The Truth About Automatic Litter Boxes
The Truth About Automatic Litter Boxes
Automatic litter boxes: are they really worth the hype? In my decades of experience working with cats – many of whom have litter box issues – I’ve found them to create more problems than they solve. From the risk of potential malfunctions to the dangerous stripping away of your ability to monitor your cat’s health, in my opinion it’s just not worth the risk! As cat guardians, we should avoid making decisions that take the power out of our hands when it comes to our cat’s well-being for the sake of convenience. Have you ever used a self-cleaning litter box? I’d love to hear your thoughts so comment below!
0:00 Intro
1:28 Overview of Litterboxes
1:47 Litter Robot
2:04 Littermaid
2:52 Omega Paw
3:16 Purina Breeze
4:16 Territorial Signposts
6:07 Report Card
7:23 Malfunctions
8:51 Enclosures
10:14 Still Gross
10:44 Embrace the Box
Litter Box Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAJvHNBwbBNuzFZeHRkBmQaiPG-sqZjIZ&si=M0IO2UA-7Gc-iOdE
My Favorite Litter: https://bit.ly/3uUJFoE
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This guy seems like one of those "Scooping is a right of passage" Type people. While i agree an automatic litter box is not for every cat. We have gotten to a point where if you can afford it it can be the best appliance in your house. unless you live at home 24/7 the litter box isn’t going to always be clean. With my Litter Robot 4 it is clean for my cats every time they use it. I still get a "report card" because I still have to clear the tray where I can get a view on whats going on along with the added information of how often my cats are going and tracking their weight to spot any health concerns early. With proper care and maintenance these machines can be very safe for your cats and the good ones are designed in a way where even if your cat is in the machine and it somehow starts, the cat can easily escape without any injury(this of course doesn’t apply to every automatic box. just from my experience with the LR4). I thought there would be a transitional period to the new LR4 from my old traditional box but the swap was immediate. My cats love it and to anyone who can afford it and is considering I totally recommend it.
I think the auto litter box is a godsend!!
The only time I’ve used anything that does not resemble a standard litter box except for maybe being bigger than most when I had two cats. The 2nd was a little, adorable 5-month-old rescue that we picked up at PetSmart or Petco or whatever. He was in a tiny cage, and he sat in the litter box because there was hardly anywhere else to be.
When I brought him home for our year old cat Kizzie who had also been a rescue but not in a store, in a much better place, she was really chill.
Jeepers whom I named who are the old fashioned song, not from some horror film. It’s from the song, with the lyrics, "Jeepers, creepers, where’d you get those eyes…!" cuz he has really gorgeous eyes.
Jeepers would lie in wait for Kizzie to use the litter box in the front room, chase her out of it, then he would claim and sit in it.
So I bought bunny pellets which is what bunnies eat, corn pellets, and I found the right amount to put in so that he didn’t like to sit in that litter box anymore or the other one that we had in a separate room.
It broke him of the habit of sitting in the box but he did use it.
Not fun to clean compared to standard litter, but it did solve the problem.
Jeepers stopped almost immediately because it didn’t feel like soft inviting sand. Just another day at the beach waiting for a mild-mannered cat come by, jump her, and claim the box for his own.
We kept him for 4 months and then a co-worker of my husband’s who had 12 cats, and her license plate reads "101 cats" agreed to take him because his energy needs were too high for the small apartment we lived in, and his personality was confusing to Kizzie.
The coworker and her husband live out in the boonies so Jeepers has plenty of playmates, plenty of rooms to explore…
At Christmas time Jeepers helps the man of the house decorate the 12 ft Christmas tree which is under a cathedral ceiling. He climbs up on the ladder and falls asleep. He’s definitely a tree dweller and Kizzie is what you call a bush dweller.
I had a stroke two years ago this past November and I can’t clean the litter boxes which I used to do every day, but my husband took over poop-scooping and Kizzie likes being an only cat.
Kizzie has been with us for the past 4 years except for that 4-month interval. She turned 5 years old this past December.
In part because of her natural temperament, in part because I’m home all day, she’s very happy being the only cat.
Just one cat mom’s experience.
I wish photos were allowed because I’d show you a picture of Kizzie who is napping on a pillow between my feet.
I do have some public photos if somebody clicks on my name that’s up there on the right. I think they can be accessed.
Kizzie is the ginger bellied tabby, and Jeepers is the white cat.
