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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / January 2008Report - self-cleaning litterbox
As I mentioned in a previous post, my breother gave me (us?) a Littermaid for Christmas. The cats have adapted well, other than a couple of initial incidents with Melisande. She had gotten in the habit of parking with all four feet in the old box, but the "business end" hanging just enough over so her solid deposits were often made to the floor, requiring me to use a piece of tissue to relocate them. With the Littermaid, she couldn't quite get past the rim of the box, but a deposit onto the LID of the waste receptacle had the same effect (at second-hand). When the rake moves across, the lid raises and tips backward to allow the rake to empty its contents into the bin. Of course when the lid raised, it tipped contents on its surface onto the floor! Having a box that is always free of prior waste deposits seems to be correcting that habit. Now if I can just persuade her not to curiously watch the rake's operation, then get into the box to sniff at the rake when it returns to "home" position.... (There are sensors which register when there is a cat in the box and then set the rake in motion about ten minutes after the cat leaves, so she has prompted quite a few unnecessary cleaning cycles!) > Now if I can just > persuade her not to curiously watch the rake's operation, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > motion about ten minutes after the cat leaves, so she has > prompted quite a few unnecessary cleaning cycles!) She'll probably get bored with that after a while. Joyce  SignatureTo send email to this address, remove the triple-X from my user name. Well, Willow cat had at first felt the need to jump in after any of the other two had been there just to make sure it returns to the correct position, She got bored with it and while still does sometimes, not as much. > > Now if I can just > > persuade her not to curiously watch the rake's operation, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Joyce On Jan 19, 3:25 pm, bastXXXe...@sonic.net wrote: > > Now if I can just > > persuade her not to curiously watch the rake's operation, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > She'll probably get bored with that after a while. A friend of hubby's has two of those. Both of his masters, litter mates, boy and girl (but I don't know their names, sorry) seem to like to sit there and set off the sensors. When they are bored, usually at 2 or 3 in the morning. He comes out and they are jumping in, jumping out, and sitting and watching. He's had his for a couple of years now. They still aren't bored with it (hee). > Joyce > -- > To send email to this address, remove the triple-X from my user name. >> She'll probably get bored with that after a while. > A friend of hubby's has two of those. Both of his masters, litter > mates, boy and girl (but I don't know their names, sorry) seem to like > to sit there and set off the sensors. > When they are bored, usually at 2 or 3 in the morning. He comes out > and they are jumping in, jumping out, and sitting and watching. He's > had his for a couple of years now. They still aren't bored with it > (hee). That's hilarious. A waste of energy, but hilarious. I still don't understand why they don't make manually operated littermaid boxes, that will only do their thing when you press a button or flip a switch, etc. That way, there's no risk of having the thing go off at the wrong moment, and scaring the cat off ever using the box again, or having them play with it at 3 in the morning. Is there a *disadvantage* to a manual switch? I mean, other than the human having to, OMG the horror, actually push a button? Joyce SignatureTo send email to this address, remove the triple-X from my user name. bastXXXette@sonic.net kirjoitti: > >> She'll probably get bored with that after a while. > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Joyce Do they operate by an electric cable plugged into a wall outlet or some kind of battery?? Or something else entirely?? If by cable, then one could just unplug it, and if by battery, take it out when you don't want the box to operate. SignatureChristine in Laitila, Finland christal63 (at) gmail (dot) com >> I still don't understand why they don't make manually operated littermaid >> boxes, that will only do their thing when you press a button or flip a >> switch, etc. That way, there's no risk of having the thing go off at the >> wrong moment, and scaring the cat off ever using the box again, or having >> them play with it at 3 in the morning. > Do they operate by an electric cable plugged into a wall outlet or some > kind of battery?? Or something else entirely?? If by cable, then one > could just unplug it, and if by battery, take it out when you don't want > the box to operate. That's a good question. I don't know. If it plugs into the wall, you could always rig up a power strip that has an on/off switch, and pretend it's the on/off switch on the litter box. :) If it runs on batteries, that would be a pain in the butt, especially since battery locations on machinery tend to be in hard-to- reach places. Also, the cleaning mechanism is triggered by an electric eye that "sees" the cat getting in and out. So you'd have to make sure to trip the sensor once you've plugged it in (or turned on the power strip/snapped in the battery, etc.). All I want is a button that accomplishes the same function as the sensor. And a "manual mode" so the sensor doesn't operate. If there were self- cleaning litterboxes like that, I might consider getting one. While we're on the topic, does