I found this thread from a few years ago, and was curious if anyone had any updated recommendations. I have one cat in a small apartment.
Is the Litter Robot really worth it $$$:eek:?
Are there others that work well too?
TIA!
I have had the Litter Maid, Cat Genie, and Litter Robot. My cats all preferred the Litter Maid. They would pee but not poop in the Robot, and while they would use the Genie okay, the cleaning cycle takes forever and it never got really clean.
I really wish the Robot had worked out, because it was just as awesome as it looks on their website. So I would say it’s worth the money IF your cat will use it. If not, you’re out $300.
The Litter Maids keep getting more poorly made as they fancy up the models. If you can find one like the original or classic, they seem to be tougher. Sometimes you can find the older models at Walmart; most pet stores want to carry the most recent version. Litter Maid was the only auto box all my cats used happily. If I were to buy auto again I’d start there.
I hated everything about the Genie from the word go. Incredibly complicated, hard to use, not that effective.
I posted on the original thread and I still have and LOVE both the Cat Genies (I have 2) and the Litter Robot. The Robot is 5? yrs old now and getting a little tired, I have the old style not the Open-Air one. I bought it reconditioned, which was a tad cheaper, and it really has been a workhorse … I have 10 cats! I want one of the new ones and am keeping an eye on sales and the prive of the reconditioned ones.
With that many cats I have to change the bag about every 3 days or so. Not all of them use it, some prefer the Genies (the flushing box) and one insists on an old fashioned box w/ pine pellets.
If you have the room I think the CatGenie is better than the Litter Robot, because I really do nothing to them except change the cartridge and add a little of the granules now and then, run a cleaning cycle once a month, and give it a good cleaning once a year. I’d get a third but the other bathroom is too small currently. I may actually redo the bathroom and make a special cupboard for it, if I can!
With a houseful of cats the autoboxes have been a godsend, and I’m definitely a fan!
Oh! And for both companies their customer service has been great the few times I’ve had questions for them.
ETA: LOL! So you have one thoroughly pro-Genie and one thoroughly anti-Genie! Helpful 
I find them easy to use and very clean. On occasion if someone has loose poop I have to run it again, but that’s pushing a button, not a big deal.
The 2 foster cats I have came with the Classic Litter Robot. One is a Siamese about 8 lbs, the other is just a huge 25+ lb mix. Both use it religiously and never miss, so at least that part of fostering is easier. I have 4 cats of my own and I think occasionally one may use it. I dump the tray a couple times a week. No odor whatsoever.
The only annoyance is they seem to use it at 3 AM and it is kind of noisy. They’re still living in my bedroom at night, otherwise I’d move it out and it would be the perfect litter box. I use Arm & Hammer clumping cat litter in it.
A vote for the Litter Robot.
For one kitty in an apartment why spend s fortune on a gadget that may not work or be used? Buy an ordinary litter box and some litter and a scoop. We’re not talking a 12x12 stall for crying out loud. Take the $300 the gadget box costs and use it to rescue a second kitty to keep the one company.
I’ve had a LitterMaid for years. Actually I’ve had 3. First one lasted almost 10 years. Second lasted a year; it’s replacement has been going strong for 5? years.
It works better with a light litter like World’s Best. I keep a rug under it because some litter usually does slip under the collection box. I never had issues with my cats not using it. I did put it away earlier this year, one of the old cats had issues with living life “on the edge” & it got to be a mess.
For the $$, ~$100, it was well worth the money. What I paid for the litter box, I more than saved in cat sitter fees.
[QUOTE=RPM;8519800]
For one kitty in an apartment why spend s fortune on a gadget that may not work or be used? Buy an ordinary litter box and some litter and a scoop. We’re not talking a 12x12 stall for crying out loud. Take the $300 the gadget box costs and use it to rescue a second kitty to keep the one company.[/QUOTE]
LOL. So true about it not being a stall. I can’t speak for the OP but I’m looking into one even though we only have two cats. The babies are left alone for weekends and I would feel better knowing the box was kept clean over the weekend.
Also, I have a dog who occasionally makes…bad decisions. An auto cleaner would prevent him from having access to unsavory snacks.
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[QUOTE=RPM;8519800]
For one kitty in an apartment why spend s fortune on a gadget that may not work or be used? Buy an ordinary litter box and some litter and a scoop. We’re not talking a 12x12 stall for crying out loud. Take the $300 the gadget box costs and use it to rescue a second kitty to keep the one company.[/QUOTE]
Ha-ha! Every time someone brings up the topic of automatic litter boxes, I can’t help but think of that post on the now-defunct Ultimate Dressage called “The Great American Shit Toss.” I laughed so hard, I cried. It’s one reason I have stuck with basic box + scoop. The other reason is I live in a really old house, and there’s nowhere to plug in all of the modern electric conveniences.
[QUOTE=TC3200;8521604]
Ha-ha! Every time someone brings up the topic of automatic litter boxes, I can’t help but think of that post on the now-defunct Ultimate Dressage called “The Great American Shit Toss.” I laughed so hard, I cried. It’s one reason I have stuck with basic box + scoop. The other reason is I live in a really old house, and there’s nowhere to plug in all of the modern electric conveniences.[/QUOTE]
You know you have to share that one, right? 
(As best you can remember it!)
P.S. Is this it, TC?
http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/02/Dec/litter.html
Apparently the Pet Safe is meant to be decent, and it’s significantly cheaper too; http://www.tuxedo-cat.co.uk/self-cleaning-litter-boxes/
I’m looking at buying one so I’ll let you know how I get on if i do invest!
I’ve had a LitterMaid for years. Actually I’ve had 3. First one lasted almost 10 years. Second lasted a year; it’s replacement has been going strong for 5? years.
It works better with a light litter like World’s Best. I keep a rug under it because some litter usually does slip under the collection box. I never had issues with my cats not using it. I did put it away earlier this year, one of the old cats had issues with living life “on the edge” & it got to be a mess.
For the $$, ~$100, it was well worth the money. What I paid for the litter box, I more than saved in cat sitter fees.
