For everyone who noticed: I do talk about blocked cats twice. My video editor has a new baby, and I have a 2 year old so you know... 🤷 It's important enough to mention twice though!
Better to accidentally get important information twice than not at all. Thanks for everything you and your editor do, it makes learning how to look after my void boy as he ages a lot easier and less stressful than combing through forums with dubious advice.
It’s great to see you again! The cat who chose me at the local pound ended up needing a large litter box. The standard size cramped her style ;-) Congrats on your “newest family member!”
I love that you are so balanced in your advice doc. Not black and white, putting the animals health first, but also finding ways and alternatives for people with lets say severe backpain. Thank you!😺 (P.S. I still hope for a video on raw food. I don’t feed raw, but it seems to be a lot of confusion on that…)
I wish I had known BEFORE it happened to one of mine! Mentioning it MORE than twice would be fine with me. I am on a crusade to tell people about it ever since my Cheeto got blocked. 3 years post op for PU surgery and doing AMAZING so far, touch wood. When people have told me I need a robotic litterbox, I tell them I will never EVER own one of those, I obsessively monitor my cats litterbox habits now and a robotic one would make that far more difficult to do.
My cat came from a home where the litter box was left disgusting and un-scooped for weeks at a time. When we adopted her, we made sure to scoop once a day and now we scoop every time she uses it. It's incredible how much happier she is. She's such a good cat and remained a good cat despite the horrors she went through with previous owners. People always blame cats for bad behavior, but it's always the owner who should realize it's their doing. Just like you can't blame kids for bad parenting.
Because we are pensioners, our cat's LITTER BOX is cleaned the minute he used it. Wenn we both were working fulltime, our two cats always had a box each and it was cleaned the minute we got home. We couldn't have left it dirty. Poor cats, which have to use dirty litter boxes.
I once cat sit for a household that had cockroaches crawling out of the litter box. The owner told me it was fine for me not to scoop, he would just come back and change the whole liner + litter when he was back… I honestly can’t imagine a litter box unscooped for weeks…..
@@cottonchua2598 when we lived in the UK , a neighbour looked after our moggies for a week. I showed her the two LITTER trays ( 2 cats). Although I explained her , they NEVER DO THEIR PEES AND POOS outside, they were used to it, before they became outdoor cats, the two LITTER trays were completely full. My poor moggies.😧🐈🐈😢
Got a Litter Robot years ago, then when I moved I left the first one at mom's and bought one for my new place so when my kitty stays with grandma, she doesn't have to scoop either. Regardless of the brand of automatic litterbox you get, it's SO helpful. I'm a healthcare professional who works full time and between the automatic feeder, the fountain, and the box, I never have to worry about my cat's basic needs when I'm working late. I can focus on giving him snuggles and playtime when I'm here! I can take care of his tech on my off days, and once everything is clean, shiny, and empty/full as appropriate, he's set for the week!
Adopting my first cat ever today! Two kittens actually. I used to watch your videos from the very early days and am excited to re-watch them in this upcoming journey. This automatic litter box certainly sounds super useful, will be considering it for future use!
Congratulations, naked snake!!! You will fall in love very quickly. They're the best companions ever! Also, with great care, lots of love, they live long, happy lives. Best being 100 percent indoors 🐱.
I just got a manual sifter from Amazon called SiftEase. So far I really like it - it basically allows you to sift very large amounts of litter at once.
My cats have their litterboxes in my bedroom (shared rental and nowhere else they can go) so keeping the boxes clean is essential for both them and me!
I got a Litter Robot for our one cat and he used it no problem. When we brought in a second cat (former stray) we didn’t expect her to take to it for a while and let her keep using a regular one. She eventually started using the automatic one voluntarily! She’s still a little suspicious of it when it cycles, but I think she really likes that it removes her icky brother’s stink right away 😂 As someone with a chronic illness, the automatic box makes me feel sooo much better knowing that the box is always clean for my kiddos. I wouldn’t want them to suffer just because I’m not feeling well!
I have 4 cats and they love their automatic litter boxes! Truly can’t recommend it enough it was a game changer for us! Literally have them in the living room and can’t smell anything🎉
@@GiftSparks I personally have the litter robot 3 from whisker. They have a model 4 now that’s more advanced I’ve had it for 2 years now and never had a problem with 4 cats using it. I can only speak from my experience with that brand but I’ve heard about many other automatic litter boxes now that are equally as good as the one from whisker so I’d definitely recommend looking around :)
One of my cats will complain at me if I don't clean up the litter box right after it was used or right before she wants to use it so I have been trained pretty well 😂
I grew up scooping one litter box once a day - it's good to learn that while that might've been sufficient for our single cat back then, it's definitely NOT sufficient for more than one cat! Over the years I've had inside cats and barn cats, cats that wanted to be outside on nice days and inside the rest of the time, and so forth. Automatic litter boxes were far beyond what our family could generally afford (and underwhelming in performance with the one model we did try out: but that was over 20 years ago now). It's great knowing that tech has gotten this much better, especially given some of the confusing ads that I've seen recently.
So glad monitoring was brought up. Cleaning up regularly is a very important point - the automatic is cleaner than a messy standard box. It sounds like putting some tape on a bigger problem of not investing as much space or time into owning a cat. This video is helpful, thank you. I'm not interested in these automatic boxes myself, but it's useful to know these things for potential cat adopters and making compromises to just find a home for the many cats that need one.
I trained my cat to use a toilet but moved to an RV for a while and didn't want to keep the bathroom door opened all the time so I put down two litter boxes without litter in them and he went in there and I clean it after every use, every time. I'm not gone for more than 6-7 hours 3 days a week. No problems and have been doing this for years! Thanks HVV. You taught me I could squish a cat and it was a game changer!
In a Multi-Cat household, the automatic litter box is a game changer. I have three cats so that worked out to four litter boxes. The problem with scooping is you just can't get to them on time. One cat would go... then the next cat would scratch and spread the dirt around..... Jump to the next litter box... do the deed and this cycle would rinse and repeat. I purchased a Litter Robot 4 and it was a game changer. So much more pleasant for the cats. The unit cost a pretty penny, but I save a ton of money on litter. With the old litter boxes I would have to change out all of the litter every two to three weeks (2 of the large boxes) for the four trays. With the litter robot you just keep topping it up and because it is constantly cleaning the litter is never as dirty and only change the litter completely when the unit needs cleaning. In the time I would you 6 boxes with the old trays, I would only use 2 boxes with the Litter Robot. At $28.00 a box that is a lot of saved money and a lot less waste. Cheers from a massive Cat Daddy!
