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“It is almost always a process to get a cat used to an automatic litter box,” says Blass. Making the Shift to an Automatic Litter Box for Your CatĪll automatic litter boxes require a transition period. Automatic litter boxes will require you to empty out a tray or compartment that holds the sifted cat waste as well as replace or replenish the cat litter for the box to function. However, if the words “automatic litter box” create a mental picture of a work-free zone, delete that picture! An automatic litter box still means some work, although it will differ from your current litter box routine. If the box gets overlooked in some busy households, that can create inappropriate elimination issues,” Blass says, adding that an automatic litter box can help to alleviate that problem. “To get our cats to be consistent in using a box, we need to clean it daily-even multiple times a day-a challenging task with long work days and plenty to do at home.
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They are also a helpful option for cats who want a clean litter box each time. It goes along with owning a cat, similar to walking a dog or cleaning a ferret's cage.”īlass says that for cat parents working long hours or overnight shifts, or for those with an illness or disability, a self-cleaning litter box can be very helpful. Yody Blass of Companion Animal Behavior in Leesburg, Virginia, says the concept of a self-cleaning litter box is “a great one, because no one likes to clean litter boxes. Most of the automatic litter boxes detect when your cat has used it and will clean up so that the next time they go, they have fresh, clean cat litter. With a self-cleaning litter box, a waste compartment sifts, rakes, flushes or otherwise collects feline waste, allowing you minimal contact with cat urine and feces and eliminating the need to scoop the litter tray daily. The Basics of the Self-Cleaning Litter Box Our 411 on self-cleaning litter boxes for cats lets you think outside the traditional cat litter box to decide if an automatic litter box is worth it. Kitty, can you please DIY? Until that happens, the emergence of self-cleaning litter boxes for cats creates an option to have the litter box itself clean up after your cat.īut are these self-cleaning litter boxes for cats really less work? With multiple styles and designs-including an actual flush-it-away system from CatGenie-and ever-updating versions, there are plenty of options for you to choose from to find the perfect match for you and your cat. It's the least favorite part of cat parenting: cleaning the cat litter box.
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