Automatic Litterbox Central

Has anyone used the SMART CAT BOX or have an opinion on how it might work? I'm considering buying one.

http://www.smartcatbox.com/index.asp

"Introducing the Amazing New SMART C.A.T. BOX; The most user-friendly and most ecologically friendly cat litter box in existence today. This new, patented concept in cat litter boxes is in effect, a urine collection system. It incorporates the means to quickly collect and easily dispose of urine, in it's natural liquid state, without any mechanical or electrical parts. The SMART CAT BOX incorporates new, safe, all-natural, long lasting and odorless non-absorbent cat litter pellets which do not add to the increasing volume of cat litter being dumped into our land fills today."

This looks questionable to me. I cannot imagine that it wouldn't smell horribly. They say that the feces do not stick to the litter, so you can just scoop feces out and flush them; it's litter sticking to the feces that helps reduce odor! And how is one supposed to scoop woithout pickinup at least some of the litter... which it does not say is flushable?

This sounds to me as though it would smell and be a messy PITA. Their whole "cleaning" thing is also questionable.

They claim that a vet described their product as "very natural" when in fact a vet would know that it's not natural at all. In nature, cats go in dirt which absorbs their urine and moisture from feces.

They also have some poeple saying that before this litter box, their house smell d like cat urine "no matter what they tried." I am guessing they didn't try very much; my house does not smell like cat urine or cat feces. If we come home and the LM is full, then we get some smell, but on average it does not smell. Our cat is very good (now) about using her litter box and only her litter box, and we use WBCL. In fact, our LM is in the living room of our small apartment, and our house smells nice and fresh (right after she poops is another story. For that reason alone it's going somewhere else when we have a bigger place.)

So anyway, I wouldn't buy it or use it. I like my LM. I will not have a non-automated litter box again.

Actually I purchased this about a year ago because I didn't want to have to buy litter every month. It's been working fine. The urine collects at the bottom but the litter does stick to the feces. The only reason that I am changing from that box is to get an automated one so I don't have to worry about my kitty when I have to go away for the weekend...she gets carsick like me.

reptile93 wrote: In nature, cats go in dirt which absorbs their urine and moisture from feces.

Maybe in nature, but not at my house. My black cat with psychological problems likes to urinate on hard, nonabsorbant surfaces. He may deposit his feces there, too, or maybe on top of the litterbox.

I'm glad to know this box works because it sounds like it might be worth trying for me.

I decided to update this. I bought one of these about the end of last year and liked it so much, I just bought another one! (well, maybe I should say WE all like it.)

It really doesn't smell; I add a little water to the receptacle and a few drops of Dawn Plus Odor Eraser dishwashing liquid just to be safe. I just empty the containers and rinse them out every couple of days. I have 2 Litter Robots and the cats use both types of boxes. A couple of cats prefer the Smart Cat; the poop doesn't stick to the safflower seeds, or if it does, it actually is more like a few seeds stick to it. I lose very little "litter".

Very easy to clean. The only other maintenance is a few sprays of Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface daily sanitizing spray on the safflower seeds and under the trays. (They recommend that.) Sometimes, a wipe of the undersurfaces with paper towel to remove seed residues.

My sister-in-law owns a Seattle house cleaning company and has several clients with cats (including me). As she is also a cat lover, we have discussed the different types and attributes of automatic litter boxes several times. Although I have never seen a "Smart" cat box, Jeri has dealt with them several times. As she also owns a couple of the boxes, I would say that she "likes" them as well. Most importantly, from what I understand, her cats get along fine with the boxes too!