anyone have one of those "Cat Genie" litterboxes? I've seen it advertised on TV, but don't know anyone who actually has one. This one not only removes waste automatically, but it liquifies everything, flushes it down the toilet, and then *washes and dries* the litter. Sounds great, but also sounds like, with all those different phases of operation and all those moving parts, there are many opportunities for something to go wrong. (And you *really* don't want your cat deliberately triggering the mechanism for laughs.) I have no idea how much these things cost, but I'm sure they're not cheap. Joyce SignatureTo send email to this address, remove the triple-X from my user name. All I want is a button that accomplishes the same function as the sensor. > And a "manual mode" so the sensor doesn't operate. If there were self- > cleaning litterboxes like that, I might consider getting one. As I explained in the post prior to this, you CAN operate it manully if you like. However, I have already found that the automatic operation is much nore efficient, and since it won't operate with a cat IN the box, even my skittish Cendrillon isn't alarmed by it. > While we're on the topic, does anyone have one of those "Cat Genie" > litterboxes? I've seen it advertised on TV, but don't know anyone who > actually has one. This one not only removes waste automatically, but > it liquifies everything, flushes it down the toilet, and then *washes > and dries* the litter. I saw one on display at Petco (or something that sounds like it) several years ago. However, you had to hook it up to a faucet, somehow, as well as have a handy electrical plug-in. (At the time, the section of the bathroom where I kept the catbox had neither a sink nor an electric outlet nearby, so I didn't inquire any further.) When I wanted to check it out again, a few months later, I couldn't find one anywhere, so I assumed they'd gone out of business. (Maybe they did, and someone bought the patent, renamed it, and improved upon it.) > Sounds great, but also sounds like, with all > those different phases of operation and all those moving parts, there > are many opportunities for something to go wrong. (And you *really* > don't want your cat deliberately triggering the mechanism for laughs.) > I have no idea how much these things cost, but I'm sure they're not > cheap. The initial cost of the one I saw was (IIRC) over $200, and since it didn't use litter, but some specially manufactured "crystals" that had to be replenished from time to time, my interest was more a casual "what will they think of next?" than any serious contemplation of buying one.) -the battery holder is in the top of the littermaid, easy to access, -the switch on the side will do what you want, and when you turn it on it resets itself so triggering it isn't necessary. -the genie thing is about 400 bucks, my brother has it and says he isn't sure if he or the cats like it better. Lee > >> I still don't understand why they don't make manually operated littermaid > >> boxes, that will only do their thing when you press a button or flip a [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > -- > To send email to this address, remove the triple-X from my user name. > Do they operate by an electric cable plugged into a wall outlet or some > kind of battery?? You have a choice - there's a plug-in cable, or you can use eight size D batteries. (Obviously the plug-in option doesn't involve being sure you have batteries on hand when those installed die.) > Or something else entirely?? If by cable, then one > could just unplug it, and if by battery, take it out when you don't want > the box to operate. Not necessary - there's an on/off switch. You turn it off before you empty the waste-bin (they're "disposable", but I'm too thrifty to dispose of anything when it can still be reused), or when you need to change the used litter for fresh. It uses "premium" quality clumping litter (but PetsMart has its own brand, much less expensive than most) and it doesn't seem to need changing as often as a standard litterbox. Although you CAN operate it by hand, it seems to operate more reliably, with fewer problems, if you just leave it turned on to do its own thing when it chooses. > Not necessary - there's an on/off switch. You turn it off > before you empty the waste-bin (they're "disposable", but [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > operate more reliably, with fewer problems, if you just > leave it turned on to do its own thing when it chooses. I would try to remember to run it at least 2-3 times a day. But when I was going to do it, I'd go into the bathroom (where I keep the litterbox), close the door, and then run the cleaner. That way, my cats would never even need to know it was anything other than an ordinary litterbox. No fears or anxieties, or refusal to use the box. And it would never run unless I was right there. That way, if it had some kind of problem, I'd be able to stop it and fix it. I'd hate to think of it going back and forth, over and over for hours, while I was at work. (Yes, I know it's supposed to automatically shut off if it sweeps back and forth more than X number of times. But where is the guarantee than any piece of machinery will always work the way it's supposed to? :)) Joyce SignatureTo send email to this address, remove the triple-X from my user name. you can have either batteries or a plug in, and I forgot to say, I wouldn't turn mine off as one of the reasons we got ours is because I have one cat that will go anywhere else if the box isn't pristine, Lee > bastXXXette@sonic.net kirjoitti: > > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Christine in Laitila, Finland > christal63 (at) gmail (dot) com > you can have either batteries or a plug in, and I forgot to say, I wouldn't > turn mine off as one of the reasons we got ours is because I have one cat > that will go anywhere else if the box isn't pristine, Lee I see. Not a problem in my house! Joyce It is a problem in my house, If there is anything in the litter, O. T. will deposit it on the floor before his highness enters the box. > > you can have either batteries or a plug in, and I forgot to say, I > > wouldn't [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Joyce if that isn't an issue you could operate it manually with no problems, Lee > > you can have either batteries or a plug in, and I forgot to say, I wouldn't > > turn mine off as one of the reasons we got ours is because I have one cat [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Joyce > >> She'll probably get bored with that after a while. > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Is there a *disadvantage* to a manual switch? I mean, other than the > human having to, OMG the horror, actually push a button? Oh, you CAN operate them manually - just turn the switch on when you want it to clean and off when it finishes. (In fact, the manufacturer suggests you do so for a few days, until the cats are accustomed to the new box.) However, it seems to work better if it sweeps automatically, so the debris doesn't build up. (You have to keep the litter level much lower than you are probably used to, or it either won't operate at all, or keeps going back and forth without shutting off.) >Oh, you CAN operate them manually - just turn the switch on >when you want it to clean and off when it finishes. (In [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >operate at all, or keeps going back and forth without >shutting off.) Little Bit is my fussy one. I swear she sometimes moves all the litter from one side of the box, does her business, then moves all the litter to the side where she did her thing. She's the main reason I have covered boxes. Don't know if she'd be satisfied with swallow litter. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit, Spot, Princess and Furby with loving memories of Rocky (RB) >>Oh, you CAN operate them manually - just turn the switch on >>when you want it to clean and off when it finishes. (In [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > to the side where she did her thing. She's the main reason I have > covered boxes. Don't know if she'd be satisfied with swallow litter. Mine seem to have adapted just fine - even though Melisande DOES move all the litter into one pile, leaving most of the floor of the box bare. (But of course, the rake evens it all out, again, when it cleans.) >>> She'll probably get bored with that after a while. > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Joyce How about a remote control? ;-) SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk the only disadvantage is that a cat may have to use it without it being cleaned if you are sleeping, and mine does have a switch so you could turn it off at night and then back on in the morning, Lee > >> She'll probably get bored with that after a while. > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > -- > To send email to this address, remove the triple-X from my user name. On Jan 19, 2:44 pm, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evgm...@earthlink.net> wrote: > As I mentioned in a previous post, my breother gave me (us?) > a Littermaid for Christmas. The cats have adapted well, [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > motion about ten minutes after the cat leaves, so she has > prompted quite a few unnecessary cleaning cycles!) LOL - now some French from Hopitus, Evelyn...*Sacre Bleu!* - one of my Canadian pals' favorites - I hear those Littermaids take getting used to, not only for the cats, but owners as well. Common reaction of cats is fright at the noise it makes. As we all know, cats are not cut from a mold and all have their own personality and temperament. Congrats on your new Littermaid, they're expensive wherever I've seen them and you are all lucky (you and cats). What a great holiday gift. > LOL - now some French from Hopitus, Evelyn...*Sacre Bleu!* > - one of my Canadian pals' favorites - I hear those Littermaids > take getting used to, not only for the cats, but owners as well. Well, I'm a rather light sleeper, so even though it's not loud, the whine when it goes into operation sometimes awakens me. However, so far it shuts down after the first or second trip. (If not, it's supposed to stop after about five passes and simply sit there with a red light blinking until the problem is corrected - no beeps or sirens or anything.) > Common reaction of cats is fright at the noise it makes. Fortunately mine seem more curious than frightened - and its sensors are set up so if a cat re-enters the box during the "waiting" interval, or when the rake is still moving, it stops until the box is again cat-free, then starts the timer again. > As > we all know, cats are not cut from a mold and all have their > own personality and temperament. Congrats on your new > Littermaid, they're expensive wherever I've seen them and > you are all lucky (you and cats). What a great holiday gift. I thought so too! I had seen them advertised, and sort of drooled over them, but as you say, they are quite expensive, so I never expected to own one. (My brother has done well for himself, financially, but I've never felt he owed me anything - we all started out even, and if I made different choices in life, that's no one's fault but my own.) |
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