My Self-Cleaning Litterbox

Many people consider their pets as part of their family. A pet is often a wonderful part of a person’s our life. If you have a pet, then it is your responsibility to take care of them as you would a child, or at least in a similar respect. However, pets can also be a big chore, even if they can be an endless source of entertainment. You probably know what I mean if you have an indoor cat. Cat owners can be overwhelmed by the litter. The last thing any pet owner would want is to have the house smelling like a cat box. Fortunately, the option of a self cleaning litter box is now available.

I thought that a self cleaning litter box was expensive when I saw it for the first time. I believe it had a 200 dollar price tag on it. It spotted it in one of those catalogs that thrive on the newest of technology. To be honest, I thought it was cool even though it was a bit pricey. My mother had a cat while growing up, and unfortunately a litter box to go with it. That litter box really did stink up the house. You can be sure that I dreaded the chore of cleaning it everyday.

My mother actually got to where she would empty out the waste, immediately after the cat would go. Obviously, this can become a redundant process. My family has numerous indoor cats these days and each one certainly adds some extra weight to the cleaning routine. I finally decided that it was time to buy a self cleaning litter box. It turned out to be a choice that I haven’t regretted.

A mild alarm goes off to ensure they’re out of the box after one of our felines uses the litter box. A rake-like device will then sweep any waste into a plastic compartment. Then the pet owner will remove the plastic compartment and replace it with a new one instead of scooping out all of the cat waste. I really appreciate the lack of stench that these litter boxes offer.

If you travel and leave your cat at home often, then you will find the self cleaning litter box especially handy. They will be no need to worry about the litter box filling up because it takes care of the mess. You can purchase self cleaning litter boxes at a variety of pet stores. You can also find them at superstores such as Pets-Mart and Pet-Depot. These products are also available on the Internet. You should find what you’re looking for ahead of time and compare prices and reviews if you shop online. If you have a lot of cats, then the self cleaning litter box is well worth the cost.

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Cat litter boxes can be a chore to clean to buy and clean and find what is right for cat. All cats and cat boxes come in different shapes, sizes and styles and litter boxes need to be right for your cat. One litter box that can fit and work for about any cat is an automated or automatic self cleaning cat litter box. You’ll need to know some various things about automatic self cleaning cat litter boxes before you go out and buy one though. I’ll run you through a quick lesson for some ideas and information you should know about self cleaning automatic cat litter boxes.

First you should always know some information about your cat. For instance if your cat scares extremely easy and is afraid of everything then stick to a regular litter box as the gears from the automated litter box may spook your feline to often. While the motors are not very loud now days it still could be enough to frighten a jittery litter bundle of joy into peeing in the corner of your home instead of in the litter box. The next thing you should know is how old your cat is. If your cat is a tiny little kitten then don’t use the self cleaning litter boxes. With a kitten you need little more than a small litter pan. If a kitten is to small they may become scared inside the litter box and not come out.

You’ll want to know how large your cat is. If you have a fatty for a cat then make sure you get the large size self cleaning litter box. If the litter box is to small your cat will end up spraying out of the box or maybe not even use the box at all which could end up being very bad. The larger sizes are worth the money for about any cat over the age of one year old still. As the larger size boxes ensure enough growing room for your cat or cats. If you have multiple cats you may even consider using more than one litter box.

The biggest concern people have with buying an automated litter box for their cat is price. I tend to think of it this way; yes its a lot more expensive to get a self cleaning litter box for your cat. However that advantages are you only have to change the tray once a week and once you’ve bought one they last for quite a long time. For me saving the extra time rather than hand scooping the litter box out daily is well worth the investment and typically only sets us back $100-$125 to begin with. Don’t buy anything in the three-hundred dollar range save your money and buy something in the low to mid One-hundred dollar range. The money you save will allow to buy that nice premium clumping litter you’ll need to refill the litter box.

