Self Cleaning Litter Box?

[Aggie_Ama]

With a new puppy and an ever inquisitive 10 year old schnauzer the cat's litter box is a major problem for us. I try to clean it as soon as I let the dogs out of their kennels while they are pottying but it never fails Heidi drags out cat poop. Since Jens is still a puppy I am worried he will start to do or get sick off of Heidi's "treasure hunts". I try to notice if Tortilla has gone to the bathroom and scoop immediately but this is not a good solution. Do the self cleaning litter boxes work? I see fairly poor reviews on them but wonder if anyone has decent luck with them. My husband is about at his wits end with the dog dragging out cat feces!

[Biciclista]

can't you put the cat litter where the dogs can't go?

[westtexas]

Have you tried a top-entry box? It basically looks like a gray rubbermaid bin with a lid that has a large hole in the top. I bought one because my kitty is a super litter kicker and this has really helped with litter being tracked around the house as well as preventing other critters from snacking inside. It's not really any larger than a regular old box-style litter pan and I bought it fairly cheaply at PetsMart.

[Aggie_Ama]

How big is the entry? Tortilla is a massive cat, about 18 lbs.

[Blueberry]

Our dearly departed massive cat clogged the self cleaning box with regularity. We would have to get up at 3AM to unstick it.

We've had good luck with baby gates (cat jumpable, but not dog jumpable) or putting the litterbox in a corner with a barrier of some sort. Of course, IIRC you've had litter problems? If so, I'd worry about any changes (location, auto cleaning, etc.).

Hang in there!

[jessmarimba]

I keep the litter box in the laundry room - I think if I had a dog, I'd put a kitty door in the laundry room door and keep the room closed. But you might not be in a position to do something like that.

[Savra]

I have a self cleaner and LOVE it!! It does stick now and then though. It also doesn't keep the dogs out. The dogs are quick little suckers and smell it before I do. So, I use a baby gate as well.

[Aggie_Ama]

I worry about a baby gate because Tortilla is the least graceful cat that has ever existed. Seriously, I love her but she is a like a lumbering linebacker of a cat! She can clear the baby gate we use to kennel Heidi (her room is the laundry room) but I worry if I constantly am requiring it of her Tortilla won't like it. She is very particular, only likes one type of litter and very tidy box.

[oxysback]

I was going to suggest the type of gate that has a door small enough for the cat, but too small for the dog, however it sounds like your cat may be bigger than your dogs. I'm in the same boat, and Frankie the Pug luvs her some Kitty Roca. Hehe!

We have a baby gate blocking the laundry room, then a small "2 story" cat condo by the door so the cats can jump up on the condo, then step on the gate and jump down.

Here's a few pictures so you can see what I'm talking about...

Other than that, the top-entry box sounds like your best bet.

[GLC1968]

We just keep our litter box in a room with the door partially closed and blocked with the vacuum cleaner. One dog is afraid of pushing open partially closed doors and the other one is afraid of vacuums. The cat can just walk right in. Problem solved.

[Savra]

I do leave a opening in the baby gate for my cat. She is a lumbering waddle of a cat. My dog is slightly bigger than she is so it works.

[roadie gal]

Our cat box is in the laundry room. Luckily the door to the room was hung poorly and the door tends to swing open. So we put a security chain, like the ones on hotel room doors, on the laundry room door. It holds the door open about 6 inches, which lets the cats in, but not the dogs.

Sorry, I'm not help about the automatic cat box. With 2 cats it didn't seem feasible for us.

[westtexas]

How big is the entry? Tortilla is a massive cat, about 18 lbs.

The hole is pretty big. My boy is 13 lbs, but he is pretty lean. However, a much more rotund kitty could easily get through.

[smilingcat]

We use an extra large litter box with lids that snaps onto the bottom. Keeps the dog from being able to knock off the lid.

To keep the nosey dog from sticking his head into the box from the opening, the opening is facing the wall. And the box is placed far enough away from the wall such that our cats have no problem negotiating to enter and exit the box. But too small for our lab.

The oversized litterbox is way too heavy for the dog to push around, move it about. So he can't reposition to get into the litter box, he can't remove the top so he has given it up for a while. He is just hoping that we will forget and face the litterbox opening for an easy access. FAT CHANCE!!

Just make it impossible for the dog but still easy for the cat.

If you need more idea, please let me know. I'm sure we can find a reasonable solution without having to buy an automated litter box, child barrier etc.

Remember cats are more nimble than a dog. So this makes it easier to find a solution.

[channlluv]

How big are the dogs?

We use a baby gate, too, but mounted it about ten inches about the floor, so the cat goes under, but the labrador can't get in unless DD forgets to close the gate, which happens occasionally. The cat lives in her bedroom, so her food and litter are both in there, too. Otherwise the lab would eat both. And because they're both in the room where she sleeps, too, DD is motivated to keep the litter box clean.

Roxy