My two senior cats hate anything that is covered and one is a high pee girl so I finally got the high litter box with the opening in the middle. I saw that Claire Luv Cat has these types of boxes for her ten cats, yes 10. And my fur girls get their boxes, I have two big litter boxes, they are cleaned morning and evening, they always leave something in the box on both occasions so I know that they are going to the bathroom normally and with regularity. I must tell you Dr. Uri that Mr. Pirate has the most beautiful penetrating eyes and I know now why you could never give up this precious kitty, with those precious eyes looking at me from your vlog, I'm hypnotized! Bless you Mr. Pirate and Clawdia and let's not forget the amazing Sir Lancelot at your clinic. And a big thank you for all that you do Dr. Uri, you are simply amazing.👏👏👏👏Take a bow.👍😻
The automatic litter box I show in the video is uncovered, so best of both worlds! Its called the scoopfree. They sponsored a video once and I kept the sample since it worked so welll for me www.petsafe.com/shop/cat/litter-boxes-and-litter/
@@HelpfulVancouverVetOf course I was so mesmorized by Mr. Pirate's eyes that I missed the most important part of the scoop free litter box information!🤣😹
With our schedules working long hours, we were never able to scoop right after our cats went. Our cats were never picky but I knew they deserved better. We FINALLY caved and got a litter robot even though it was SO expensive, it has been life changing for us and our cats seem so happy now!!! Worth every single penny.
Twenty years ago I bought a Litter Robot for my kitten because he *never* buried anything which stunk up the house and he refused to use a litter box that wasn't perfectly clean. The Litter Robot solved both those problems.
So glad to see Mr Pirate 😊 I wonder why people fuss about litter box, it isn't such a hassle. Smells depend greatly of the cat : a few years ago, I had a cat who dropped "atomic poop" 😮😂
i wont lie, the sponsorship being on this video does kinda rub me the wrong way, but youve more than established yourself as a trustworthy source by now in my mind, so to me it doesnt undermine the message. i really appreciate the nuance to your take, in particular the acknowledgement of accessibility. jackson galaxy did a video on automatic litterboxes a while back in which he was entirely black and white in his opinion that automatic boxes are ALWAYS a bad thing, and it really bothered me. im still more of a fan of traditional boxes, but i absolutely think automatic boxes can be a huge game changer for many people without compromising the cat's health and comfort! i do think its also worth mentioning the potential issues some models can pose in a multi-cat household though: many of them are enclosed/covered, and some cats may use this as an opportunity to ambush their housemates as they exit the box, potentially causing behavioral issues such as avoiding the box altogether. im of the opinion that boxes without a cover should be preferred in general, as the cat is less likely to feel "trapped" while using it, as well as how a covered box may encourage less confident cats to hide inside of it out of desperation to surround themselves with their own scent (my former feral kitten had this tendency early in life but, thankfully, has long since abandoned it), but, again, its not a black-and-white issue. i also personally prefer the awareness of the condition/consistency of my cats stool that i get from manually scooping, as my dude has SEVERE chronic constipation (he's been on lactulose and cisapride for years, and he's been doing very well thankfully), but MAN are some of these automatic boxes advanced in their capabilities to monitor health nowadays. they just can be pretty pricey to purchase/maintain, even with discounts, so im not sure its worth the investment for me (well below the poverty line; reliant on financial aid). anyhoo, as usual, i appreciate the nuance and knowledge with which you approach these topics. it's a breath of fresh air in the era of online misinfo (shoutout to "whisker fatigue." i find myself sending your video on that to folks CONSTANTLY). thanks for all you do!
Awww Mr. Pirate! he's so stinking cute! Call me old fashioned but I don't mind the traditional litter box. My two boys are older and I would rather clean it myself that way I can monitor for any pee/poo changes. I scoop it out every day
When I'm home, I absolutely do scoop my girls' litter box each time she uses it. My thinking is, poop and pee wouldn't be left sitting in my toilet, so she deserves the same consideration 🐱 I'd greatly appreciate input about toilet training a cat.
I've tried many different automatic litter boxes, and my cats always find ways to defeat them. I think it's just the particular cats, not a design flaw. The Omega Paw rolling litterbox has been the best solution in my household. It's non-motorized and easy to clean, so I can clean it multiple times a day. It basically does the same thing as the motorized version you demonstrated here, except the owner has to tip and roll the box to separate the waste from the clean litter. Pull out the drawer and empty the contents into a bag (or if your home has access to a sewer system and you use flushable litter, send it down the drain). Omega Paw is a Canadian company, too! Also, the cost is far more reasonable if you cannot afford a motorized litterbox.
I have two Litter Robot 3s and I love them. So do the cats. They will complain if one stops working (because its full), gotta have a nice clean place to poop. XD One of them is like clawdia and will watch it spin for entertainment. Ive tried a bunch of other ones and had a lot of problems with them. Used teh petsafe simply clean for years but required regular maintenance/replacement. The LR3s have been very low maintenance and pretty much problem free in the years ive had them. Expensive, but in the end worth it for me. I had 4 cats when I bit the bullet and bought my first LR3.
I'm happy to see your videos, including Claudia being a good friend to Mr. Pirate. We have two litterbox locations for our two feral-rescues (coming around somewhat after over a year), but one of them is in our home gym. I'm wondering if an automated litterbox up there would help with odor control in a space where the humans are moving a lot of air through their noses. Good stuff, doc. Thanks for what you do!
I have two traditional but covered litter boxes for two cats - scooped daily. I'd be a bit worried about them adjusting to an automatic machine and they are pricey. It is so important for them to have a clean place to use.
We have two litter robot 4s and they're really amazing! I don't like fully enclosed boxes since I'm worried about dust, but mine is enclosed enough, it's got a light at night for the cats to see, I could attach a camera if I wanted to watch them go, and it's good at collecting data about when ny cats like to go so I can be aware of when they might feel like going (I have a cat that had frequently not wanted to go in a box and instead elsewhere, but stopped having as many accidents once we got this and I learned her patterns)
Love this! Could you (or any commenters who want to chime in to help) do a video of the best fountain? My cat loves them but i feel like it gets mold/algae super fast within days and scrubbing it all is a giant pain. Is there a metal one or anything that stays clean, or at least stays clean longer.
I have 5 litter boxes, and scoop twice a day or when I smell a bomb. I clean them in the yard with a hose. Auto boxes still need cleaning every week or so. Cleaning them seems to be a huge pain. I'll stick with old school.
Our cat is very hard to leave alone because if there is poop in her litterboxes she quickly makes her way to pee on the bed so this sounds like a great idea!
Oh goodness, I feel for you! 😭😂 my baby girl does the same thing if her litter isn’t 100% clean so I’ve been keeping on top of it and she’s improving every day. Fussy little babies!! 😂❤
I bought a LitterRobot when I developed a severe neurological condition that meant my physical coordination was shot. Squatting was likely to lead to a fall, and my hands were shaky and spasmodic so I was throwing used litter around. I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to keep my cats until a friend recommended an automatic box. It saved my life, and the cats love it. I didn’t turn it on for the first day, just set it up, filled the litter area and put it beside the old box. I was obviously at home so I was able to scoop each time one of them used it. The second day, I turned it on to manual rotation, so I controlled when it moved. I waited until the cat had been out of the box for at least 10 minutes and then ran it so they saw and heard it, but it wasn’t near enough in time or space to them at a vulnerable moment. Very curious but not alarmed. Third day, just set it on auto and we were all happy. If you have a cat whose elimination needs to be monitored, there’s nothing stopping you inspecting the container with the waste in it as often as you need, but cats who are having pain when eliminating and are getting the medical care they need are especially grateful for a clean place.