Mikey Simms

Buy Cat Litter Boxes Online

Automated Automatic Self Cleaning Cat Litter Boxes

One major problem you encounter as a cat owner involves your cat’s use (or non-use) of her litter box.

This is probably one of the most frustrating issues that arise in caring for your new cat. You buy a litter box, often an expensive one, fill it with good quality litter, and then find your cat defecating or urinating somewhere else in the house. Even more frustrating is when you discover that your cat “does her business” near the litter box, but not in it.

You have, of course, taken your cat to the vet who has pronounced her “healthy”. So, you’ve ruled out any physical ailment. You’ve changed the litter; you’ve cleaned the box. You’ve made sure no other cat is going in her box.

And yet, she’s still doing it - you still have problems:

? your cat is going somewhere else in the house
? your cat is going next to the litter box
? your cat is going half in and half out

The last possibility can often be solved by getting a larger box: something resembling a tub that your cat can still get into and out of without too much trouble but will confine the scat (not the cat) to the tub.

But the first two difficulties often remain.

The Invisible Culprit

What could be the problem? I’d like to pose a possible answer in one word: plastic.

Most litter boxes, no matter how elaborate or expensive, are made of one plastic or another.

Plastics are polymers?huge molecules made by chemically “stringing together” smaller molecular units. Sometimes the units are all identical, sometimes they vary in composition and recur with some regularity. However all plastics are “organic” compounds.

In case you’ve forgotten your high school chemistry, organic compounds are primarily made up of Carbon and Hydrogen, sometimes with other elements such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous or Sulfur thrown in.

The plastics used in constructing most cheap cat litter boxes are relatively flexible - they can be easily bent. When you pick yours up to clean it, you’ll find it bending as you carry it out the door. It’s composed of a flexible plastic.

Flexible plastics are made that way by the addition of what’s termed “plasticizers”. Plasticizers are small organic molecules, usually phthalate esters that are added to the polymer to increase its flexibility.

Other litter boxes, particularly the self cleaning ones, are not so flexible. Since they are self cleaning, they are not designed to be picked up, and are generally constructed of several smaller, harder, plastic parts.

Hard plastics are formed in molds (forms into which the plastic is poured, where it hardens and takes shape). The molds are first coated with a “mold release” agent to enable the removal of the plastic part from the mold - otherwise it would stick to it and stay there.

Both materials - the plasticizer and the mold release agent- remain as a residue on (or in) the plastic. And both materials can “outgas”, that is, be released into the air, immediately after your litter box has been manufactured, and, in the cases of flexible plastics, from then on.

Even though you can’t smell anything?

So, if you’ve tried everything to induce your cat to “go” in her litter box and nothing has worked, could it be that your cat is sensitive to the plasticizers or the mold release agents used in the manufacture of her litter box? Even though you can’t smell anything, maybe your cat can.

Plastic is basically an unnatural material. It wasn’t found in nature before Man arrived and started making disposable food containers and litter boxes, and it wasn’t a factor in the evolution of cats.

Maybe your cat is sensitive to it, and is making you aware of that fact by defecating somewhere else, far from this source of annoyance. Or maybe the plastic is triggering some unnatural behavior in your cat, causing her to defecate half in and half out.

Don’t tell your guests?

Try changing the material of the litter box. Try a glass litter box.

But, you say, there aren’t any glass litter boxes for sale! Where can I get one?

I went to glass some time ago by converting a shallow baking dish into a litter box. My wife used it for baking scalloped potatoes, and I unwittingly grabbed it for a different use, much to her?uh?displeasure.

Granted, a baking dish is shallow and the litter is easily thrown out by a digging cat, but I place newspaper under it (not a plastic mat), to catch the thrown litter. I’ve owned two cats in succession now, and neither has had a problem “doing their deed” somewhere else.

So try it. Of course it goes without saying that once you convert the baking dish into a litter box, it’s the end of using it to cook scalloped potatoes for your guests when they come over for dinner.

