Litter Robot

[Irene]

I am still wondering about one of the benefits list: Reduces number of litter boxes... Why would that be true? Does the old rule of one litter box per cat +1 go out the window? I thought too that it is good to place boxes in alternate locations just to help in regards to territorial issues... I have boxes, lots of boxes, which I scoop all the time. It is exhausting! Replacing them with one self cleaning seems way too good to be true!

 

[John Popp]

I agree Irene. I do think that the +1 rule might be able to go out the window, but you still need to cover physical locations. Then in a multi cat household it isn't going to change a cat's desire to seek privacy and they aren't going to stand in line when they want to go.

There is also the whole host of litter box aversion reasons that aren't going to be addressed by a single litter robot. Such as cats that won't urinate and defecate in the same place.

I do think you could engineer a plan to get a litter robot into your cats program and routine, just that it's not going to be the magic bullet. In our household, with 3 cats, I couldn't make a go of it without 3 of them. I need at least that many to cover the physical area, and my former problem pee'r also requires a very private place to read the news paper while he's taking a dump. His litter box rules as I know them and the rest of their habits would still see me with 3 litter boxes and if any of them had a problem with a litter robot I'm right back to having 4, with 1 being a really expensive.

 

[admin]

I am still wondering about one of the benefits list: Reduces number of litter boxes... Why would that be true? Does the old rule of one litter box per cat +1 go out the window? I thought too that it is good to place boxes in alternate locations just to help in regards to territorial issues... I have boxes, lots of boxes, which I scoop all the time. It is exhausting! Replacing them with one self cleaning seems way too good to be true!

It did reduce litter boxes for me because it is always clean, therefore, is the box three of my cats prefer...so I was able to go from 5 boxes to four...I scoop 2 times a day now instead of three and don't really even need to do that because the two open boxes are hardly used...

I have two litter robots and could not be happier...that is my experience...and their money back guarantee makes it that much more appealing...

 

[admin]

Hi guys- so glad that you shared this review Paige. This pan seems to be amazing and I am thinking about buying one. A few questions....1) what type of clumping litter are those of you who have it using? My brats have gotten used to Pine Pellets. Last time I used clumping was about 15 or so years ago when I wasted money on an auto litterbox that scared my past cats. I now, have no clue what type of clumping is best/safe. 2) Re the money back guarantee....per the website, it appears like one must purchase a refurbished Robot Pan to get this....is it possible to buy a new one and still get the guarantee if my cats hate it? 3) do you guys feel that extra cabinet that you can buy would be a good thing....seems like it would block light from entering....do you think this would make a difference to cats who are not used to such "tight quarters"? And 4) are there any extra accessories/parts that you would suggest for me to buy as well?

Karen, I use World's best, Dr. Elsey's, Nature's Miracle...you cannot use pine pellets with the litter robot...

The 90 Day guarantee is still there...and it is not for the refurbished box...

I do't know about the cabinet...I did not get it...

Some cats will not use it, I'm sure, so it just depends...I never thought my big boy, Taj, would use a covered box...I put it in my closet for the kittens and he uses it...go figure...and what I like about him using it is that he is an elevator butt pee'er and I don't have to keep cleaning up after him now...just have to clean that litter box...he does not now use the litter robot...

 

[Karen]

I'm thinking that one of those would be perfect for our first floor. Our cats tend to spend most of their time with us downstairs and the first floor pan is used the most. LOL- there just is no good place for our first floor pan. Our home has an open design. I did not want it in the kitchen, the dining room or on the carpeted areas of our family or living rooms. Ha ha- only place that was left for it was in our entry area, which does not look the best to visitors who walk in and see a pan. The large entry area of our home is a massive waste of space- drives me nuts. At present, I have our pan inside a 45 gallon lidded plastic tote that has a hole cut in the side for entry. LOL- it is not the best looking thing to have a huge plastic tote in the entry area, but it beats the open pan look. With 6 cats, I scoop this pan 4 times per day or more because it is used so often. I am thinking that this litter robot would be perfect- especially for this downstairs area. I could buy the cabinet as well- would look much better than my current plastic tote! Thanks again for the awesome, detailed review.

 

[admin]

I'm thinking that one of those would be perfect for our first floor. Our cats tend to spend most of their time with us downstairs and the first floor pan is used the most. LOL- there just is no good place for our first floor pan. Our home has an open design. I did not want it in the kitchen, the dining room or on the carpeted areas of our family or living rooms. Ha ha- only place that was left for it was in our entry area, which does not look the best to visitors who walk in and see a pan. The large entry area of our home is a massive waste of space- drives me nuts. At present, I have our pan inside a 45 gallon lidded plastic tote that has a hole cut in the side for entry. LOL- it is not the best looking thing to have a huge plastic tote in the entry area, but it beats the open pan look. With 6 cats, I scoop this pan 4 times per day or more because it is used so often. I am thinking that this litter robot would be perfect- especially for this downstairs area. I could buy the cabinet as well- would look much better than my current plastic tote! Thanks again for the awesome, detailed review.

Karen, hold off as we may be getting a discount...

 

[Mr. Twister]

I used one of these 5 or 6 years ago for about a year. It was a good device, but there were a few issues here that led me to discontinue use:

• I had (still have) one female who would walk straight in and use it facing in, and pee all over the floor.
• The receptacle area under the unit was hard to get properly clean. Its quite possible they have addressed it in a newer design.

As I said it was a good device.

 

[Bamf3000]

What is the largest Savannah someone has used with the Litter Robot? I have a lanky F2, but he is only 13 lbs or so, so weight isn't the issue, just maybe length or height

 

[Trish Allearz]

I'm going to update this thread.


I had the chance to get a Litter Robot II with the bubble for a steal here locally and decided to give it a go. I've been dying to try one of these boxes for forever, but due to the cost-- I always put it off. As someone said, will it really reduce the number of boxes you need in the house?

Well, here are my results. One-- the bottom tray doesn't even need to be cleaned because it's completely covered with the trash bags I use. I'm not using their bags-- I just put a small trash bag over the entire tray and slide it in. Two-- both my F1, Una, (baby-- 6 pounds now, but very tall-- as tall as a normal domestic shorthair already) and my F7, Saber, are using it. Three-- it seems to be the ONLY box they are using in the house. I have four boxes in the house and the LR is being used consistently. I'm not sure where my old lady DSH is going, but she's 14-- she can use any box she'd like.

I have found two poops outside of the box in the past two weeks-- I am wondering if one cat was in the box and the other was doing the potty dance? This requires some investigation.

I will say if you are a breeder-- this could be a godsend for kittens. I find myself dumping whole litterboxes on a daily basis with litters of 4-5 kittens and instead, I could just hit a button, cycle the box and then go about my day with the LR. I am seriously considering getting a second one just for this purpose.

The big bad thing is that the LR does not hold the litter when a cat is scratching. Paige alerted me to a little wall that can be added to the LR and I will need to get it. Looks like a litter party some days.

 

[John Popp]

Thanks for the updated review Trish!

While that gives me some better perspective, I am just really dialed in on my current boxes and to a point where I'm not sure making a move would be prudent. Launching litter is especially a concern as I have a real kicker in Dino. If it weren't for the Roomba addressing things daily doing a lap with a handheld would be part of my daily routine.

So interested in hearing more about the kicking limitations.

Thanks in advance for the response!