Honestly I'm a bit disappointed that cost is never mentioned neither in the sponsorship, nor in the actual advice portion of the negatives. I'm aware there are cheaper models out there, nonetheless most are a luxury good. Since this video is about this one: Not everyone got 600 bucks to spend. Depending on a cat's needs and health conditions this is what a whole year or longer with their beloved feline would set them back. I just wish the sponsored part and the actual part where we can hear you talking about automatic litterboxes would be more separated or it should be entirely two videos, one like this, one comparing different (automatic) litterboxes and what might be right for which cat. Because as with most shopping, there is a lot out there! And it's very overwhelming so I'm sure people would appreciate some guidance from a professional. Thank you for reading and thank you for being amazing yourself and the content you make!
For anyone in the comments thinking about actually getting an automatic litter box, I highly recommend the series of reviews done by the channel One Man Five Cats. He did a TON of testing of a huge range of litter boxes with his many cats and documented his results on youtube. The PetSnowy was one of the boxes he covered in his last video on the subject. Personally, I would have safety concerns with the PetSnowy. It rotates so that the entrance/exit to the litter box gets completely cut off. If a sensor fails to detect a cat's presence, they could be really seriously hurt. I have a Litter Robot, which rotates in a way that a cat can always escape, even if a sensor fails and the box starts cycling with a cat inside.
Thank you for offering Dear Mr.Pirate even two floor lever classical, walk in litter boxes to choose. ♥️ I discarded also the top entry litter box from now 14 years old seniour cat. He's happy to just walk into the litter and to scoop it away from the box..
I never had one, but I never found that I needed it. I just kept it in the bathroom next to my "litter box" and when I was sitting on that, I would reach over and scoop the cats' box. Kept a very small trash can there with a lid and little plastic bags, and when it was full, I'd empty that. Now, I never had kids, so that might have made it easier for me, but I really never, ever found litter boxes a problem at all. They're like doing dishes -- if you keep on top of it a little at a time, it's a very small job. It's only if you let it get away from you that it becomes a giant hassle.
Since we use the PeeWee pellets it literally doesn’t smell when our cats pee, and barely a whiff when they poop. But good kids as they are, they come up to us and tell us😂 meow meooow, go scoop servant😂 Ah. Love them to pieces❤
As the Helpful Vancouver Vet wrote, the general rule for litter boxes is number of cats plus 1. When we had 1 cat, as beginners, we provided her with 2 litter boxes. After she passed away, we adopted 2 litter mates who had shared everything in kitten hood, so we tried 2 litter boxes for 2 cats, and that has worked out well for all; but we were vigilant in observation in the early days. My neighbor had 5 cats for a short while and 4 cats for quite a while; they shared 2 litter boxes with no signs of stress or anxiety (we did cat sitting for them), but I think that situation was extreme, and I would never recommend it.
I have an Omega paw rolling box. I am disabled so it makes it easy to clean. I can't afford one of the automatic ones and don't really want one. I can see what she is producing especially as she is older. The only issue is she is older and some days arthritis makes it too hard to squat and if she is pointed wrong she goes right through the door but paper towels fix that.
Awww, that is so sweet! Yeah, cat buts hanging over the side is a common issue when you are dealing with older kitties... or Clawdia, her whole life. One day I'll post a picture of her squatting on the edge of a litter box, like a mountain goat. She's been doing that her whole life! Little weirdo.
@@HelpfulVancouverVet thank you! Ya my girl is 16 and arthritis is making her hocks constantly swollen. She gets gabapentin 100 mg twice a day for pain and a steroid to try to control the swelling. She is my diabetic alert cat and has saved my life anything and everything I can do for her now she has earned a hundred times over.
The automatic litter box works well for us! The cats always use the robot over the other boxes. One of my cats takes dust baths in the litter, so I want to make sure it's clean for him. I worried about missing something, but caught the kitten's bloody diarrhea within a day (she's fine now, thanks panacur! also "kitten" = 10mos, big enough for the robot).
I cleaned my cats litter box for 3 years happily. He was okay with me scooping in the morning and at night. Enter my new kitty: Bonney. Bonney uses the litter box much more frequently than my boy cat. I was checking the box basically any time I went to the bathroom to make sure it was clean. If it was not and Bonney had to poop she would do it on the carpet outside the litterbox. I finally caved and got a more high end litterbox that tracks usage throughout the day. No longer do I have to come home from work to see a surprise in front of the bathroom door. I have run into a new problem recently though where my cats want to use the litter box at the same time. When this happens Bonney will now poop on my shower mat. I'm considering putting out a second box but we'll see.
Yeah, cats don't que up. That's why you always want to have at least the same number of litter boxes as cats. Traditionally its been n+1 but with an automated litter box I think you could get away with just n.
@@HelpfulVancouverVet if you had 5 cats would you need 7 litter boxes? I would think maybe 4 would be enough since it's unlikely all 5 cats would want to use a box at the same time?
@@SomeoneBeginingWithII believe the rule of thumb is one litter box per cat. Plus one extra. It’s not about queuing up. It’s more about the cats’ ownership and having their scent on /in their own litter box.
@@The_Smith I use a non-clumping crystal litter in my automatic litter box! I find that it lets the box run a lot longer without interference than clumping litter, since the clumping litter would fill up the trash can so fast. It wouldn't actually get FULL of the clumping litter, it would just be piled up in the center so that I needed to shake out the box to flatten it and get it running again. With the crystal litter, it doesn't pile up nearly so much and the auto-box just works! Plus with the automatic box, it's really easy to completely replace all of the crystal litter when it needs to be changed out.
Thanks for this video. I have a 13 year old Maine Coon, and I'm trying to find a good automatic litter, but Aslan's size is an issue. Hoping to learn about some possible options within our price-point for him.
Our cat has big anxiety but giving meds is more stressful than not giving meds. Any closed litter box is a no because someone walking past will spook it and it won’t use it again. If it is open and makes noise or moves even once while it’s using it or looking at it, it will not use it again.. 😅 We know the level of anxiety by how viciously it bites the slippers, or if it’s really bad if we can’t find it and it’s under the bed. If we just keep the normal open litter box, don’t try to get it to eat new food and it’s not raining or storming it’s not biting the shoes often. If we do any of those it can spend hours biting the shoes. We keep the shoes where it can reach them as anxiety meter 😂 (it’s safe nothing comes loose from the shoes and it has been biting them for 3 years now)
You should really get a feliway plugin for the room in which your skittish cat likes to hang out and check out this site indoorpet.osu.edu/cats for ideas how to enrich your home to help your kitty relax. This won't fix all feline anxiety problems, but its a good first step that will help a lot of cats like yours!
my vet gave me capsules of powdered gabapentin that i mix with a little bit of wet food or squeezy treat to give to my cat, and she eats it like it's a treat. maybe your cat would respond better to that? having a cat that is anxious is no fun for anyone, least of all the cat
I remember when we had an automatic litterbox, the cat would set it off on purpose just because she liked watching it. Unfortunately it broke. But on a similar subject, maybe you could talk about different litter types? I personally get nervous using clay litter because I don't want my cat licking it. So I use one made organically from walnut shells.
