Self cleaning litter boxes
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Kay Malmquist
Well, I hope this would be considered on
topic. It is sort of tech related. I have three cats. There
are 3 litter boxes around my house. I have a guide dog that thinks what
the cats deposit is for her dining pleasure. I could put a kid gate in the
doorway of the room that she has decided to raid, and it could be up high enough
that the cats could come and go as they like, but not the dog, but I really
don't want a kid gate in the way of the door way even if it opens like another
door. So, now for the question. Self-cleaning litter boxes. I
have researched them and just got more confused. I figure that if it
cleans after the cat goes, there will be nothing for her to munch on. But
the problem is, what is the best way to go? I know they are expensive but
I would buy one and see how they like it and then maybe buy more. Do any
of you have any experience with these and what would be the best way to
go? Thanks for any help with this.
Kay Malmquist kay.malmquist@... Switch your mentality from "I'm broken and helpless," to "I'm growing and healing," and watch how fast your life changes, for the better. Unknown
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Peter Spitz
I used a self-cleaning litter box many years ago. It had a rake that
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would automatically rake the litter after a cat would visit. It would rake the poop into a plastic bag at the end of the litter box. I don't think that would prevent the dog from eating since it would just collect in the open bag. In fact, it might make it even a little easier to grab the poop since it would be in one area.
On 11/13/19, Kay Malmquist <kay.malmquist@gmail.com> wrote:
Well, I hope this would be considered on topic. It is sort of tech related.
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chris judge
Hi Kay.
Years ago I purchased a self cleaning litter box for my 3 kitties. In theory it sounds like a great idea. In reality it’s a waste of money. First. The mechanism travels along a track. There are forks that pick up the clumps and deposit them in a recepticle at the front of the litter box. This mechanism is tripped when kitty leaves the box. Mine worked ok for the first couple of times, then the tracks got full of litter and the mechanism no longer moved and had to be cleaned. Also, the forks got gross and dirty quite quickly and needed to be cleaned. It was a nightmare. I’m surprised they’re still selling them. My advice, if possible, is to put the litter boxes where puppy can’t reach them. It might work if you had one for each kitty, but that would get pricy.
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of Kay Malmquist
Sent: November 13, 2019 11:19 AM To: TechTalk <main@TechTalk.groups.io> Subject: [TechTalk] Self cleaning litter boxes
Well, I hope this would be considered on topic. It is sort of tech related. I have three cats. There are 3 litter boxes around my house. I have a guide dog that thinks what the cats deposit is for her dining pleasure. I could put a kid gate in the doorway of the room that she has decided to raid, and it could be up high enough that the cats could come and go as they like, but not the dog, but I really don't want a kid gate in the way of the door way even if it opens like another door. So, now for the question. Self-cleaning litter boxes. I have researched them and just got more confused. I figure that if it cleans after the cat goes, there will be nothing for her to munch on. But the problem is, what is the best way to go? I know they are expensive but I would buy one and see how they like it and then maybe buy more. Do any of you have any experience with these and what would be the best way to go? Thanks for any help with this.
Kay Malmquist
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chris judge
The self cleaning litter box I tried had a cover over the deposit receptacle that dropped closed after the clumps were deposited.
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-----Original Message-----
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of Peter Spitz Sent: November 13, 2019 11:23 AM To: main@techtalk.groups.io Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Self cleaning litter boxes I used a self-cleaning litter box many years ago. It had a rake that would automatically rake the litter after a cat would visit. It would rake the poop into a plastic bag at the end of the litter box. I don't think that would prevent the dog from eating since it would just collect in the open bag. In fact, it might make it even a little easier to grab the poop since it would be in one area. On 11/13/19, Kay Malmquist <kay.malmquist@gmail.com> wrote: Well, I hope this would be considered on topic. It is sort of tech related.
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Howard Traxler
Kay, we bought the "littermaid" box, maybe ten or twelve years ago.
I think we paid about $120 for it. It has some kind of photo sensor
that (is supposed to) set the machine in motion about ten minutes
after the cat finishes and leaves. A motor-driven rake goes through
the litter and pushes the clumps into a covered recepticle. The
automated part worked for a few months.
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We now take advantage of the fact that, when the power turns on, the rake does its thing; so we power it from a timer that turns on and runs the device once-a-day. So, clumps can build up in there; we have only two cats. Biggest disadvantage for me is that the litter goes directly into the plastic tray--no tray liner to lift and dispose. When it's time to clean the box, the mechanism and box are separated and the used litter is dumped and the box washed before new litter is applied. We have two other plane old boxes into which we place a double liner of plastic trash bags. Most cleaning times require that we remove and dispose of the inner liner, then replace it and apply litter. Total washing of the box is not required as often as with the littermaid. We have no hungry dogs. Good luck Howard
On 11/13/2019 9:19 AM, Kay Malmquist
wrote:
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chris judge
Hi Kay. After reading and responding to your message I took some time to read some reviews on amazon. I’m half tempted to give self cleaning litter boxes another go. It does appear that the recommended crystal litter is somewhat difficult to get. I tried the self cleaning litter box 15 years ago, so it’s quite possible they’ve improved it since then. I currently have three kitties and 2 litter boxes, one in the basement and one in the upstairs hallway. I’d probably get 2 self cleaning litter boxes as my furballs are use to having 2, and they do recommend more than one if you have more than one kittycat.