We keep in touch with my husband’s co-worker who is now retired. The woman’s only gripe is that Jeepers prefers her husband. 😊
I have a ten year old original Litter Robot due to the fact that I can’t bend over that much anymore not as frequently I do have a regular cat, enclosed with a clear lid/clear top& bottom litter box that I clean, but I also like to give my cats different options. The regular litter box is in the bathroom with me. And the litter robot is outside the bathroom.
I used to have a very picky cat when it came to litter. I didn’t dare change brands of litter or location of the box. Took a couple of years before I realized that she didn’t like change. I once tried an automatic box. Needless to say it didn’t work for her. Because of her quirks we had to cut large areas of carpet out after realizing she was peeing out of the box elsewhere in the house. The other 2 cats didn’t have a problem with any changes I tried.
If the cat litter is automagically cleaning itself, you can still look in the bag and see how pretty and healthy is the poop. It’s not going to evaporate and dissappear like you’re making it sound.
Go to One Man Five Cats channel.
He does a comprehensive review of electronic litters.
Amazing channel.
It depends on the cat… I have two cats and three boxes for them. One cat doesn’t care how nasty the box is but the other one demands it be pristine.
I don’t think he really cares about pee but if he sees a turd in the box he will lodge his complaint by peeing on the floor right in front of the box.
I can’t watch for turds 24/7 so an automatic box could be the right fix.
As for privacy… It again depends on the cat. I’ve had cats for 45 years and I’ve known plenty of cats that don’t want an audience especially when it’s going poop.
So I give them options, one is fully open, one is covered, and one is under the fish tank stand so is fully open in front. The one in the tank stand is by far their favorite.
Let me preface this by saying I have a great deal of respect for you, Jackson Galaxy, and the work you do. But, on this issue, I have to respectfully disagree. My counter arguments to your points:
1. Scent. Trust me, not every drop gets absorbed and whisked away. There will still be scent markers.
2. "Report Card" – If you have a multi-cat household, figuring out who left what can be a real challenge anyway. Many automatic cat boxes have sensors and cameras that allow you to monitor the frequency and quality of each cat’s goings much more accurately than you can with a traditional box. Check out One Man Five Cats; he talks about being alerted to one of his cat’s health issues when the robotic litter box alerted him to her using it way more often than usual.
And as for getting samples for the vet, they all have a window between the cat leaving the box and it being scooped. You can take a sample then. Or turn it off temporarily until you get your sample.
3. Danger – Yes, there are some dangerous designs out there, particularly among budget Chinese brands. But there are also safe designs. DO YOUR RESEARCH before you buy one. Avoid boxes that have compartments that close off completely during the cycle.
4. Enclosure – Fair point, but there are some designs that are more open than others. And as much as they may dislike enclosed cat boxes, in my experience, they dislike dirty cat boxes even more.
5. They’re expensive (I can’t argue with that) and still gross – True. But it’s a once-in-a-while chore, rather than a multiple-times-per-day chore. That may mean nothing to you. Fine. More power to you. But for other people who have different abilities/disabilities than you do (executive function issues, or difficulty bending over, for example) that distinction may be the difference between being able to enjoy and properly care for their cats with minimal help, and being completely overwhelmed by their daily needs.
As to your conclusion, your argument against automatic boxes seems to boil down to a kind of weird reverse snobbery: I must prove I love my cat more by scooping his poop by hand! Really? Should we apply this thinking to all advances in technology? Do parents love their children more if they do all the laundry by hand? Am I a more dedicated worker if I leave my car at home and ride a horse to work? Will the quality of my food be better served by unplugging the refrigerator and going back to filling the cool chest with hunks of ice every day?
Do your research to make sure what you are getting is safe and be prepared to pivot if your cat doesn’t like the new setup. But let’s not automatically throw out technological innovations that can improve the quality of life for both us and our cats.
Personally I like the Breeze system best.
One: Lighter Cat Litter. No more lugging twenty-something pound boxes or buckets.
Two: It’s affordable. The litter last a long time so the system can streach if needed.
Three: I can keep a better eye on my cat’s urine output. The pad helps me see if there is any blood in it.
Four: It dries out the poop so it’s very easy to scoop out.
Five: Zero Catbox dust.
I agree totally. I dont ever want a robot to tell me anything about my cat. I don’t want robots to overtake everyday life, especially when it’s about living souls. Once we give that part out of our hands, we’re totally lost.
