this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
119 points (94.7% liked)

No Stupid Questions

36300 readers
1053 users here now

No such thing. Ask away!

!nostupidquestions is a community dedicated to being helpful and answering each others' questions on various topics.

The rules for posting and commenting, besides the rules defined here for lemmy.world, are as follows:

Rules (interactive)


Rule 1- All posts must be legitimate questions. All post titles must include a question.

All posts must be legitimate questions, and all post titles must include a question. Questions that are joke or trolling questions, memes, song lyrics as title, etc. are not allowed here. See Rule 6 for all exceptions.



Rule 2- Your question subject cannot be illegal or NSFW material.

Your question subject cannot be illegal or NSFW material. You will be warned first, banned second.



Rule 3- Do not seek mental, medical and professional help here.

Do not seek mental, medical and professional help here. Breaking this rule will not get you or your post removed, but it will put you at risk, and possibly in danger.



Rule 4- No self promotion or upvote-farming of any kind.

That's it.



Rule 5- No baiting or sealioning or promoting an agenda.

Questions which, instead of being of an innocuous nature, are specifically intended (based on reports and in the opinion of our crack moderation team) to bait users into ideological wars on charged political topics will be removed and the authors warned - or banned - depending on severity.



Rule 6- Regarding META posts and joke questions.

Provided it is about the community itself, you may post non-question posts using the [META] tag on your post title.

On fridays, you are allowed to post meme and troll questions, on the condition that it's in text format only, and conforms with our other rules. These posts MUST include the [NSQ Friday] tag in their title.

If you post a serious question on friday and are looking only for legitimate answers, then please include the [Serious] tag on your post. Irrelevant replies will then be removed by moderators.



Rule 7- You can't intentionally annoy, mock, or harass other members.

If you intentionally annoy, mock, harass, or discriminate against any individual member, you will be removed.

Likewise, if you are a member, sympathiser or a resemblant of a movement that is known to largely hate, mock, discriminate against, and/or want to take lives of a group of people, and you were provably vocal about your hate, then you will be banned on sight.



Rule 8- All comments should try to stay relevant to their parent content.



Rule 9- Reposts from other platforms are not allowed.

Let everyone have their own content.



Rule 10- Majority of bots aren't allowed to participate here.



Credits

Our breathtaking icon was bestowed upon us by @Cevilia!

The greatest banner of all time: by @TheOneWithTheHair!

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Does anyone have any experience with self-cleaning cat litter boxes? I'm curious if any particular model of self-cleaning litter box is any good. We now have 4 cats and it would be nice to not have to clean litter boxes manually 1-2 times every day.

Do they separate pee/poop from litter well? Are cats afraid to use them? Do they stink more than regular litter boxes because pee/poop are in them for longer periods? Are they a hassle to clean? Do you have to buy propietary supplies (custom litter? special trays?)?

Thanks for your input.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Alk@lemmy.world 52 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (7 children)

I have a Litter Robot (that's the actual brand name) and it's worth the money. Completely eliminates smell other than right when they do the deed. Incredibly easy and clean to empty, but that's all besides the point. They ha e the BEST customer service ever. I've had parts replaced for free, experts on the phone guide me step by step on how to fix it if it malfunctions, and once they even replaced the entire dome for free (plus shipping). I've had this for several years and it's amazing. Truly.

I've had other automatic litter boxes too but none of them have been as durable, clean smelling, or easy to use as this. Plus I get phone notifications when it's full and it won't cycle anymore so I can change it.

My cats took a week to get used to it but now they love it. They offer their own litter but you can buy your own as well. There are certain restrictions on litter type though, check that out before you buy litter.

It separates the waste well, and there is hardly any wasted clean litter in the waste bag when I take it out.

And it actually stinks LESS than a regular box because of how it stores the waste and the fact that it seals it away a few minutes after cats go, using a weight sensor to tell when a cat has left the box.

Edit: reading this sounds like an advertisement, but I swear I'm just a dude who loves my litter box a whole lot.

[–] distantsounds@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I have one arriving today. Fingers crossed that my scaredy cat will be able to make the change.

[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Our scardy cat was fascinated by ours. Would haul ass from across the house just to watch it cycle.

[–] Devi@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

If you want you can start by not allowing it to auto turn and only turning it manually when you're nearby and can be sure the cat isn't near. You can then build up to the auto turn

[–] phanto@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

My friends bought me a litter robot, too. I have mixed feelings. I seem to have to reset and fiddle with the thing too often, but when it works, it's really good for keeping the smell down. My guys use it more often than the other two old school boxes, so I guess two paws up from them?