I have found a camera on the automatic litterbox is great for tracking individual cats! I use a Blink camera but I'm sure any that can record which cat is using it and when would be perfect
Do you HAVE to use the companion app to control the litter box (even if it is just the initial one-time setup) or can it be used completely by itself the moment you take it out of its packaging?
I have a Litter Robot that I have never set up the app for. It might vary depending on the brand of box you get, but they definitely don't all require you to connect with the app
I have no issue keeping up with it, but I have had cats my whole life so keeping a litter box clean is up there with making sure I have toilet paper. My issue with these auto cleaners is that they’re so expensive. I rather spend my money on raw food. Also I doubt they’ll work with the pellet style litter I use now. It’s clumping but large.
How do these deal with a cat peeing a very large amount in one go? We have one that is almost 20, she doesn't like to move around much if she doesn't have to, so she tends to hold it as long as possible. The litters we've tried are often not up to the task. Rather than absorbing or clumping, sometimes it turns to something more like mud.
I wish my cat would use an automatic litter box I have one who is very skittish, any noise, anything different, anything at all causes him to run under the bed or run under the covers to hide. His brother is brave and can handle everything but the skittish cat will not use an automatic litter box. We have a very large litter box, it was a sterilite box that we made into a very big litter box so he would have lots of room and feel comfortable. I scoop it two or three times a day, my husband says you only have to scoop it twice a day but I will go in there every time they use it and he says that's ridiculous and I say it's not!
You should really get a feliway plugin for the room in which your skittish cat likes to hang out and check out this site indoorpet.osu.edu/cats for ideas how to enrich your home to help your kitty relax. Good luck!
@@HelpfulVancouverVet I have one. Can I set up a consultation with you? Please? I have questions that our local vet does not answer. I would love to get some real help from you because my husband is getting increasingly frustrated.
My two cats have a gigantic litterbox (2x1 cat length) and a normal one. When the gigantic one is full, the cats stop hiding their poop and that is when I clean them. Once a week.
Hi Uri (you’re… amazing) Can you help with a question? Why do some cats get extremely excited by violin playing (possibly specifically bad beginner violin playing). One of my cats gets so purry and rubs against me and tries to rub against the violin. I checked online and some other people have experienced the exact same behaviour. Why - do you have any comments on this?
If they wanted a clean litterbox, how do you explain this phenomenon... My boys, little pooping machines. Lots of metabolic byproducts for such small creatures. (I loved that by the way) There's 3 litterboxes side by side, I scoop daily. Many times they will primarily use only one of them per day. They don't go to one of the cleaner ones. Or sometimes they will pee in one and poo in another. Very bizarre. They don't always commit to the first one they get to either. They'll hop on over to the dirtier box. And one of my boys will occasionally pick a litter box that hasn't been used yet for the day then leave a large pile of metabolic byproducts and then leave it sitting there without burying it.
Non clumping litter changed my life. Urine sinks to the bottom and you just scoop solids once in awhile. The "trick" is to use a lot of litter and the smell at the bottom can't get out. Change and wash the whole thing ever 2 weeks.
What is wrong with Mr. Pirate's eyes? My cat's left eye has started to show random dots as well, and they have been slowly growing over the last 2 years. Nowadays I can count 6 very distinct orange blotches in it. I have also searched the web after pictures and saw some cats who have eyes completely taken over by this rugged pattern, just as Mr. Pirate there, but I don't know if I should be worried about it or not. Any help?
I can't concentrate... From the beginning of the video my attention was drawn by the movement behind the couch on the right side. Waiting for a guest starring in the vid 😂
Am I the only one who thought scooping once a week was the norm? This is the first time I have ever heard that their litter box needs to be scooped every time they use it. I'm going to consult my vet.
that’s what they put in the litter boxes instructions, yes. But I think they do it just to inflate how much their litter “lasts”. From other owners, the litter box should be cleaned at least daily, and according to my cat, at least every time she poops 🤭
I am not judging you, but my observation has been that the most contented cats and attentive, informed caregivers scoop once or twice a day. In my household, I scoop the litter boxes once per day, but we check them at least two other times.
One issue I have about automatic litter boxes, is that it's expensive, and I have no way to know if my cat would like it. I have two litter boxes, cleaned every day. My cat mostly uses one, but sometimes uses the second one.
I am not a huge fan of automatic litter boxes because they make it much harder to track changes in your cat’s waste. Since my cat was diagnosed with IBD this is something I watch daily. Manual scooping is part of how I do this.
I thought from a psychological standpoint, it's not good to have a covered litter box because the cat is not able to see its environment (and whether there are "threats" out there)?
My problem is that one of my cats has colitis and often has deeply unpleasant runny output - I have a vision of finding an automatic litterbox smeared from top to bottom as it rolls around. I would love to know the reality of this before spending a lot of cash on one.
For everyone who noticed: I do talk about blocked cats twice. My video editor has a new baby, and I have a 2 year old so you know... 🤷
It's important enough to mention twice though!
Better to accidentally get important information twice than not at all. Thanks for everything you and your editor do, it makes learning how to look after my void boy as he ages a lot easier and less stressful than combing through forums with dubious advice.
I very much appreciate your videos , Dr Yuri. I have new orange boy and he’s keeping me on my toes lol
It’s great to see you again! The cat who chose me at the local pound ended up needing a large litter box. The standard size cramped her style ;-) Congrats on your “newest family member!”
I love that you are so balanced in your advice doc. Not black and white, putting the animals health first, but also finding ways and alternatives for people with lets say severe backpain. Thank you!😺
(P.S. I still hope for a video on raw food. I don’t feed raw, but it seems to be a lot of confusion on that…)
I wish I had known BEFORE it happened to one of mine! Mentioning it MORE than twice would be fine with me. I am on a crusade to tell people about it ever since my Cheeto got blocked. 3 years post op for PU surgery and doing AMAZING so far, touch wood. When people have told me I need a robotic litterbox, I tell them I will never EVER own one of those, I obsessively monitor my cats litterbox habits now and a robotic one would make that far more difficult to do.
My cat came from a home where the litter box was left disgusting and un-scooped for weeks at a time. When we adopted her, we made sure to scoop once a day and now we scoop every time she uses it. It's incredible how much happier she is. She's such a good cat and remained a good cat despite the horrors she went through with previous owners. People always blame cats for bad behavior, but it's always the owner who should realize it's their doing. Just like you can't blame kids for bad parenting.
-my lil furbabies-
-my kids have paws-
Because we are pensioners, our cat's LITTER BOX is cleaned the minute he used it.
Wenn we both were working fulltime, our two cats always had a box each and it was cleaned the minute we got home.
We couldn't have left it dirty. Poor cats, which have to use dirty litter boxes.
-my lil furbabies as well ... !-
I once cat sit for a household that had cockroaches crawling out of the litter box. The owner told me it was fine for me not to scoop, he would just come back and change the whole liner + litter when he was back… I honestly can’t imagine a litter box unscooped for weeks…..
@@cottonchua2598
when we lived in the UK , a neighbour looked after our moggies for a week.
I showed her the two LITTER trays ( 2 cats).