Or, at least, it’s a good idea that, after they’ve eaten, to keep that fact to yourself.

John Young is a write with a scientific and programming background. Discover how to safely and smoothly adopt your new cat in the new ebook, “Your New Cat’s First 24 Hours”

www.yourcatsecrets.com

and care for her thereafter.

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Cats are the most popular pets in the United States. According to the latest version of the U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook (2002 Edition) there were almost 70 Million pet cats in the United States. Why are cats so popular? There are as many answers to this question as there are cat owners, but the low health risks cats pose to their owners is certainly near the top of this list. Even though the potential health risks cats pose to people are small, it is important that cat owners are aware of these risks and understand how to reduce them.

The majority of all risks stemming from cat ownership are associated with the cat litter box and/or cat feces. There are two categories of risks. The first category contains health risks posed by bacteria and parasites to both cat owners and their cats. The second category contains injuries resulting from an automatic litter box or self cleaning litter box.

Primarily the health problems experienced by cat owners or their cats come from the first category and the most significant of these risks is called Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a tiny parasite called Toxoplasma gondii which can be found in raw or undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, dirty cat litter boxes and outdoor soil where cat feces can be found. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 60 million people in the United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite(1). Fortunately, very few people ever experience any symptoms because a healthy person’s immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women and individuals who have compromised immune systems, such as individuals infected with the HIV virus, are at risk and should take precautions to avoid being infected by the parasite. For people in this group a Toxoplasma infection could cause serious health problems to the individual or to a pregnant woman’s unborn child.

Again, most of the 60 million plus American’s infected with Toxoplasmosis parasite will never experience any symptoms. Most of those who do experience symptoms will simply think they have the Flu as the most common symptoms include swollen glands, fever, headache, muscle pain, or a stiff neck. For those in the high risk group, Toxoplasmosis can cause damage to the brain, eyes and internal organs. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, children born with Toxoplasma gondii can suffer from hearing loss, mental retardation, and blindness with some children developing brain or eye problems years after birth(2). The CDC estimates that 400-4000 fetuses are infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite each year and as many as 80 infants die from Toxoplasmosis annually(2).

So how does an individual contract Toxoplasmosis? A Toxoplasmosis infection is caused by ingesting the Toxoplasma gondi parasite. Most cat owners are infected with the parasite by accidentally ingesting infected cat feces. This happens when a person touches their mouth after handling a cat litter box, working in a garden or sand box or touching anything that has come in contact with cat feces(3).

People in the high risk group may wonder whether or not they should give up their cat to avoid infection. According to the CDC, it is not necessary for cat lovers to give up their cats, but it is important for them to protect themselves from infections. The USFDA makes the following recommendations for avoiding infections(2):
1) If possible, have someone else change the litter box. If you have to clean it, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water afterwards.
2) Change the litter box daily. The parasite doesn’t become infectious until one to five days after the feces are deposited in the litter box.
3) Wear gloves when gardening in a garden or handling sand from a sandbox because cats may have excreted feces in them. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water afterwards.
4) Cover outdoor sandboxes to prevent cats from using them as litter boxes.
5) Feed your cat commercial dry or canned food. Never feed your cat raw meat because it can be a source of the Toxoplasmosis gondii parasite.
6) Keep indoor cats indoors. Be especially cautious if you bring outdoor cats indoors.
7) Avoid stray cats, especially kittens.
Don’t get a new cat while you’re pregnant.

Safer Child, Inc. makes the following additional recommendations(4):
1) Have your veterinarian test your cat for the Toxoplasmosis parasite. If you cat is infected, you may want to consider having someone else keep your cat during your pregnancy.
2) Keep sandboxes covered to prevent cats from using the sandbox as a litter box.
3) Be aware of neighborhood sandboxes as the parasite can be brought home on shoes, clothing and toys.