Thank you for this! I’ll stay with my clearance safelite totes for my boy’s boxes. ❤
hi! im a software engineer that researchs how to make machines safe and i wouldnt feel comfortable with my cats using one of those robotic liter boxes.
I have a Litter Robot and all 4 of my cats use it. No issue. I even had a normal box on the second floor of my house and they refused to use it. They just wanted the single Litter Robot. I am glad!
I just want to get an automatic litter box because I often forget to clean it, and I don’t want my cat to be in a full litter box all the time, just because I can’t remember
A tall Sterilite does the job. Fill it high and scoop daily. The clumps form balls that don’t reach the box bottom and cling to the plastic floor. Daily scooping is key. And unscented, man! That’s how you can smell if something is off!
I LOVE your jokes, Jackson! 🥰
Jackson, I usually listen to everything you say and follow your ideas. This is one I have to disagree with. With 6 cats that found me and with my health issues the self cleaning litter boxes are a go for me. I do still use one manual but with my health it is a struggle to clean it? Do I get rid of the babies or the cat boxes. Guess it will be neither? Right now I have one female that has been urinating blood she is sorta still feral and won’t let us catch her to get her into vet? The point is I did recognize it even without a manual box. All six of mine do use the autos. I have 4 auto boxes and 1 manual.
BTW I do own 2 of the snowy ones and they are perfect they all use them both. I’ll keep listening to you on almost all ideas this is one I have to disagree with.
dude – sorry Ive got it on 2x speed and still have to cut out a bunch of ‘crap’ (pun intended). you talk too much. just give me pros and cons and don’t say anything else thumbs down ta
His logic and reasoning in this video for both the signpost and being able to determine whether your cat is ill Make no sense because it’s almost like he’s under the impression that the waste just disappears into a black hole. It’s still there you still have to empty it you can still take a sample into the vet. His rationale doesn’t make sense.
So you’re including affiliated links and earn commission for these automatic litterboxes that you’re claiming will murder your cat. And promoting your glorified Sterlite container instead.
I’d expect you to actually try out those products to give an objective evaluation but this is fear mongering, misinformation and so sloppily done. Just admit you can’t look at this topic objectively because you’re clinging to that confirmation bias like a security blanket
I trust his opinion about cats in general but I’m just a little hesitant only cause he’s not a veterinarian as far as I know and most reviews from actual veterinary experts saying that it’s completely safe so I’m not sure what to do.
Your input changed my mind. Thank you!
I agree with you. But I bought an open top automatic liter box. Because if I go out of town I don’t have to rely on anyone coming to my home to clean their box. I also bought an automatic cat feeder and water fountain
To me, automatic litterboxes are just way too far out of my price range. they need their own special stuff and the special stuff is usually less product for more money.
I had the Breeze system for several years and loved it. But I lived out in the country, and it served as the box only when my cat could not go outside. I also needed to get a litter genie to scoop…the smell was not absorbed as well as regular litter. the biggest drawback is the pellets getting outside the litter box. If you have a cat that like to really dig and cover, the pellets will scatter. The BEST reason to have this is the lack of cat pee smell, the pad underneath doe s a great job at neutralizing the cat urine smell. I tis also virtually DUST FREE.
I do "embrace" the box! But I need to find a solution for my mum’s cat. At nearly 90, she can not take care of the cleaning of the box. She is in a "home" and they were ok with the cat, but a month later there is concern with the smell. We can only go once a week to sort out the mess, but if we do not find a solution, she won’t be able to keep her companion, which will distress both my mum and the cat. I am very happy to have watched your video since I know now that an " automatic box" will not be an option! But I still need to find a solution! I never minded cleaning the toilets of our pussycats, and I miss not doing it since it means they are no longer with us.
Not all automated litter boxes are created equal, this is a given but come on Jackson @7:02 "You can’t even take a fecal sample in to your vet to show them and have them run it because it’s gone." Remember object permeance, just because you don’t see the turd any more doesn’t mean it no longer exists. It is still in the tray and yes it is out of sight out of mind buy you still have to empty it so in theory you can still view it or take it to the vet for tests.
Litter robot 4 works perfect!
Welp, I’m incredibly glad I watched this video and read the comments. I think I’ll just stick with a "traditional" litter box and spend the five minutes scooping at the end of the day. If there is even a 0.1% chance that my cats could be hurt or scared, or even KILLED by it, it is no longer an option.
