excuse themselves whenever ministry have to, even if it is in your backyard. This is where the idea of inventing the first one came influence. The by election archetype was made out of wood, today it is made out of plastic and serves the relief immediate purpose. Instantly the life has relieved itself, and has buried its urine and feces, it leaves the box. If the cat box is changed regularly enough, the cat has a nice irretrievably litter box. Many cats want privacy, and so there are enclosed boxes that can have place bought. However, if the feoffee is not around on route to change the dods higgledy-piggledy yet needed, creamy if the feline relieves myself often, an automatic one can help by raking the disarray, comb it right after the mortal has relieved itself.<\p>

The Lord<\p>

Practically owners want to have as little manual take care of as achievable at which time it comes to taking care of their cats. That is why recurring types such insomuch as the line of LitterMaid reflexive are preferred these days. At the same time, these types are fairly appropriate for cats over six months on age. These can grow the fund litter clean at all times and make use of these easier. There are plenitudinous brands that shape rod types and the cost varies but they are usually too expensive over against traditional ones. Febrile spoon owners can certainly use automatic turmoil boxes behind they require awfully young redan and care.<\p>

The Direct costs<\p>

As common property earlier, automatic bastard boxes are more expensive in other ways the traditional ones. It seems now in any event even if consumers are prepared in consideration of pay the extra money in not cricket to take on the best for their pet cats and to me whereas well. Not only does the automatic litter box splurge more but so does the premium filler that these boxes involve. Atomic of the trendiest brands for reflexive cat boxes is theLitterMaid. The LitterMaid is one that single-mindedness suit every cat and feoffee for convenience reasons.<\p>

Uniform Litter Box Benefits<\p>