Automatic Litterbox Central

I LOVE the LR, except for one problem... one of my cats will NOT use it!! I've read the suggestions on this board, but so far don't see anything I haven't tried. Here's the story...

I have 2 cats. We bought the LR after our Litter Maid automatic broke. We followed the instructions in the owners manual. We put some toys in it at first so the cats would explore and get used to the thing. Then, put their food in it so they had to eat out of it for a few days. Then, filled it with litter, left it off, and placed it next to the old box. Didn't clean the old box. My female cat (the one who's afraid of EVERYTHING) took to it without a problem. The male, on the other hand, is a different story. Totally REFUSES to use it. We've tried:

Put some old litter (and some poop) in the new box so he knew what it was supposed to be used for

Locking him in a room with it so he had no choice. Held it in for a long time, but did eventually use it (although doesn't turn around, so some poop ends up outside of the box). As soon as we moved it back to it's normal location, though, he regressed.

If we leave a standard box next to the LR and don't clean it, he'll use the old one for as long as possible and then start doing his buisness on the carpet.

Cat Attract herbs (although didn't use this with unscented litter as they recommend)

catnip in the litter and on the step

Watching him until he has to go, and placing him in the LR when he squats. I think this just scares him more than teaching him anything.

I love the LR otherwise and would be so happy if he would use it like his sister does! I really hate having the old, smelly litter box next to it. Anyone tried anthing novel that has worked? I welcome any suggestions!

Well it sounds like you have done everything that you are suppose to when introdcing anything new to a
cat, skittish or otherwise. I had to be patient with one of mine (the boy of course) to be comfortable with
the LR. I think it was the strong "new" smell and the rocking movement that made him a little nervous
of it. I did the same with the dirty litter box and gave up because of the smell. Can you put the old box farther
away from the LR (what I mean is that they have to pass the LR)? He will get use the LR being there but
has to walk passed the LR to his box. Clean his box but not as frequent as you have been. Let it stay there
for maybe a 4-6 weeks then take it away. He will look for it but maybe he will go into the LR because he
knows what it is for. Let us know what happens. Good luck!

I purchased a Litter-Robot around the beginning of August. I have two cats at home that are both about 3 years old, one male and one female.

My male cat had no problem jumping right in and using the new Litter-Robot, in fact, he likes it so much sometimes I catch him just hanging out in there.

My female cat was the problem. She was scared to go into the Litter-Robot. Whenever it cycled she loved to come and watch it, and she was very curious about it and would even get up on the stair to look inside after her brother has been in it, but she would just not use it.

I stopped cleaning her old litter box but she just continued to use it. I tried Cat Attract Litter in the new box but it didn't inticed her in. I took away the old one for a bit but she peed on the floor. I tried cutting out a hole in the box it came in but she still wouldn't go in. Finally, I went out an bought a cheap covered litter box to try to get her used to going into a covered box with the hope that if she used it reguarly and I didn't clean it, she may decide she would like to use the clean box instead. They were using uncovered litter boxes previously.

Well, she didn't decide it on her own, but I took away the cheap covered box and put some catnip on the stair and inside the Litter-Robot and she FINALLY started using it...she doesn't turn around to pee and pees all over the stair, but at least she is using it now.

Just have patience and if you don't have him using a covered box currently go out and buy the cheapest one you can find at a pet store. Let him get used to it for a while and then try taking it away again. I got catnip spray that I have been spraying in the LR and am still sprinkling catnip on the stair as well. I give treats and lots of love near the LR whenever I can.

Good luck!

Thanks for the help. I like the covered box idea. Their former box was an automatic with a canopy over it, but that's probably not quite the same thing as a covered box, which has a smaller entrance and is darker inside. I'll keep you posted.

Glad to help a fellow Chicagoan.

P.S. My troublemaker has started going outside of the box so I brought back the covered box in hopes of "re-training" her to go in the LR. UGH.