how do you maintain your automatic litter box?

Question

We just bought a new automatic litter box. its really alot better than the old one, but i am still fighting the odors. also, not to be gross, but it leaves behind some "treasures" when it sweeps the box. ours is one that sweeps through the gravel about 10 min after cat has been in it. deposits waste in a little tub at the end. everytime i go in the room with the box i shake some baking soda in it. i had heard about that wheat type litter but i dont think it'll work in this. we have two cats. PLEASE HELP!! i am so emberassed by our little friends sometimes............

Answer 1

I agree with the other poster about the canned food.

I have 2 show cats and 2 house cats. I only feed 1 can for ALL 4 cats. I split it into quarters. They really only need a taste of canned food. They should be eating a good quality dry mostly. No by products, fillers, etc....
Their poop will be less in volume, which means they are getting more from it. This in turn equals better nutrition, less waste.

About the litter box issue. I went through 2 LitterMaids, I thought they would be a blessing. I too had the same problem you are describing.

LitterMaids NEED a really hard clumping litter. Also I used to keep a plastic bag or bucket near by to dump the "treasures" in. I would take the waste tub out and dump it OFTEN!!

I say used to, since I changed to the Litter Robot, it is a VERY expensive litter box, but I love it. After having spent a couple hundred dollars on the LitterMaid, and replacing it a few times. It ended up costing the same in the long run.

Answer 2

I don't think the wheat type clumps hard enough to work in the auto litter box, either.
Maybe it's the wrong question. Maybe it's time to change their food.
If the cats get a lot of canned food, their litter smells more. Some of us think it's worse with fishy flavors. Some of us think it's about the grains in the food, with rice being preferable to corn. Some think that the cheap canned food with inconsistent and questionable byproducts causes gas where the higher grade meat products aren't so bad. I do find dry or wet with chicken being the first ingredient is less yucky.

Answer 3

try the fresh step litter with the activated charcoal in it - it really really makes a difference. I also have a littermaid and its not perfect but its better than not cleaning it after each cat visit. Also try the Mrs Meyers pet air freshener - it smells really nice.