Potty Box From Hell

 by D. A. Houdek

Ever wondered about those automatic, self-cleaning cat litter boxes?

10/16/1999:

I got one of those new, self-cleaning litter boxes for the cats yesterday. Slight problem--Krystal has decided it's possessed by demons. She's not our most high-tech kitty. A TV remote fell on her once while she was asleep and now she's convinced that any remote control could suddenly spring to life and attack her. Other supposedly inanimate objects are suspicious (potential monsters in disguise). With 4 cats, I _really_ like the idea of self-cleaning boxes, so this could be a problem :-) It's not a potty box from hell. Krystal just thinks it could be.

10/17/1999:

It got gummed up last night already when someone peed right on the cleaning bar/comb. That could be the kitty litter brand--need one that clumps quickly, not turn into clay goop.

Krystal still thinks it's possessed. Mysha is interested but wary. Tasha thinks it's cool. Of course, Tasha is deaf and frequently takes rides on the vacuum cleaner, and her favorite game is laser tag--she's our techno-kitty.

11/10/1999:

I've had a couple weeks with the automatic cat potty box now. Not rushing out to buy more. But I will be keeping an eye out for improved models.

If you have one cat per box it could be okay. Even though I have many litter boxes for my four, this one was always the cleanest one so it got extra favored use which then overloaded it. If I had 4 of the powered boxes I think it would have gone better. It's also hard to empty out completely. The newer, bigger, ones have a removable tray that probably takes care of that problem.

If you're one who cleans the box every day you could get down to cleaning it only once or twice per week instead. A cat who just backs up and pees in the general direction wouldn't work--not enclosed, and peeing on the comb gums it up no matter what kind of litter you use.

Emptying the cleaning receptacle was easy, but my Tasha tended to stand on the cover when the cleaner was in motion so she could watch the mechanism. Unfortunately this prevented the cycle from completing and used litter would pile up. Not a problem if your cat is less mechanically inclined.

They need to do a model that has a shield over the comb so it doesn't gum up. Though the mechanism has given no problem so far, it should be enclosed too. It's a good start, but needs more refinement.

9/9/2001:

After that last entry we went for the automated potty boxes full force--bought three of the newer, 'mega' models. Those worked better and for not quite a year were a reasonably happy thing. But, always but... they didn't hold up in the long run. Two got put out with the trash a few months ago and another is soon to follow. That will leave us only with the very first one left, and that one is now shut off.

They're a grand idea, and with a single cat that somewhat mannerly about things, it would be fine. There are still some flaws that need to be worked out, though--mostly relating to the comb gumming up. They still need some work.

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