Similar to Toxoplasmosis, Escherichia coli (commonly called E. coli) can infect humans thru contact with feline fecal material, although the primary means of infection is thru ingestion or raw or undercooked meats. E. Coli is a bacterium commonly found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. Almost all strains of the bacteria are harmless. However a few strains can produce powerful toxins and cause severe illness, especially in children under 5 years of age(5). Symptoms usually include diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In children under 5, 2%-7% of E. coli cases can cause kidney failure. Fortunately, E. coli is easy to prevent. Using the preventative measures, outlined above for Toxoplasmosis will greatly reduce the risks of you or your children contracting an E. coli infection.

In addition to these human risks, there are a few health risks cat litter boxes actually pose to cats that cat owners should be aware of. Just as a dirty litter box poses health risks to humans, cats are equally at risk if forced to use a dirty litter box. Since cats stay clean by licking themselves, allowing a cat’s litter box to get too dirty can cause infections when a cat cleans it’s paws after using the dirty litter box. The most common infection is a urinary tract infection, and although this type of infection is rarely fatal it can be very uncomfortable for your cat and will most likely require treatment by your veterinarian.

Finally, a lesser-known health risk to cats is actually caused by cat litter itself. What many cat owners do not realize is that some types of cat litter can be harmful or even fatal to their cat. Both clumping and non-clumping litters pose health problems to cats. Clumping cat litters are probably the most popular type of cat litter because of their convenience, hygienic qualities and the fact that clumping litters are required for use in self-cleaning litter boxes. Unfortunately, some clumping litters can be harmful to cats. Clay based clumping litters can contain the mineral sodium bentonite, which can be harmful or fatal to your cat. It is best to avoid using clay based cat litters, especially with kittens. Wheat or corn based clumping litters such as Swheat Scoop, World’s Best Cat Litter and Littermaid cat litter work very well and are non-toxic(6).

By their very nature, non-clumping litters do not absorb and isolate a cat’s urine or feces like clumping litters do. As a result, it is much harder to keep your cat’s litter box clean when using non-clumping litter. When using non-clumping litter it is important to frequently clean and disinfect the litter box itself to reduce the chance of bacterial buildups that can cause urinary or other infections in your cat.

The second category of health risks covers injuries caused by an automatic litter box or self cleaning litter box. Occurrences of this type of injury are rare, but they can happen. An automatic or self cleaning litter box does just what it’s name implies. Usually between 10-15 minutes after a cat uses the litter box, the litter box automatically cleans itself by “sweeping” or “raking” the cat waste into a sealed compartment or bag. For cat owners, injuries can occur if a small child or toddler plays with the automatic litter box during the cleaning cycle. All major brands of automatic litter boxes contain sensors to prevent the cleaning mechanism from activating when a cat or other foreign object is inside the box. However, children can still be injured if they put their hand inside the cleaning mechanism in such a manner as to avoid the sensors.

Although these types of injuries are very rare it is best to take precautions. Placing the litter box in a location where your cat can get to it but small children can’t is an easy method. This is good advice for any litter box as this is the best way to keep children from contracting one of the illnesses described earlier in this article. If you can’t keep the automatic litter box out of a child’s reach then it is best to put the litter box inside a litter box cover. There are many types of covers and all of them will help prevent a child from reaching the litter box and the cleaning mechanism. A final option is to unplug the litter box or put it into a “manual operation” mode. Both of these options will require the cat owner to start the cleaning cycle whenever necessary. Although this reduces some of the convenience of an automatic litter box it certainly removes the danger to children.

Automatic or self cleaning litter boxes are completely safe for almost all cats. However, most manufacturers recommend that the litter box be used in “manual operation” mode for cats under 5 lbs. Cats under 5 lbs many not be large enough to activate the sensors and the cleaning mechanism could cause injury. Since most adult cats weigh over 5 lbs, it is only necessary to use the “manual operation” mode until kittens grow to 5 lbs.