From: main@TechTalk.groups.io <main@TechTalk.groups.io> On Behalf Of Howard Traxler
Sent: November 13, 2019 11:37 AM To: main@TechTalk.groups.io Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Self cleaning litter boxes
Kay, we bought the "littermaid" box, maybe ten or twelve years ago. I think we paid about $120 for it. It has some kind of photo sensor that (is supposed to) set the machine in motion about ten minutes after the cat finishes and leaves. A motor-driven rake goes through the litter and pushes the clumps into a covered recepticle. The automated part worked for a few months. On 11/13/2019 9:19 AM, Kay Malmquist wrote:
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jan howells <gale7978@...>
Hi Kay,
This is very common with dogs. It means that they have a vitamin deficiency. If you put a little salt in the cat's food, the dog will not like it. I had a dog that used to pick up her deposits and carry them into the house and drop them inside. This is what I was told to do, and it worked. But I have observed many dogs at the litter boxes doing such. Your dog is not uncommon. Best of luck to you. Jan
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jan howells <gale7978@...>
Hi again, Kay,
Could you put the litter boxes say in the bathroom or in a laundry room or in the basement? Then close doors and have them off limits to the dog? Just a suggestion. Jan
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Kay Malmquist
Hi Jan,
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I wish it were that easy. Down stairs is off limit due to the fact that we have a recording studio with miles of cable and one cat that loves to chew cords. The litter boxes are all covered with the openings facing the wall but miss munchie face just moves them so she can get in to them. I am going to try to stick the boxes down and hope she can not move them then. Kay Malmquist kay.malmquist@gmail.com Switch your mentality from "I'm broken and helpless," to "I'm growing and healing," and watch how fast your life changes, for the better. Unknown
----- Original Message -----
From: "jan howells via Groups.Io" <gale7978=aol.com@groups.io> To: <main@TechTalk.groups.io> Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 2:00 PM Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Self cleaning litter boxes Hi again, Kay, Could you put the litter boxes say in the bathroom or in a laundry room or in the basement? Then close doors and have them off limits to the dog? Just a suggestion. Jan
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Kay Malmquist
Hey Jan,
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That brings up another question. About vitamin deficiencies. I am not altogether happy with the dog food I am currently feeding. It used to be ok for other dogs I have had in the past but I don't think she is getting all she should from it. We haven't even really started in to the Winter season yet and she is already scratching from her skin being dry. Granted, it is dry around here in the house humidity wise. Any thoughts on a good supplement with oil? I think for now I'm not going to go with the self-cleaning litter boxes. Kay Malmquist kay.malmquist@gmail.com Switch your mentality from "I'm broken and helpless," to "I'm growing and healing," and watch how fast your life changes, for the better. Unknown
----- Original Message -----
From: "jan howells via Groups.Io" <gale7978=aol.com@groups.io> To: <main@TechTalk.groups.io> Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 2:00 PM Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Self cleaning litter boxes Hi Kay, This is very common with dogs. It means that they have a vitamin deficiency. If you put a little salt in the cat's food, the dog will not like it. I had a dog that used to pick up her deposits and carry them into the house and drop them inside. This is what I was told to do, and it worked. But I have observed many dogs at the litter boxes doing such. Your dog is not uncommon. Best of luck to you. Jan
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heather albright
Well, I used to have the litter robot. My old apartment had bad wireing and it fried the unit woe! But it will clean after the cat jumps out and empties it down in to a closed tray at the bottom. I used to take the dirty liter out once a week, I only had 1 cat. You put a bag at the bottom and just take the bag out with your trash. I would always make sure it was leveled inside of the pan with the litter and you could put it on quite mode or night mode so it would not go off and when you took it off, it would self clean in to the tray If I rember right, it had tones to let you know what the unit was doing! When I got it, it was way way cheaper than what they have it for now; 500 dollars! But it was worth it, all you did to clean the unit was to empty the litter and wash out with soapey water and let it drie. I did that every six months ! If you keep your pan fresh and use clumping litter, it works great! Unless your dog is super small, he or she cant fit in the pan and it is inclosed! Cheers Heather "Blindness is a characteristic, not a handicap!" Dr. Kenneth Jernigan
From: Kay Malmquist
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 3:54 PM To: main@TechTalk.groups.io Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Self cleaning litter boxes
Hi Jan, I wish it were that easy. Down stairs is off limit due to the fact that we have a recording studio with miles of cable and one cat that loves to chew cords. The litter boxes are all covered with the openings facing the wall but miss munchie face just moves them so she can get in to them. I am going to try to stick the boxes down and hope she can not move them then.
Kay Malmquist kay.malmquist@... Switch your mentality from "I'm broken and helpless," to "I'm growing and healing," and watch how fast your life changes, for the better. Unknown
----- Original Message ----- From: "jan howells via Groups.Io" <gale7978@...> To: <main@TechTalk.groups.io> Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 2:00 PM Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Self cleaning litter boxes
Hi again, Kay,
Could you put the litter boxes say in the bathroom or in a laundry room or in the basement? Then close doors and have them off limits to the dog? Just a suggestion.
Jan
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