Although I explained her , they NEVER DO THEIR PEES AND POOS outside, they were used to it, before they became outdoor cats, the two LITTER trays were completely full. My poor moggies.😧🐈🐈😢
Mr Pirate makes a welcome appearance!
Pirate is such a beautiful illustration of the saying: "You may have many Cats in your Life, but to your Cat you are its entire life."
Got a Litter Robot years ago, then when I moved I left the first one at mom's and bought one for my new place so when my kitty stays with grandma, she doesn't have to scoop either. Regardless of the brand of automatic litterbox you get, it's SO helpful. I'm a healthcare professional who works full time and between the automatic feeder, the fountain, and the box, I never have to worry about my cat's basic needs when I'm working late. I can focus on giving him snuggles and playtime when I'm here! I can take care of his tech on my off days, and once everything is clean, shiny, and empty/full as appropriate, he's set for the week!
Adopting my first cat ever today! Two kittens actually. I used to watch your videos from the very early days and am excited to re-watch them in this upcoming journey. This automatic litter box certainly sounds super useful, will be considering it for future use!
Welcome to cat world.#1 rule: Never yell or ever spank your kitty; they don't know what they're doing.
Congratulations, naked snake!!! You will fall in love very quickly. They're the best companions ever! Also, with great care, lots of love, they live long, happy lives. Best being 100 percent indoors 🐱.
-or ever use squirt bottles on them !-
-greetings from my lil furbabies-
I just got a manual sifter from Amazon called SiftEase. So far I really like it - it basically allows you to sift very large amounts of litter at once.
That is awesome!
My cats have their litterboxes in my bedroom (shared rental and nowhere else they can go) so keeping the boxes clean is essential for both them and me!
-cheers ! from my lil furbabies-
I got a Litter Robot for our one cat and he used it no problem. When we brought in a second cat (former stray) we didn’t expect her to take to it for a while and let her keep using a regular one. She eventually started using the automatic one voluntarily! She’s still a little suspicious of it when it cycles, but I think she really likes that it removes her icky brother’s stink right away 😂
As someone with a chronic illness, the automatic box makes me feel sooo much better knowing that the box is always clean for my kiddos. I wouldn’t want them to suffer just because I’m not feeling well!
I have 4 cats and they love their automatic litter boxes! Truly can’t recommend it enough it was a game changer for us!
Literally have them in the living room and can’t smell anything🎉
Which one do you have?
@@GiftSparks I personally have the litter robot 3 from whisker. They have a model 4 now that’s more advanced
I’ve had it for 2 years now and never had a problem with 4 cats using it.
I can only speak from my experience with that brand but I’ve heard about many other automatic litter boxes now that are equally as good as the one from whisker so I’d definitely recommend looking around :)
OK I'm so glad to still see Mr. Pirate doing so well 🥰
One of my cats will complain at me if I don't clean up the litter box right after it was used or right before she wants to use it so I have been trained pretty well 😂
I grew up scooping one litter box once a day - it's good to learn that while that might've been sufficient for our single cat back then, it's definitely NOT sufficient for more than one cat! Over the years I've had inside cats and barn cats, cats that wanted to be outside on nice days and inside the rest of the time, and so forth. Automatic litter boxes were far beyond what our family could generally afford (and underwhelming in performance with the one model we did try out: but that was over 20 years ago now). It's great knowing that tech has gotten this much better, especially given some of the confusing ads that I've seen recently.
So glad monitoring was brought up. Cleaning up regularly is a very important point - the automatic is cleaner than a messy standard box. It sounds like putting some tape on a bigger problem of not investing as much space or time into owning a cat.
This video is helpful, thank you. I'm not interested in these automatic boxes myself, but it's useful to know these things for potential cat adopters and making compromises to just find a home for the many cats that need one.
Mr. Pirate has wonderful eyes.
I trained my cat to use a toilet but moved to an RV for a while and didn't want to keep the bathroom door opened all the time so I put down two litter boxes without litter in them and he went in there and I clean it after every use, every time. I'm not gone for more than 6-7 hours 3 days a week. No problems and have been doing this for years!
Thanks HVV. You taught me I could squish a cat and it was a game changer!
-litter boxes are a must !-
-toilet training ?- 🙀
🤗
he's so lovely and calm
In a Multi-Cat household, the automatic litter box is a game changer. I have three cats so that worked out to four litter boxes. The problem with scooping is you just can't get to them on time. One cat would go... then the next cat would scratch and spread the dirt around..... Jump to the next litter box... do the deed and this cycle would rinse and repeat. I purchased a Litter Robot 4 and it was a game changer. So much more pleasant for the cats. The unit cost a pretty penny, but I save a ton of money on litter. With the old litter boxes I would have to change out all of the litter every two to three weeks (2 of the large boxes) for the four trays. With the litter robot you just keep topping it up and because it is constantly cleaning the litter is never as dirty and only change the litter completely when the unit needs cleaning. In the time I would you 6 boxes with the old trays, I would only use 2 boxes with the Litter Robot. At $28.00 a box that is a lot of saved money and a lot less waste. Cheers from a massive Cat Daddy!
I am so happy to see Mr Pirate!!! ❤
My two senior cats hate anything that is covered and one is a high pee girl so I finally got the high litter box with the opening in the middle. I saw that Claire Luv Cat has these types of boxes for her ten cats, yes 10. And my fur girls get their boxes, I have two big litter boxes, they are cleaned morning and evening, they always leave something in the box on both occasions so I know that they are going to the bathroom normally and with regularity. I must tell you Dr. Uri that Mr. Pirate has the most beautiful penetrating eyes and I know now why you could never give up this precious kitty, with those precious eyes looking at me from your vlog, I'm hypnotized! Bless you Mr. Pirate and Clawdia and let's not forget the amazing Sir Lancelot at your clinic. And a big thank you for all that you do Dr. Uri, you are simply amazing.👏👏👏👏Take a bow.👍😻
The automatic litter box I show in the video is uncovered, so best of both worlds! Its called the scoopfree. They sponsored a video once and I kept the sample since it worked so welll for me www.petsafe.com/shop/cat/litter-boxes-and-litter/
@@HelpfulVancouverVetOf course I was so mesmorized by Mr. Pirate's eyes that I missed the most important part of the scoop free litter box information!🤣😹
With our schedules working long hours, we were never able to scoop right after our cats went. Our cats were never picky but I knew they deserved better. We FINALLY caved and got a litter robot even though it was SO expensive, it has been life changing for us and our cats seem so happy now!!! Worth every single penny.
Great information, wish they weren't so expensive. So for me keeping her boxes clean at least once or twice a day is best. Thankyou
Twenty years ago I bought a Litter Robot for my kitten because he *never* buried anything which stunk up the house and he refused to use a litter box that wasn't perfectly clean. The Litter Robot solved both those problems.
You may not have enough litter in it
@@daylehudson6810 The two boxes were always filled to the "FILL" line.
It’s always so great to see Mr Pirate. He’s such a loving little skrunkly old man❤
Been debating over one of these for a while now, this video is quite timely!
