Hi! I saw your Jackson Galaxy Litter Robot posts and was wondering what your concerns are or if you think there's a better model? I've been thinking about getting one for my disabled mother and her cats since cleaning the litter boxes has gotten more difficult for her and I'm out of state.
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:
They are not built for comfort:
Cats prefer large litter boxes, and automatic boxes are often too small for your average cat, and especially so for large breeds. The litter box should be at least 1.5x the length of your cat.
Cats prefer open litter boxes. Walls and a ceiling can trap in smells (how would you like to use an outhouse every day?) and it also makes it easier for other cats, dogs, or humans to ambush them. An open top gives them more sight lines and escape routes if needed.
The noise and motion of the litter box cycling is scary to some cats, pushing some to the point of refusing to use the box (or any box) again.
Some automatic boxes need specific litter. If you or your cat has a favourite litter you might have to switch.
You should have n+1 litter boxes for your household. This means you need to have more automatic litter boxes than you have cats. If I got the LR4 for my two cats, it would cost me a whopping $3000CAD.
They are not built for health:
Automatic boxes dump waste into a compartment after use. This makes it difficult to tell if your cat has health problems like blood in their waste, is eliminating less or more than usual, or has soft or hard stools. All of these are health indicators that may require veterinary intervention, and you will not be aware of it. You can more easily monitor your cat's health by scooping.
They are not built for safety:
As with any technology, there is a risk of safety features failing
Kittens and light cats may not trigger weight sensors
There are many pinch points, particularly in the rotating boxes that could result in injury
I have seen so many posts and videos about cats getting hurt or even killed by automatic boxes. This video covers a number of my safety concerns (it's made in good faith by a man who reviews automatic boxes).
They are convenient until they aren't:
Technology has more points of failure than a standard box. If your box has a broken part or can no longer connect to the app, you need to be prepared to fix or replace it.
Many are notoriously hard to clean, but can get unhygienic if not cleaned regularly (as with all litter boxes).
They take up space. They're often large and heavy, and don't tuck neatly into a corner or the bathroom like a standard box.
They're expensive. Some are cheap, but those come with an increased risk of injury.
I know I'm a biased source against them, so do your own research on the pros and cons and see what works best for you! I don't think it's worth it for me and my cats, but everyone's situation is different.
I hope this doesn't sound ignorant but why are self cleaning litterboxes bad?
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.
>> tldr: An automatic box is an incredibly expensive way to make your cat pee on the floor, give your cat anxiety and behaviour problems, and potentially kill your cat when you miss signs of health issues. Get a regular box and scoop daily and your cat will be healthier and happier.
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