This article is not intended to dissuade anyone from owning a cat. 70 Million cat owners can’t be wrong; cats make great pets! So, if you already own a cat or are thinking of becoming a cat owner it simply makes good sense to be aware of the health risks associated with cat ownership. Understanding the risks can definately increase the enjoyment of cat ownership.

(1)Toxoplasmosis Fact Sheet; http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm
(2) While You’re Pregnant ? USFDA
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pregnant/whiltoxo.html

(3) Toxoplasmosis ? An important Message for Cat Owners; http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/toxoplasmosis_brochure_8.2004.pdf

(4) Safer Child, Inc.;
http://www.saferchild.org/pets&.htm

(5) Escherichia coli O157:H7 Fact Sheet;
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/escherichiacoli_g.htm

(6) Stanford Cat Network’s ? Guide to Caring for Your Adopted Cat or Kitten;
http://www.stanford.edu/group/CATNET/articles/careguide.html#litter

Author’s Bio: The author is a long time cat lover who currently owns and operates LitterBoxesandMore.com; a business specializing in high quality automatic litter boxes or self cleaning litter boxes. LitterBoxesandMore.com also offers other specialty cat products such as pet strollers and indoor cat fences. Come visit us at http://www.litterboxesandmore.com.

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Most cats will adapt to the litter tray that you have provided them with; however, there will be some cats that are extremely sensitive to the texture and smell or even the structure of the tray! If this is so, it will be up to you to try a few alternatives until you find what your cat is happy with.

Currently, on the market, there is a variety of litter box covers available which will help reduce the smell of ammonia, although you will need to train your cat to grow accustomed to the small space with pungent ammonia odors. You would have to take note if your cat is claustrophobic and dislikes dark, enclosed spaces. However, there are cats that would prefer covered litter boxes.

If you find the area around the litter boxes unsightly, there are special litter boxes available. Some companies have produced a version of the covered litter box by designing a range of litter trays which would blend in with most of the furnishings in your home and keeps the littler tray out of sight. Designed to resemble small cabinets with features such as double fronted doors and side access, the design prevents your cat kicking the cat litter about all over the floor.

You could consider the Littermaid cat litter box and the Litter-Robot. These are two examples of the self cleaning cat litter box that make use of sensors to determine the amount of waste and remove the waste with either a rake or by centrifugal motion. The sensors would not be activated while your cat is using the litter box. Self cleaning litter boxes claim to cut costs in the long run as only soiled litter is removed. They also reduce the hassle of having to use a cat litter scoop to get rid of waste matter.

Pine cat litter is a great alternative to many clay and granule brands on the market because it is more economical, has no dust associated problems and is completely biodegradable - you can even recycle pine cat litter as compost in your garden after removing waste solids. Pine cat litter provides nitrogen for your plants, an essential nutrient for healthy plants. It’s highly absorbent and the natural pine resin in its composition reduces the odor of ammonia and is non-abrasive. Tidy Cat is a clay-based product that the manufacturers claim is ideal for the smaller household as it cuts down on the ammonia smell with its deodorant properties.

Whatever litter tray system you use, cat litter pans need to be spacious enough to hold your cat comfortably and contain a good solid 3″ of litter. Regular cleaning is necessary and a good rinse down with boiling water after the initial cleaning is recommended so as not to subject your cat to the strong smell of disinfectants.

Finally, whatever brands you may eventually choose, remember that the best cat litter is one that suits your cat and your environment. Your cat may prefer high grade clumping clay or garden earth, or even the fresh mountain smell of pine - if your cat is happy with it and it doesn’t cause him any allergy problems then that’s what you need to go for. The alternative involves you, hot water, disinfectant, a scrubbing brush and loads of elbow grease.