If you want an extensive review of the main litter boxes on the market check out "one man five cats"
So glad to see Mr Pirate 😊 I wonder why people fuss about litter box, it isn't such a hassle. Smells depend greatly of the cat : a few years ago, I had a cat who dropped "atomic poop" 😮😂
😂😂😂😂
If you look closely you can see the cat is actually speaking through him
Now that you mention it!
i wont lie, the sponsorship being on this video does kinda rub me the wrong way, but youve more than established yourself as a trustworthy source by now in my mind, so to me it doesnt undermine the message.
i really appreciate the nuance to your take, in particular the acknowledgement of accessibility. jackson galaxy did a video on automatic litterboxes a while back in which he was entirely black and white in his opinion that automatic boxes are ALWAYS a bad thing, and it really bothered me. im still more of a fan of traditional boxes, but i absolutely think automatic boxes can be a huge game changer for many people without compromising the cat's health and comfort!
i do think its also worth mentioning the potential issues some models can pose in a multi-cat household though: many of them are enclosed/covered, and some cats may use this as an opportunity to ambush their housemates as they exit the box, potentially causing behavioral issues such as avoiding the box altogether. im of the opinion that boxes without a cover should be preferred in general, as the cat is less likely to feel "trapped" while using it, as well as how a covered box may encourage less confident cats to hide inside of it out of desperation to surround themselves with their own scent (my former feral kitten had this tendency early in life but, thankfully, has long since abandoned it), but, again, its not a black-and-white issue.
i also personally prefer the awareness of the condition/consistency of my cats stool that i get from manually scooping, as my dude has SEVERE chronic constipation (he's been on lactulose and cisapride for years, and he's been doing very well thankfully), but MAN are some of these automatic boxes advanced in their capabilities to monitor health nowadays. they just can be pretty pricey to purchase/maintain, even with discounts, so im not sure its worth the investment for me (well below the poverty line; reliant on financial aid).
anyhoo, as usual, i appreciate the nuance and knowledge with which you approach these topics. it's a breath of fresh air in the era of online misinfo (shoutout to "whisker fatigue." i find myself sending your video on that to folks CONSTANTLY). thanks for all you do!
Awww Mr. Pirate! he's so stinking cute!
Call me old fashioned but I don't mind the traditional litter box. My two boys are older and I would rather clean it myself that way I can monitor for any pee/poo changes. I scoop it out every day
When I'm home, I absolutely do scoop my girls' litter box each time she uses it. My thinking is, poop and pee wouldn't be left sitting in my toilet, so she deserves the same consideration 🐱
I'd greatly appreciate input about toilet training a cat.
Yes!
-they need to scratch-
-in a litter box ...-
I've tried many different automatic litter boxes, and my cats always find ways to defeat them. I think it's just the particular cats, not a design flaw.
The Omega Paw rolling litterbox has been the best solution in my household. It's non-motorized and easy to clean, so I can clean it multiple times a day. It basically does the same thing as the motorized version you demonstrated here, except the owner has to tip and roll the box to separate the waste from the clean litter. Pull out the drawer and empty the contents into a bag (or if your home has access to a sewer system and you use flushable litter, send it down the drain). Omega Paw is a Canadian company, too! Also, the cost is far more reasonable if you cannot afford a motorized litterbox.
-my lil furbabies wont-
-use them either ...-
Oh I have an omega box too! I love it it make clean up easy.
I clean the boxes once a day. It's good exercise for me
I don't have a cat, but honestly, I've dreamed about it, and these videos are helpful. Today I learned you are supposed to clean it every time...
-greetings from-
-my lil furbabies !-
I have two Litter Robot 3s and I love them. So do the cats. They will complain if one stops working (because its full), gotta have a nice clean place to poop. XD One of them is like clawdia and will watch it spin for entertainment. Ive tried a bunch of other ones and had a lot of problems with them. Used teh petsafe simply clean for years but required regular maintenance/replacement. The LR3s have been very low maintenance and pretty much problem free in the years ive had them. Expensive, but in the end worth it for me. I had 4 cats when I bit the bullet and bought my first LR3.
I am just glad to see Mr. Pirate again, it has been eons.
Was there ever a more contented cat than Mr Pirate? ❤
I love your videos! They are so helpful for everyone ❤
If I’m being honest, I clicked on the video because of Mr. pirate and not about automatic litter boxes ❤️
I'm happy to see your videos, including Claudia being a good friend to Mr. Pirate. We have two litterbox locations for our two feral-rescues (coming around somewhat after over a year), but one of them is in our home gym. I'm wondering if an automated litterbox up there would help with odor control in a space where the humans are moving a lot of air through their noses.
Good stuff, doc. Thanks for what you do!
I have two adult cats. You have to scoop the litter box often at least three to four times a day.
I have two traditional but covered litter boxes for two cats - scooped daily. I'd be a bit worried about them adjusting to an automatic machine and they are pricey. It is so important for them to have a clean place to use.
-my lil furbabies wont use them-
-they use the plain uncovered-
-boxes that are changed every day-
I can't believe how clean your furniture is. Can you please make a video on that too
I scoop two litter trays times three times a day, I've been interested if auto-boxes actually work so this is very interesting thanks.
Interesting. Thanks
We have two litter robot 4s and they're really amazing! I don't like fully enclosed boxes since I'm worried about dust, but mine is enclosed enough, it's got a light at night for the cats to see, I could attach a camera if I wanted to watch them go, and it's good at collecting data about when ny cats like to go so I can be aware of when they might feel like going (I have a cat that had frequently not wanted to go in a box and instead elsewhere, but stopped having as many accidents once we got this and I learned her patterns)
Love this! Could you (or any commenters who want to chime in to help) do a video of the best fountain? My cat loves them but i feel like it gets mold/algae super fast within days and scrubbing it all is a giant pain. Is there a metal one or anything that stays clean, or at least stays clean longer.
So true and funny! "There are 3 things most important to a cat, and none of them are you" 🐱. I think I'm #4 though. Lol.
Seeing Mr. Pirate is life changing for me
I have 5 litter boxes, and scoop twice a day or when I smell a bomb. I clean them in the yard with a hose. Auto boxes still need cleaning every week or so. Cleaning them seems to be a huge pain. I'll stick with old school.
Yes! I returned the litter robot for this reason. So much harder to clean.
Our cat is very hard to leave alone because if there is poop in her litterboxes she quickly makes her way to pee on the bed so this sounds like a great idea!
Yeah, that is a model case for getting an automated litter box!
Oh goodness, I feel for you! 😭😂 my baby girl does the same thing if her litter isn’t 100% clean so I’ve been keeping on top of it and she’s improving every day. Fussy little babies!! 😂❤
I want to get an automatic litterbox some day but the price is so prohibitive. Eventually, I suppose.
At the low low price of $975. I'll stick to scooping daily
I bought a LitterRobot when I developed a severe neurological condition that meant my physical coordination was shot. Squatting was likely to lead to a fall, and my hands were shaky and spasmodic so I was throwing used litter around. I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to keep my cats until a friend recommended an automatic box. It saved my life, and the cats love it.
