anyone have a litter maid?

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hey everyone. I just got a Litter Maid for my almost 4 year old cat Jasper last week. Actually, I think I got it more for me! The elimination of scooping and odors has really improved my quality of life. And I know Jasper appreciates having a clean box all the time... there's no way I could be that diligent, especially while I'm away at work. Just wanting to know if anyone also has one and likes it (or not). Reviews are very mixed. Some people state they are loud, clog, don't clean well, and the small waste receptacles are expensive. Those things aren't an issue for me. Mine isn't loud and I just dump the waste instead of replace the receptacle every time. I have had some clumps stick to the rake when they weren't dry enough, but they fell in the container during the next cycle. I just can't understand why so many people don't like them, unless they aren't durable. I'm really enjoying this thing!

So, what do you think?

I need to lay off of buying gadgets for a while.... I got this box, a programmable thermostat (yes, even though I have a 1 bedroom apartment... and I installed it myself, totally not something I ever though I could do), and just got the Rowenta steam generator yesterday! It's been a gadget crazy week for me!

 

[travlincub321]

My cat refused to use it... She preferred to pee next to it or in several insatnces next to my bed to show her distaste of this thing that makes noise

 

[panthera]

mine loves it

I got it for my birthday.
She uses it, leaves, comes back just before the cycle begins and follows it with great interest from start to finish.

A few things we've learned.

One, the max-min guide is more like a too much -nearly too much guide. Put in the minimum of a good clumping, non-dusty cat litter. Not the maximum.

Automatic does not mean you still don't have to clean it once a week.

Which is easy.

I don't see why you couldn't reuse the boxes, however there are reports of mold on the feces if left longer than one week, so I would agree to emptying and then cleaning. They're not expensive at Walmart, by the by, just at the upscale pet boutiques.

It saves my parents enormous work, the cat loves it...

Many years ago, I had a brother and sister. She used the human toilet from the day she was old enough to jump on it. He refused to even go into a room where there was a bathtub or shower. Cats are definitely both self-aware and very much possessed of their own personalities.

 

[kenmore58]

My current cat was given to me by friends when he was 11 months old, which included a new Litter Maid Mega automatic litter box. I have to tell you that it is the greatest invention ever.

As far as the receptacles, being frugal, I simply buy a package of 4 gallon plastic bags and use them to line the receptacle, and then just lift the bag out and empty it. My receptacles last indefinitely.

Currently, I am on my second Litter Maid. The first one lasted about 5 years. I replaced it with the Semi-automatic Litter Maid. This particular model does not automatically start up. Rather, there is a small pedal on the outside of the box that you step on to start the cleaning cycle.

Other people that I've talked to that have these Litter Maids say that the electric eye seems to be the thing that goes first. Plus there is a huge price difference, $35 for the semi-automatic as opposed to the $150 price tag for the automatic.

Ron

 

[panthera]

They go on sale

at Walmart regularly for just under $80 for the fully-automatic.

I know they fail every few years. On the other hand, cat litter boxes should probably be thrown out after awhile, anyway. I clean it well every week and make an extra effort including disinfectant once a month, but there probably is a point where it's best to just start over.

The cover is a good idea. Hadn't thought of that. Those collecting trays are certainly stable enough for several uses, it's mainly just a sop to those who don't even want to see what the cat has done that their disposable like that. Since the goal of the present was to cut down on the work load for my parents, I'm cool with a new tray every week, but, yes - that would save a fair amount of money.

 

[bugsyjones]

LOVE IT!

My two cats are both indoor and outdoor. In the warm months, they go outside to do business. In the winter, they spend alot of time indoors, and therefore use the box. I originally had purchased a cheaper alternative automatic box, called the Litter Sweep. I say, skip it and go straight for the Litter Maid. The Litter Sweep had too many moving parts and it jammed all the time. The rake would get stuck on the receptacle door and the thing would just keep running. The Litter Maid has two motions. Forward and Backward. I have yet to have a problem with it.

~Tim

 

[peterh770]

If I had one, it would probably run constantly with my 11 cats. However, that probably also means they wouldn't use it after one day! LOL

I am considering trying the Tidy Cat pellet/diaper tray absorption gizmo. Everyone in my cat circles say that it is phenomenal.

 

[sudsmaster]

I also have two cats. One is mostly indoor, the other mostly outdoor.

The indoor cat much prefers to use the litter box, but she has never really learned how to bury the stuff. She'll scratch all around the tray but not IN the litter.

So I use an Omega Paw covered tray with a simple sieving feature. You just roll the thing over 90 degrees and the unclumped litter flows through a baffle, the clumps fall into a tray. Then you right the box and remove the tray and dump it. It's completely manual but it works relatively well. Of course it needs cleaning from time to time, and a complete litter change, but it's a vast improvement over the traditional tray and the scooper that flexes and flicks clumps all over the place ;-(

 

[jamman_98]

My experience

I have a friend who has one and it works great except that the boxes are expensive to replace. She has a "colar" that holds plastic grocery bags in the container and you can resuse the box. You could just stretch a bag over the box and get the same thing I think.

jamman_98

 

[panthera]

As long as you keep the litter box and

comb scrupulously clean, there is no reason why the capture box and lid can't be lined with just cheap saran wrap - the larger width fits perfectly and you just wrap it up and throw it out every week or so.

I am lucky, however, that my cat is so flexible. You don't train a cat, you don't out-patient a cat. You sign armed truces with definite time limits.

Set by the cat, not you.

 

[pekedogs]

Litter Maid Liners

FWIW, I was at my local thrift-a-toria today and spotted a box of the liners and covers so I picked it up. There are nine in the box. If anyone is interested, let me know and they are yours. Just let me know where to send them.

 

[rinso]

I love my Litter Maid. All three of my cats use it. I put a regular box just a few feet away from the Litter Maid as a test when I first got it. All three cats preferred the Litter Maid.

The thing I like most is the ease of cleaning. It comes all apart and you can just throw it in the dishwasher.

KIDDING!