Your are so hilarious thank you for that just keep telling us how it is loved it 😉
I actually put huge 50 gal bag and put litter box in it then put litter over, when our cat does his thing few times I just throw the bag away put new one 👍
Plus it’s safe and danger free ❤
How about for 7 cats ? Is it one litter box enough? And how much litter per week should i use?
Thank you! All great info!
Gee thanks…i will never eat almond rocca again.😂
Highly Recommend the Litter Robot 4!
I love trying to help where I can, especially when I’m helping my favorite creatures ever- cats! I just wanted to let everyone here with cats who are curious about this topic know that the Litter Robot 4 is absolutely amazing and life changing. I have asthma and the only thing about my cats that triggers my asthma is litter dust that gets in the air from cleaning a traditional litter box. The litter Robot completely eliminates this. I no longer have to deal with this, ever! I seriously can’t recommend this bot enough! It also eliminates odors completely. There is no smell. It’s seriously amazing!
Not only has the Litter Robot 4 been a game changer for me, it’s also been a complete game changer for my cats, especially my gorgeous male Bombay, Zuko. Zuko looks like a mini panther. He’s over 22 inches long from nose to tail! Everyone who sees him says OMG look at that big cat! Due to Zuko’s length, he has a hard time fitting himself in traditional litter boxes when doing his business. It ended up being a problem because when he was super sleepy in the middle of the night, he would get up to go potty and be too lazy to turn around, didn’t realize he wasn’t all the way in the box, and well… missed. It started happening frequently enough that this was finally what made me pull the trigger and get the litter robot. It’s designed to accommodate larger cats like Zuko and he hasn’t had a single oops since!
If you’re concerned about safety, this bot checks all the boxes and has very specific instructions on how to use it. The only thing to watch for is if you have a kitten, your kitten may be too small to use it until they are over the specified age (I forget exactly what it is).
If you’re curious, definitely look into it! It has really awesome Google reviews to boot too!
Hope this helps someone 🙂
I have just gotten the petsnowy and I’m eager to see how it works. It’s very expensive!
Thank you. When I saw how much they cost I said No F ing Way. I need to see what my cats are leaving behind, especially if there’s a significant increase or decrease in pee. Some people have a litter robot that lives in the garage or basement. I will never be one of them.
Hi I am a big fan and cat lover I agree with you totally I have no problem scooping litter I am greatful for the original litter box
Hi Jackson, where can i get that grey litter big box for my cat as it should work with any type of litter, You show that tray in 0:34 seconds in the video, regrads from Venezuela.
I appreciate your take on automated litter boxes!! I have 9 cats 🐈, was thinking about getting a couple. You helped me make my decision!!
I’ve had to nearly take apart my partners meowant 3 times now since she bought it in May! It’s just too expensive to have these basic mechanical failures to come up so often!
In using boxed litter matters too. I switched to a new litter and the cats liked it well enough but there was a problem with pee. The new stuff clumped hard but the pee went to the bottom of the box first and I had to continually scrape pee clumps out. I went back to Clump & Seal, end of problem. The pee clumped before it hit bottom and cleaning it out was lots easier and who doesn’t like lots easier.
No offence, but if im paying substantial $ for an automatic kitty litter box I don’t want to have to empty it.
I expect it to bag up the waste, etc, and throw it in the bin, then lay down the fresh litter. 😊
Btw, I dont have a cat. Lol
Outdoor abandoned: the world is his toilet. Catio confined abandoned (because he relentlessly attacked first cat even after years) we made a brick lined pit filled with playsand and sometimes potting soil with no closed-in sides. He has no problem with it and I scoop out for solids and rinse with a watering can every few days. I do keep a large plastic box and some corn litter in case there is an emergency and one of the cats must be brought into the garage.
I respect anyone’s opinion, but I’ve had 3 litter robots (4-5 cats) and my litter boxes have been great. Aside from some sensor issues (that I think they’ve fixed in the new model) they’ve been awesome.
In my opinion, what a bunch of nonsense justifications to not go with self cleaning litter boxes. It seems to me more an emotional/personal decision rather than a logical one.
you are running your mouth get to the point faster
I love everything that you say Jackson. I used clumping litter and an open box for my cats and I don’t have a problem scooping at all because I loved them and I want to give them everything I can. then of course I would scrub the box in the tub and change the entire litter as well. it never bothered me and I did not want to ever enclose my cats inside a box. Plus, it does not give them room to do their business. they were both fine with it the way it was. Never had a problem. I say to cat parents who don’t want to deal with the litter box, then maybe you should not have a cat.