I didn’t turn it on for the first day, just set it up, filled the litter area and put it beside the old box. I was obviously at home so I was able to scoop each time one of them used it. The second day, I turned it on to manual rotation, so I controlled when it moved. I waited until the cat had been out of the box for at least 10 minutes and then ran it so they saw and heard it, but it wasn’t near enough in time or space to them at a vulnerable moment. Very curious but not alarmed. Third day, just set it on auto and we were all happy.
If you have a cat whose elimination needs to be monitored, there’s nothing stopping you inspecting the container with the waste in it as often as you need, but cats who are having pain when eliminating and are getting the medical care they need are especially grateful for a clean place.
Honestly I'm a bit disappointed that cost is never mentioned neither in the sponsorship, nor in the actual advice portion of the negatives. I'm aware there are cheaper models out there, nonetheless most are a luxury good. Since this video is about this one: Not everyone got 600 bucks to spend. Depending on a cat's needs and health conditions this is what a whole year or longer with their beloved feline would set them back.
I just wish the sponsored part and the actual part where we can hear you talking about automatic litterboxes would be more separated or it should be entirely two videos, one like this, one comparing different (automatic) litterboxes and what might be right for which cat. Because as with most shopping, there is a lot out there! And it's very overwhelming so I'm sure people would appreciate some guidance from a professional.
Thank you for reading and thank you for being amazing yourself and the content you make!
I can tell your cats adore you. I like this video. 😊❤
We have 2 litter robots and there are issues that drive us crazy at times but overall we prefer them to traditional litter boxes.
For anyone in the comments thinking about actually getting an automatic litter box, I highly recommend the series of reviews done by the channel One Man Five Cats. He did a TON of testing of a huge range of litter boxes with his many cats and documented his results on youtube. The PetSnowy was one of the boxes he covered in his last video on the subject.
Personally, I would have safety concerns with the PetSnowy. It rotates so that the entrance/exit to the litter box gets completely cut off. If a sensor fails to detect a cat's presence, they could be really seriously hurt. I have a Litter Robot, which rotates in a way that a cat can always escape, even if a sensor fails and the box starts cycling with a cat inside.
If you don’t mind me asking what automatic litter box do you have
Thank you for offering Dear Mr.Pirate even two floor lever classical, walk in litter boxes to choose. ♥️
I discarded also the top entry litter box from now 14 years old seniour cat. He's happy to just walk into the litter and to scoop it away from the box..
i love your cats😭
I scoop box twice per day and clean out litter completely every 2 weeks
I never had one, but I never found that I needed it. I just kept it in the bathroom next to my "litter box" and when I was sitting on that, I would reach over and scoop the cats' box. Kept a very small trash can there with a lid and little plastic bags, and when it was full, I'd empty that. Now, I never had kids, so that might have made it easier for me, but I really never, ever found litter boxes a problem at all. They're like doing dishes -- if you keep on top of it a little at a time, it's a very small job. It's only if you let it get away from you that it becomes a giant hassle.
Since we use the PeeWee pellets it literally doesn’t smell when our cats pee, and barely a whiff when they poop. But good kids as they are, they come up to us and tell us😂 meow meooow, go scoop servant😂
Ah. Love them to pieces❤
I know the general rule is one litter box per cat. Is that the same with automatic ones?
It's actually number of cats+1.
I think om average, one auto. litterbox per 2 cats should be fine. You just need to change it a bit more often.
As the Helpful Vancouver Vet wrote, the general rule for litter boxes is number of cats plus 1. When we had 1 cat, as beginners, we provided her with 2 litter boxes. After she passed away, we adopted 2 litter mates who had shared everything in kitten hood, so we tried 2 litter boxes for 2 cats, and that has worked out well for all; but we were vigilant in observation in the early days. My neighbor had 5 cats for a short while and 4 cats for quite a while; they shared 2 litter boxes with no signs of stress or anxiety (we did cat sitting for them), but I think that situation was extreme, and I would never recommend it.
Hello Doc & Mr. Pirate ❤😊
I have an Omega paw rolling box. I am disabled so it makes it easy to clean. I can't afford one of the automatic ones and don't really want one. I can see what she is producing especially as she is older. The only issue is she is older and some days arthritis makes it too hard to squat and if she is pointed wrong she goes right through the door but paper towels fix that.
Awww, that is so sweet! Yeah, cat buts hanging over the side is a common issue when you are dealing with older kitties... or Clawdia, her whole life. One day I'll post a picture of her squatting on the edge of a litter box, like a mountain goat. She's been doing that her whole life! Little weirdo.
@@HelpfulVancouverVet thank you! Ya my girl is 16 and arthritis is making her hocks constantly swollen. She gets gabapentin 100 mg twice a day for pain and a steroid to try to control the swelling. She is my diabetic alert cat and has saved my life anything and everything I can do for her now she has earned a hundred times over.
The automatic litter box works well for us! The cats always use the robot over the other boxes. One of my cats takes dust baths in the litter, so I want to make sure it's clean for him. I worried about missing something, but caught the kitten's bloody diarrhea within a day (she's fine now, thanks panacur! also "kitten" = 10mos, big enough for the robot).
I cleaned my cats litter box for 3 years happily. He was okay with me scooping in the morning and at night. Enter my new kitty: Bonney. Bonney uses the litter box much more frequently than my boy cat. I was checking the box basically any time I went to the bathroom to make sure it was clean. If it was not and Bonney had to poop she would do it on the carpet outside the litterbox. I finally caved and got a more high end litterbox that tracks usage throughout the day. No longer do I have to come home from work to see a surprise in front of the bathroom door. I have run into a new problem recently though where my cats want to use the litter box at the same time. When this happens Bonney will now poop on my shower mat. I'm considering putting out a second box but we'll see.
Yeah, cats don't que up. That's why you always want to have at least the same number of litter boxes as cats. Traditionally its been n+1 but with an automated litter box I think you could get away with just n.
@@HelpfulVancouverVet if you had 5 cats would you need 7 litter boxes? I would think maybe 4 would be enough since it's unlikely all 5 cats would want to use a box at the same time?
@@SomeoneBeginingWithII believe the rule of thumb is one litter box per cat. Plus one extra.
It’s not about queuing up. It’s more about the cats’ ownership and having their scent on /in their own litter box.
@@skylady64ish93 that makes sense, thank you for explaining
do you have any videos on clumping vs non clumping litter? and your opinion on scented litter?
I do not, and I believe there is no medical issues with any of the above. Personal preference mate!
@@HelpfulVancouverVet Thankyou. Last time I picked up litter the clerk and I were wondering why anyone would use non clumping.
@@The_Smith I use a non-clumping crystal litter in my automatic litter box! I find that it lets the box run a lot longer without interference than clumping litter, since the clumping litter would fill up the trash can so fast. It wouldn't actually get FULL of the clumping litter, it would just be piled up in the center so that I needed to shake out the box to flatten it and get it running again. With the crystal litter, it doesn't pile up nearly so much and the auto-box just works! Plus with the automatic box, it's really easy to completely replace all of the crystal litter when it needs to be changed out.
