Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes: Should I Get One?

Ever heard of a self-cleaning litter box? Whether you are new to the concept or have known about it for a long time, it is a fact that they first came out since in 1991, with the litter-clumping technology. It has gone through a few different patented versions and has now become quite the popular item in many households that have cats, and even small dogs.

The thing that makes everything much easier when it comes to this innovation is the base material that is used in the feline tray. One is a raw material called “clumping clay” or “clumping litter.” This is a material that is used in litter boxes that works by turning the cat’s poop or urine into clumps due to the calcium bentonite clay.

This natural material forms clumps once water is added to it, separating it from the rest of the litter in the box. This makes it easier for anyone to scoop up the waste and throw it away responsibly.

Other materials that can be used in the kitten’s box range from crystalline silica, to silica dust, to biodegradable litter, to silica gel, which comes with health diagnostic elements, because it changes color based on the cat’s urine as an indication of a certain symptom that a kitty may have.

For instance, if the typically white litter turns yellow it shows that your kitty may have a high-acidic level in its urine. If the litter turns blue then this may be a sign that the alkaline levels are high. Bladder inflammation or urinary tract infections can also be detected if the litter turns red.

How the Technology Works

The idea behind this is clever once you think about the number of times you have had to remove your cat’s litter — most of the time mixed with the cat’s urine — by yourself for the past few years.

The technology it employs automates the boxes emptying procedure. Some of the models have an electric combing mechanism that scoops up the clumps of litter automatically into a sealed, disposable bag or container that is attached to the box or tray after the cat has finished doing its business.

How it works is through either an infra-red light or a pressure pad. Once the cat leaves its box and if there is no activity after a certain time, it does its thing to avoid disturbing the feline while he is busy.

There are other kinds of designs as well which can connect directly to the plumbing system of a house: i.e. the drain and faucet connections. This helps them not only remove the litter but also wash, clean, and dry the pellets automatically as well.

If you’re in the market for a slightly simpler option which is also available at online stores such as this one: PetCatFriends.com, they exist too. When removing the clumps from this model, you would need to manually shake the clumps into a dispensable try.

Some versions rotate and sift out the waste into a tray beneath it. These are just a few of the many other innovative ideas that have gone into litter box projects for our furry friends.

If only they knew how spoiled they are!

If you’re asking yourself whether or not you should get one, then let’s take a look at what you’d be getting with a self-cleaning version…

To Buy or Not to Buy: That Is the Question

With any new invention on the market, unless it is 100% perfect you will always get the advantages and disadvantages of investing in it. Therefore, we have put this article together listing a few things that you should be getting with the different varieties so that you can decide whether your mouser deserves one or not.

Let’s start with the simple reasons: It is easy to use, it can support multiple uses, and it has the capacity to hold both large and small clumps. They come in both big and small sizes and some of them even have lids that stay on to keep everything intact.

It must be said that these models are very convenient and you don’t need to take time out of your busy schedule to clean the box every day or every couple of hours as some cat owners must do.

Another major positive point is the odor. Let’s face it: the smell of cat pooh and urine in a house is not the most pleasant thing to walk into when you get home from a hard day’s work. These gadgets help with that, amazingly enough! They do not release any odor; this is partly dependent upon the litter you use, such as the silica crystals or clay, but also because of the design of the box, which reduces tracking.

Silica crystals prevent any odors from escaping and require the least amount of maintenance and some of the good models stop anything from leaking out; so when there is no spillage, there is no clean up needed.

The larger models work well if you have more than one cat. Plus, they come in both square and circular shapes to fit any corner of your house, garden, or porch.

Did we mention they don’t make any noise? One would think that these machines would be loud, seeing that they have a motor, but the cleaning up process is typically very quiet so it will not disturb anyone in the house if the cat does go for her business in the middle of the night, for example.

Point to note: If you’re not a DIY buff, you may want to hire someone to help you out when you get one of these because they do require assembly. Also, they will need special litter as opposed to the normal clay type that you have probably been using until now.

With these ground-breaking built-in rake systems, a cat owner’s cleaning time will get cut in half. In addition, the house will still smell fresh rather than of cat pooh and urine. The choice is yours at the end of the day. The best thing to do is read online reviews from users themselves to see what they say and what ratings these items have been given.