Moses Wright is the webmaster of CatCustomer.com. He provides more information on Cat Health, Cat Veterinary Diseases and Cat Nutrition that you can learn in the comfort of your home. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

You will be forced to have a litter box in your home if you own a cat. There’s a good chance that you have somewhere out of the way to keep it, and it may not bother you very much if your home is spacious. However, a cat litter box can be very annoying if you have a small place like I do. I am not fond of dealing with the litter box, although I love my cats. Scooping it a few times a day may seem like an easy task, buy I can’t do it all the time.

I have no choice but to keep the cat litter box in my bedroom because my place is so small. I can’t put it anywhere else so there’s really nothing I can do. For instance, putting it under the dining room table would not be a good idea because of sanitary reasons. The problem is that I forget to scoop the cat litter box in my room every once in a while. This can be a big problem when I go out for the day. It is very obvious that my cats have been using it when I get home. The resulting bad smell is very hard to get rid of and it just makes a lot of extra work for me.

My male cat also seems to have a sense of humor because he always decides that it’s time to use the cat litter box whenever I lie down to go to sleep. This is a huge problem for me, even though this would not be a problem for most people. This is because the cat litter box in my room has a lid on the top of it. This gives the cats some privacy and the device also prevents me from looking at the contents when I walk by. However, our male cat scratches the top and sides of it when he is done for some unknown reason. This irritating act can last for more than five minutes.

You will hear the most hideous noise you can imagine when he runs his nails along the side and the top of the cat litter box because it is made of plastic. My attempts to get him to stop doing this have always failed. He walks out of the cat litter box and finds somewhere else in the house to go if I get upset and hiss at him. This is not an option because I would have a far more annoying problem to deal with each day when I wake up. This means that I have to put up with his noise instead of scaring him out of the litter box.

About the Author:

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Cat Litter Box. Visit our site for more helpful information about Cat Litter Box and other similar topics.

As the market for pets is expanding, there are more and more choices available for pet owners now, and instead of plain cardboard litter boxes, there are various selections one can choose from for his cat. Litter boxes now range from old dishpans to used cardboards, or some store-stocked expensive products that you may find interesting.

Here are some choices of litter box you may consider:

a) Cardboard boxes. These are easy to obtain, and they’re disposable, which is inexpensive and ideal, although not a very reliable long-term solution. Cardboard litter boxes are popular with pet stores, animal shelters and breeders, but perhaps choosing something more lasting and sturdy would be a better idea.

b) Plastic pans. There are a large variety of plastic pans in ranges of shapes and sizes available that will be a better litter box for your cat. These pans are affordable and are easily obtained, as they can be bought in most household supply stores. There are shallow ones or deep ones, depending on your cat’s needs. Be certain to choose a pan that scrubs off easily, as plastic pans are not supposed to be disposable. However, if you do not prefer to clean the pans, you may find cardboard boxes a better idea.

c) Covered Litter Box Pans. Although not the smartest option, this choice is also worth consideration. Covered pans manufacturers claim that having a lid on the litter box will prevent children and smaller pets from accessing the litter box as well as keep the house from stinking. Although it carries some truth, some pet owners are liable to forget to clean the box as often, as they cannot smell the cat’s poop due to the lid of the pan. As a result, the cat will be forced to use a dirty and smelly litter box. Therefore, if a covered pan is your preferred choice of litter box for your cat, do remember to clean it more frequently than you would a non-covered litter box.

d) Self-cleaning litter box pans. Let’s face it, the worse part about being a pet owner is to clean up after the pet after it answered nature’s call. However, technology has allowed the invention of a “self-cleaning” litter box. Pet product manufacturers have found an almost hands-free solution. Some self-cleaning boxes come with inserts which you have to dispose of and replace with another. Others may have a rollover collector that captures the cat poop while the clean granules remain on the pan. The collector is then removed and disposed of while more granules are added if necessary.

For more information on Cat Litter Boxes or visit http://www.siamesecatsinfo.com/4-types-of-cat-litter-boxes-you-can-choose-from/, a popular website that offers information on Cats, Cats Breeding, and Cats Behavior. Please leave the links intact if you wish to reprint this article. Thanks