ALL THE BEST
I hope your arm gets better soon - it better not be carpal tunnel issues in your operating hand; we absolutely cannot have that! 😬
Thanks for this video. I have a 13 year old Maine Coon, and I'm trying to find a good automatic litter, but Aslan's size is an issue. Hoping to learn about some possible options within our price-point for him.
I always fear my shy cat would fear a noisy litterbox.
Our cat has big anxiety but giving meds is more stressful than not giving meds. Any closed litter box is a no because someone walking past will spook it and it won’t use it again. If it is open and makes noise or moves even once while it’s using it or looking at it, it will not use it again.. 😅
We know the level of anxiety by how viciously it bites the slippers, or if it’s really bad if we can’t find it and it’s under the bed. If we just keep the normal open litter box, don’t try to get it to eat new food and it’s not raining or storming it’s not biting the shoes often. If we do any of those it can spend hours biting the shoes. We keep the shoes where it can reach them as anxiety meter 😂 (it’s safe nothing comes loose from the shoes and it has been biting them for 3 years now)
You should really get a feliway plugin for the room in which your skittish cat likes to hang out and check out this site indoorpet.osu.edu/cats for ideas how to enrich your home to help your kitty relax. This won't fix all feline anxiety problems, but its a good first step that will help a lot of cats like yours!
my vet gave me capsules of powdered gabapentin that i mix with a little bit of wet food or squeezy treat to give to my cat, and she eats it like it's a treat. maybe your cat would respond better to that? having a cat that is anxious is no fun for anyone, least of all the cat
Very entertaining, thank you
I remember when we had an automatic litterbox, the cat would set it off on purpose just because she liked watching it. Unfortunately it broke. But on a similar subject, maybe you could talk about different litter types? I personally get nervous using clay litter because I don't want my cat licking it. So I use one made organically from walnut shells.
Hello!
I miss your. videos!
I hope you and Mr. Pirate are doing well!
Mr. Pirate ❤❤❤❤❤❤
I have found a camera on the automatic litterbox is great for tracking individual cats! I use a Blink camera but I'm sure any that can record which cat is using it and when would be perfect
Could you please make a video about pancreatitis? Thank you so much!!
My cat will come and let me know that she just used the litter box...
What an amazing communicator!
I am very lucky that my 3 cats who have free access to the outdoors only use the litter box in winter when it is cold and wet.
Do you HAVE to use the companion app to control the litter box (even if it is just the initial one-time setup) or can it be used completely by itself the moment you take it out of its packaging?
I don't think you do.
I have a Litter Robot that I have never set up the app for. It might vary depending on the brand of box you get, but they definitely don't all require you to connect with the app
I would make an ASMR video with my cat if I had a voice like yours
I have no issue keeping up with it, but I have had cats my whole life so keeping a litter box clean is up there with making sure I have toilet paper. My issue with these auto cleaners is that they’re so expensive. I rather spend my money on raw food. Also I doubt they’ll work with the pellet style litter I use now. It’s clumping but large.
I love your choice of language: cats’ pee/poop a.k.a. nefarious activities resulting in metabolic bi-products. 😻😻
How do these deal with a cat peeing a very large amount in one go? We have one that is almost 20, she doesn't like to move around much if she doesn't have to, so she tends to hold it as long as possible. The litters we've tried are often not up to the task. Rather than absorbing or clumping, sometimes it turns to something more like mud.
OH, Very
good!
I wish my cat would use an automatic litter box I have one who is very skittish, any noise, anything different, anything at all causes him to run under the bed or run under the covers to hide. His brother is brave and can handle everything but the skittish cat will not use an automatic litter box.
We have a very large litter box, it was a sterilite box that we made into a very big litter box so he would have lots of room and feel comfortable. I scoop it two or three times a day, my husband says you only have to scoop it twice a day but I will go in there every time they use it and he says that's ridiculous and I say it's not!
You should really get a feliway plugin for the room in which your skittish cat likes to hang out and check out this site indoorpet.osu.edu/cats for ideas how to enrich your home to help your kitty relax. Good luck!
@@HelpfulVancouverVet I have one. Can I set up a consultation with you? Please? I have questions that our local vet does not answer. I would love to get some real help from you because my husband is getting increasingly frustrated.
My two cats have a gigantic litterbox (2x1 cat length) and a normal one. When the gigantic one is full, the cats stop hiding their poop and that is when I clean them. Once a week.
Hi Uri (you’re… amazing)
Can you help with a question?
Why do some cats get extremely excited by violin playing (possibly specifically bad beginner violin playing). One of my cats gets so purry and rubs against me and tries to rub against the violin. I checked online and some other people have experienced the exact same behaviour. Why - do you have any comments on this?
If they wanted a clean litterbox, how do you explain this phenomenon... My boys, little pooping machines. Lots of metabolic byproducts for such small creatures. (I loved that by the way) There's 3 litterboxes side by side, I scoop daily. Many times they will primarily use only one of them per day. They don't go to one of the cleaner ones. Or sometimes they will pee in one and poo in another. Very bizarre. They don't always commit to the first one they get to either. They'll hop on over to the dirtier box. And one of my boys will occasionally pick a litter box that hasn't been used yet for the day then leave a large pile of metabolic byproducts and then leave it sitting there without burying it.
Non clumping litter changed my life. Urine sinks to the bottom and you just scoop solids once in awhile. The "trick" is to use a lot of litter and the smell at the bottom can't get out. Change and wash the whole thing ever 2 weeks.
What is wrong with Mr. Pirate's eyes?
My cat's left eye has started to show random dots as well, and they have been slowly growing over the last 2 years. Nowadays I can count 6 very distinct orange blotches in it. I have also searched the web after pictures and saw some cats who have eyes completely taken over by this rugged pattern, just as Mr. Pirate there, but I don't know if I should be worried about it or not. Any help?
I can't concentrate... From the beginning of the video my attention was drawn by the movement behind the couch on the right side. Waiting for a guest starring in the vid 😂
Am I the only one who thought scooping once a week was the norm? This is the first time I have ever heard that their litter box needs to be scooped every time they use it. I'm going to consult my vet.
that’s what they put in the litter boxes instructions, yes. But I think they do it just to inflate how much their litter “lasts”. From other owners, the litter box should be cleaned at least daily, and according to my cat, at least every time she poops 🤭
I am not judging you, but my observation has been that the most contented cats and attentive, informed caregivers scoop once or twice a day. In my household, I scoop the litter boxes once per day, but we check them at least two other times.
One issue I have about automatic litter boxes, is that it's expensive, and I have no way to know if my cat would like it.
I have two litter boxes, cleaned every day. My cat mostly uses one, but sometimes uses the second one.
I am not a huge fan of automatic litter boxes because they make it much harder to track changes in your cat’s waste. Since my cat was diagnosed with IBD this is something I watch daily. Manual scooping is part of how I do this.
but can you use any bag?
I thought from a psychological standpoint, it's not good to have a covered litter box because the cat is not able to see its environment (and whether there are "threats" out there)?
My problem is that one of my cats has colitis and often has deeply unpleasant runny output - I have a vision of finding an automatic litterbox smeared from top to bottom as it rolls around. I would love to know the reality of this before spending a lot of cash on one.
Will it be too dark inside for cats to do their business?