Covered cat litter trays vs. littermaid

mordent_smiley

I'm trying to decide whether to purchase either a cover cat litter tray with filters or a Littermaid ( electric scraping tray). My main requirement is that it keeps the smell to a minimum, but I also want the least mess of cat litter around the tray!

Does any one have experience (of their cats ) using both?
Thankyou (one kitten eagerly awaited)

rita-rabbit

Covered litter tray with good litter is far cheaper than littermaid.

Good litter: Worlds Best
Otto cat plus or something like that.

Littermaid should require less effort from you but due to the cost I never considered it.

BitterAndTwisted

I'd favour a covered litter-tray but I'm not sure how useful the charcoal filtery things really are, I removed them from my boy's tray ages ago. Cleaning out the daily deposits is hardly a huge chore and cats do seem to prefer the privacy a covered tray offers. One of the things I do like about the covered tray is that it's much less easy for kitty to chuck the litter all over the place. I think those Littermaid things are horribly overpriced and I 'd rather spend the money on a good clumping litter but then again I've never had one of them.

scotsgirl_3

I have covered trays which work just fine. There is a different typ of automatic box called the litter robot which I believe is supposed to be better than the rake types. Very expensive though!

rita-rabbit

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I'd favour a covered litter-tray but I'm not sure how useful the charcoal filtery things really are, I removed them from my boy's tray ages ago. Cleaning out the daily deposits is hardly a huge chore and cats do seem to prefer the privacy a covered tray offers. One of the things I do like about the covered tray is that it's much less easy for kitty to chuck the litter all over the place. I think those Littermaid things are horribly overpriced and I 'd rather spend the money on a good clumping litter but then again I've never had one of them.

I do not clean my covered litter trays daily & you soon notice when the filter needs changing. Clumping litter - should have said is best for containing stuff - as you just remove what has been used rather than wait for all to be soiled & then chuck - so economical (if you shop around - Pets @ home is v good & I have found it's cheaper than most online suppliers or supermarkets except Liddles & Aldi) & helps to keep smells at a minimum. Personally I don't have alot of time for non-clumping except maybe wood chipped or large pieces or recycled paper stuff - am just about to donate some to Celia Hammond as am tired of sweeping up bits of it: SMARTcat paper litter.

Note: if you use one of the premium clumpers & do not clean daily check that there's still enough for them to use as it `sets hard' hence I mix a small amount of non-clumping with clumping for this reason. However premium clumpers work out good in terms of both value for money & storage space which is an essential consideration for me as I live in a small 1-bed flat.

BitterAndTwisted

I often don't clean out my boy's covered tray every day either and that's mainly why I favour the clumping litter.

coolio_2

Covered and another vote for oko litter. The littermaid is of no use when you cat will occassionally get the squits. This is a slightly different take on the litter tray easy clean concept

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Self-Cleaning-Litter-Large-Green/dp/B0002DK2DU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1244488206&sr=8-1

chez22

If anyone is looking to buy a covered litter tray there is one in Aldi on Sunday for £9.99.

QPR10

The covered litter tray scares some cats.

Get a fair sized litter tray (you won't need it too big until kitten grows)& use the best cat litter that my cats prefer & so do I, not too chalky or dusty Thomas Cat Litter in a yellow bag with a big cartoon picture of a cat on the front. Large bags at Makro wholesalers, smaller kitten sized bags at corner shops.

Experiment with the food don't give kitty the food that produces the smelly litter tray. Trial & error. Use of one those dry food scoops (49p Morrisons)to clean out dirty litter area and put in fresh, every now & again clean out whole litter tray.

ginvzt

My cat would not use uncovered litter tray, so I have the covered one. Had to get a second one for the hallway, as he decided to use carpet there for the loo!!! (not pretty sight as you come in, but better than the stink of cat urine from the carpet)

I prefer using clumping litter. I got some of the world best and in another tray catsan clumping. Have to say, I am not keen on world's best. It clumps ok, but I wouldn't say it is better than catsan, and I find it doesn't keep smell as well as catsan one. I changed the litter completely on Friday and the world's best already has a smell around it. I do clean both trays twice a day at the moment (morning and evening), so there should be no smell liongering, but the one with world's best litter is not as fresh as catsan.

Aspiring

I have an open litter tray and two covered litter trays. My cats use the open litter tray to wee in and the covered litter trays to pooh in. Clever cats