[–] Devi@kbin.social 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Have you broken it down to clean? Issues in mine usually mean there's dust build up under the bowl, particularly the pinch sensor. If I get that sorted every few months then it goes back to fine.

[–] phanto@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I have not, and I will check! If that's all it is... It's been finicky for years!

[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Yeah, you have to occasionally do a complete disassembly and clean out the internals. Maybe once a year.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Alk@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Sounds like it needs a cleaning. Also update the firmware just in case. Customer service can help if you need help figuring out how to clean it or if a motor goes bad or something. They've replaced motors and stuff for me a few times for free. When one of the sensors broke or was damaged, it was finicky for me too. Sometimes worked sometimes didn't. Replacing it fixed it instantly. Though the same happens if a sensor needs to be cleaned.

[–] AtariDump@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

What a future world we live in; firmware updates on a litter box.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] thegreekgeek@midwest.social 6 points 1 year ago

Second the litter robot. I had a pet safe automatic litterbox for years and this one blows that out of the water.

[–] undercrust@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

This sounded fantastic until I looked it up and it's A THOUSAND DOLLARS???

I love my cat and I hate scooping litter, but definitely not a grand worth of either...

[–] Devi@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

What dollars is that?

Mine was £350 which is under $500 US, just looked at the site and the brand new model is $699.

[–] undercrust@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Ah, that's $999 Canadian. Right now our exchange against the US$ is brutal.

[–] Devi@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Ah, yup, the new one is indeed that much. Second hand are widely available but tbf, it's worth the cost to me. Around the same price as a new washing machine and I'd probably choose the litter robot first if I had to choose.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

They're probably looking at one of the bundles.

[–] Bongles@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

Hey now, it's only $700 where I am.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] bobs_monkey@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

My mom has one of these and she loves it.

Only weird bit was when I was staying at her house and didn't realize it was a thing, only to have it go through a cycle at 4am and not knowing what the cyborg sound was.

[–] HypnoticSheep@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How'd you get your cat to try it? We're struggling to get ours to even look at it, any pointers would be appreciated!

[–] Alk@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

I would pick them up and just put them inside it. After a day or so of that over and over they started using it but it took them a while to not be scared of it when it moves.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Supervisor194@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago (10 children)

This is going to sound like hyperbole, but this thing changed my life and I always love it when I get a chance to share it with somebody. It requires no electricity, it has no moving parts and in the 11 years I've been using one, it's never broken. I give you: Omega Paw.

It requires clumping cat litter, so if you use that you're golden. When it's time to clean, you roll it - and as you roll, the loose litter flows through a grate, but the clumps and waste stay on top of the grate. As you continue to roll it, the waste falls to the ceiling. When you roll it back, the waste all falls into the drawer, which you pull out and dump. Cleaning the litter box takes literally 10 seconds. It's awesome.

[–] nul@programming.dev 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And what happens with the cat?

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 1 year ago

It learns after the first time or two

[–] Can_you_change_your_username@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I had one when my cats were kittens, unfortunately one of my cats is freakishly large and can't turn around in most lidded litter boxes so I had to replace it but it was very convenient. It's easy to use and the monthly clean out is about the same as any other manual litter box.

[–] Supervisor194@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Did you have the large one? I have a 17lb long-haired Maine Coon and he has no issues with it, but I do have the large one.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (8 replies)
[–] heleos@lemm.ee 18 points 1 year ago

Bought a litter robot 4, wouldn't do it again for the price. It's a pain to clean and the cats are always peeing/pooping on the sides. It constantly stopped it cleaning cycle, and ended up growing a ton of bugs inside because the design had some cat poop inside the machine where I couldn't get to it. I had to dismantle the entire thing taking out every screw to clean it. It's currently sitting in my basement. I left a similar review on their website and they decided not to post it, I guess they don't like unfavorable reviews.

[–] The_Picard_Maneuver@startrek.website 13 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I'll go against the grain here and say that no, I don't think they're worth it. The litter that automatic litter boxes have to use doesn't clump and isn't as effective. Tried it for about a year and then went back to low-tech.

[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Those were 1st gen, we're way past that now.

[–] Devi@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

The one I use only uses clumping litter.

[–] SeedyOne@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

It seems the newer ones do allow more varieties of litter these days but that's a good reminder not all do.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] weariedfae@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

I had a Cat Genie for years and loved it. Like others, they're a bit of a pain to take apart and clean when you need to.

It also had a draw back of sometimes missing a small piece, washing it, then blowing hot air on it to stink up the whole place.

But overall I was happy with it. The only reason I don't have one now is my living situation changed and I don't have room for it (requires water hookup and a drain).

