Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
From LoveToKnow Cats
Self-cleaning litter boxes take care of some, but not all of your cat box chores. Learn more about how these automated systems work and decide if they're worth the extra expense.
About Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
How many times have you scooped out your cat's litter box and thought to yourself, "There's got to be a better way to handle this"? Well, for some cat owners that "better way" involves using a self-cleaning litter box. Let's take a look at how the average model works.
The System
By and large, self-cleaning litter boxes use a combination of clumping cat litter, an electronic sensor and an automated raking system to detect soiled clumps of litter and push them into a waiting receptacle.
The sensor is activated once your cat enters and leaves the box. It will scan the surface, first making sure you cat has left the box, then searching for litter clumps to dispose.
This intermittent scooping action takes some of the daily drudgery out of maintaining your cat's litter box, giving you a few days of freedom between cleanings. However, you still eventually need to remove the old litter and completely wash the entire box. Additionally you'll need to empty the dirt receptacle and/or change the trash bag.
There is another type of self-cleaning litter box, but the term "self-cleaning' is a bit of a misnomer since you must roll the box from side to side yourself. This action feeds the litter through a grid that catches waste clumps and dumps them into a pull-out drawer that you must empty. It's slightly less work than having to scoop the litter yourself, and if you don't mind the fact that it isn't an automated system, you can purchase one for considerably less than a mechanical one.
The Cost
Self-cleaning litter boxes come with higher price tags than the standard cat box.
| Model | Average Price |
| Basic | $5.00-$10.00 |
| Hand Operated | $25.00-$30.00 |
| Fully Automated | $100.00-$300.00 |
Popular Models
LitterMaid™
The LitterMaid™ is a fully automated self-cleaning litter box that uses an electronic sensor and raking mechanism to scoop eliminations into a disposable receptacle. The sensor will activate cleaning approximately ten minutes after your cat leaves the box, but the rake will stop if your cat re-enters during the cleaning cycle.
This is an open unit, but you can purchase a privacy tent for it if you wish. The price for the basic model is $109.99, while the Elite Mega model retails for $199.00.
Click here for a demonstration of how this model works.
Litter-Robot™
The Litter-Robot™ works like a combination of the hand-operated and automated systems. Once your cat leaves the box the unit automatically self-rolls, sifting out clumps and sliding them into a removable/reusable waste drawer.
The unit looks more like a space-age gum ball machine than a traditional litter box, and may take a bit of time to train your cat to use it. This model retails for $299.00.
Click here for a demonstration.
Conclusion
Self-cleaning litter boxes may not entirely eliminate the need to clean up after your cat, but they do allow you stay further away from the litter. This can be a definite advantage for pregnant women and people with breathing problems who shouldn't be exposed to dust and bacteria.
Are they worth the extra money? Most units claim to save on the expense of litter since you throw less away, but many models require the purchase of trash bags and replacement disposable drawers, so it probably averages out in the long run.
What it all really comes down to is convenience. If it's worth $200.00 to you to avoid scooping your litter, then a self-cleaning litter box just might be worth the money after all.
External Links
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