Automatic Litter Boxes

Cat people really love to talk about their cats. However, after the obligatory kitty "brags" have run their course, I find it interesting that most of the time the conversation turns to those two hot and often controversial topics; litter and litter boxes. Discussing the size, shape, covered or uncovered, big or small, clumping, and non- clumping, scented or odorless, cat people really get into it. With the huge variety of these most essential sanitary necessities available to keep their felines happy, cat servants are always ready to engage in a heated discussion. Hush Puppy atop One of his Three Litter Box Choices Now our cats have made abundantly clear about their preferences and about which boxes they approve. Preferring high-sided boxes with covers, they do seem to choose one over the other, depending on which bodily function with which they are involved. At one time, I thought my cats were unique in this regard, but over the years, I learned that this is common feline behavior. Having been educated about our cats' preferential toilet "habits" has been very helpful so we are able to accommodate their needs, to their liking. Some folks complain they get tired of cleaning their cat boxes several times a day. Others are not that "on top of things" litter box-wise, which frequently result in unfortunate” accidents" around the house, while others consider using automatic litter boxes which are geared to reducing the amount of work required to keep them tidy. While self-cleaning litter boxes have gained popularity, I am not convinced that this is the most efficient way to keep on top of our cats' health. Most of the cat loving folks I know agree that while these "power" boxes may offer some convenience, in the long run they prevent us from really knowing what issues may be lurking. So, I purrsonally prefer to manually scoop our cat boxes several times a day, which gives me the opportunity to more easily observe our kitties' bathroom habits. Since I have more of a "hands on" process. I am much more likely to become more aware, in a timely manner, of any problems occurring that are indicative of a medical condition that needs my attention. We have two cats and three high sided, covered plastic litter boxes. While it may be a little more work than an automatic box would require, three boxes actually reduces the frequency of scooping and my litter box cleaning time.. My cats are happy, and I feel more in control being able to monitor their health. As far as I am concerned, I give a thumb's down to those costly automatic litter boxes. Have you had experience with automatic litter boxes? Do your cats like them? Give us a review by leaving a comment.