What's the Good vs. Bad About a Self Cleaning Litter Box?

Aug. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- Self cleaning litter boxes are marketed as the greatest help to cat owners.
Is this the truth?  Let's look at it objectively from one cat owner's perspective.

The joys of owning a cat can often be overshadowed by the maintenance
they require.

Though minimal in comparison to dogs, litter box maintenance can be a
hassle. This is especially true for families with small children or other day to day
responsibilities that keep them busy.

One of the pleasures of owning a cat is the ability to leave it for an extended
period of time without worrying that it will be able to care for itself. They
are very self sufficient, and given enough food and water can often be on their
own for a very long time.

This great quality of ownership is even more apparent when you add a
self-cleaning litter box into the picture.

It is percieved that self-cleaning litter boxes do most of the dirty work for you,
literally.  No more constantly having to remember if you’ve cleaned the box
or not... or if your child has remembered to do it as one of their daily chores.
It is simply done for you. This is a joy not only for the cat owner, but for the pet
as well. They have a more sanitary environment. They are able to keep
themselves cleaner, and are happier and more at ease. It seems as if everybody wins.

The downside of self cleaning litter boxes is that sometimes they may create
more work and mess for someone to clean.  Additionally, in some models the
mechanisms jams, and it may leave waste in areas of the tray.  

The cost of the carbon filters, waste trays and liners are ongoing expenses in
addition to the litter. Therefore one must take these aspects into consideration
when deciding which type of litter box to select.

However, with some research and persistence the decision should not be
entirely related to cost.

Most importantly the decision should be based upon the simple and better
quality of life for both the owners and the felines they love.

See more options regarding cat litter boxes and cat litter at http://www.allthingscat.com/cat_litter_box_problem.html