Yes what I mentioned may sound annoying but consider this: we had ours hooked up to a laundry drain and had to do no scooping. Ever. We didn't even have to flush the toilet. Every once in a while we'd plug in a special cartridge to do a self clean cycle, and once a year we'd take it apart to clean the internal section (but honestly it didn't need this except once due to hard water buildup).

You don't have to do anything and it always had washed and clean litter. Every once in a while it got a little stinky but what litterbox doesn't?!

Seriously, highly recommend.

[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

100%

We have 7 cats and 2x Litter Robot 3, and they're a life saver. I only have to empty the bags every 2ish days, and litter lasts longer since they're not digging in clumped waste.

They are a bit of a hassle to clean if you don't keep up with it, though. A full breakdown of the sphere will take a few hours of work. But, if you wipe it out every time you change litter, you will only need to do it every 3-6 months.

[–] ratman150@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago

3 cats with a litter robot 3 after 3 years. It's great, easy to repair and parts are available. Save your money and buy a litter bot 3. The 4 has some improvements (it's quieter) but has some new flaws and a pretty stiff price increase.

Also check out one man six cats on YouTube who has been doing a litter bot mega test of all kinds of brands/styles with his 7 (yes 7) cats.

[–] Boinkage@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

3 cats, two little robots. They're a hassle to get calibrated right but once you do get them set up they are great. I would buy them again, can't imagine going back to scooping every day.

[–] ramirezmike@programming.dev 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] shootwhatsmyname@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago

*Litter Robots™ probably

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] tabularasa@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

I agree with this.

[–] Zippy@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Cat Genie.

Bit expensive and you need to connect to water and a drain. Either toilet or near washing machine works.

It worked for us for about 4 years. Works very well and washes the litter each use.

[–] CosmicFjord@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

I just bought a Litter Robot 4 and in the one week I’ve had it, I just emptied the bag for the first time. No scooping or anything! You can use regular 10-gallon trash bags in the compartment. No proprietary bags required, although they do sell them. The pee/poop get dropped into a compartment below the area where your kitty does its business, so there isn’t any smell.

[–] AstralPath@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago

I'd like to go on record and state my opinion that the old school manual scoop method is the best and easiest if you do it twice a day. Takes no more than 30 seconds each time and gives you the added benefit of actively monitoring your cat's waste for any warning signs of digestive or urinary issues.

Having a dedicated garbage pail for litter purposes only right next to the box makes things super easy and dirt cheap.

[–] nutsack@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

i have like 9 cats using a single catlink space ship looking thing and it is a miracle basically. use clumping litter and check the tray at some regular interval depending on how many cats you have.

[–] BrianTheFirst@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I used my Litter Robot for about 6 months, and ended up selling it because:

  • It still has to be cleaned. Once a month you are supposed to disassemble and clean the various parts. I found this experience to be pretty nasty. Definitely worse than scooping a box.
  • I have a Maine Coon, and she ended up with dirty litter in her fur all of the time.
    Edit:
  • The drawer is small and has to be emptied often if you have multiple cats. I get that you're still supposed to have multiple boxes available, but that thing cost exponentially more than other litter boxes, so it's hard not to see it as an attempt at an all-in-one solution.
[–] DessertStorms@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Once a month you are supposed to disassemble and clean the various parts. I found this experience to be pretty nasty. Definitely worse than scooping a box.

This is why after considering them whenever they come up, I've always decided against them, the poop isn't magically gone, it's just been moved, and still needs cleaning, now potentially after being manipulated by and/or getting stuck in moving parts.. No thanks lol

[–] LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use a pet safe brand autoscooping litter box. It has disposable litter containers and reusable ones. It's hella expensive, but worth it cause one pack of litter lasts 2-3 weeks for me. I'm also lazy, and it eliminates daily scooping.

[–] MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I also have the pet safe for about 2 years, it's been great so far. Definitely recommend the reusable tray if you want to keep costs down, the disposal trays are pretty pricey. I just dump the tray every 40-50 uses and it's good to go. You have to use crystal litter though and that's more expensive than clay stuff.

[–] LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I got the reusable tray recently and it's been great. I save like $30/month using it. A lot of people think I'm crazy for shelling out so much on a litter box, but it's totally worth it. It's so easy.

[–] VelvetStorm@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Litter robot is pretty good. I have 3 of them, and while the new ones look nicer, my older ones work better imo. You have to use a good brand of clumping litter, or it won't work at all.

There is also Cat genie, which requires a waterline, and it uses reusable little balls instead of litter. After your cat goes to the bathroom, it self cleans the balls and flushes out the poo and pee, and then it dries itself with hot air. I would love to get one of these but they are fairly big and I just don't have the space for it.

load more comments
view more: next ›