Catgenie / Cat Genie: Review
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free skin care · Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:37 am

OMG! I love this kitty litter box!

Here is the web site: http://www.catgenie.com/

This thing is great. I have been looking at this for awhile, but the price has been such a turn off. I have been secretly coveting the Litter Robot, but waffle with the cat genie. My DH happened to come over to see what I'd been looking at (Earlier, I'd showed him the litter robot video, but he wasn't too impressed so I never bothered with the cat genie demo). He acted like he just saw a miracle. He went out and bought it without even telling me. He was that impressed. I was a bit taken back since it is SOOOOO expensive, but he found a new one on ebay and we got the whole package deal for $250. We have the dome and sidewalls with the original cat genie.

I was a little nervous since we couldn't really return it as easily as to a company, but I didn't even need to worry! I did what the instructions said and put my cat box next to the cat genie and even though the CG looks big it is really about the same size as my regular cat box. I own the Litter Maid and a regular cat box with lid.

The CG is shorter than the Litter Maid. Now, I always loved my LM, but my husband hated it. If you don't keep up a little maintenance with the LM, then it is a pain in the butt to clean and change out the recepticles. I found that with a little TLC the LM was so much better than a regular cat box which I hate to clean. My DH likes the regular cat box. I still don't know why. Our cats preferred the LM to the regular, but with the CG there is no comparison. CG hands down for all of us (kid, spouse, and cats). Laughing

I only push a button each morning and the thing cleans itself. My cat even likes to lay in the warm granules after cleaning because there is no odor once it has been flushed and santized.

Ok, I know I'm bouncing around. I suggest you watch the demo video to get an idea on how it works. But if you can't access it, the CG is literally a toilet for cats. I've always wished I had the patience to teach my cat to use a toilet, but for those who don't want to take that time then the CG is for you. The cat takes to the granules just like litter and the CG flushes like a toilet. All the waste is gone. Its awesome!!

When the boxes showed up, I was a little intimidated with all the parts. But the instructions go into way more detail on all the parts than you really need (skip the inventory unless you want to be sure you have everything). We went straight to the set up and everything fell into place. I wanted to have the CG in the bathroom (the set up looked easier), but my bathroom didn't have enough space. I was happy to find that the laundry room set up was way easier than I thought (I did it).

I can't say enough how great this thing is. The part I like the most is the sanisolution. (SaniSolution Smart Cartridge™ UNscented dispenses the exact amount of sanitizing solution needed to decontaminate Granules and Genie Bowl and to keep the CatGenie running properly. Made with same ingredients used by veterinarians to sterilize their exam and operating areas.)

The replacement solution is $15, but on ebay I've seen them for $8. It is more expensive than regular litter, but so worth it in my book. I have thown out the LM (its almost 4 years old and not working as well as it once did) and the regular litter box.

I can't see ever using anything else.

free skin care · Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:16 pm

Thanks for the review Deanne. What a great idea! Whoever thought of it should be given the Nobel Prize.

free skin care · Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:17 pm

Wow, that sure is something!

I have to say though, it looks there are alot of parts that can go wrong or malfunction. The self-cleaning raking type of cat litter box was an awesome invention when it first came out but then the darn things broke so often, that they were more trouble than they were worth!!

free skin care · Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:51 am

I know, whoever invented this should be given some kind of award!!

Oh, I re-read the instructions and you can set up the cat box to clean itself automatically. It recommends findind out when your cat uses its litter and to set up a time when they won't use it so it will clean and not scare them. My cat uses it at night so the morning is perfect time for us.

Oh, Bren, I agree that when the automatic scoopers first came out that they broke or malfunctioned, but I found that if you follow the instructions then the LM worked wonderfully. The only times I had problems with mine was when my DH had to maintain it and he let it get so full or forget to keep the litter at right level. Then the scoop would flip poop everywhere or if he bought the wrong type of litter. I can see why people hated the LM if you try to use it as a no maintenance litter box.

The CG IS a no maintenance. I love not having to touch or smell cat poopy!

This has been around for awhile and I think most of the problems have been worked out. THe dome is supposedly new to help keep the granules inside. My DH went online and just about every review on the CG is positive. I read on some site where a cat had diareha and it got in the rotating base (ick), but my cat isn't sick and we haven't had any issues. This thing is so santitary and I don't have to touch a thing.

free skin care · Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:59 am

Update : This thing is still AWESOME and it actually got better! If you have one, then you should know that they have some up grades for the existing genies. One of the few comments about the CG is that it can clog. The hopper has a problem with long hair cats cutting thru hairballs in poop. Most folks don't have any problems, but the little propeler deal does tend to have an issue with really hard poop and hair balls. I actually experienced this, but now that we know what to look out for we have had no issues. P.S. Don't try to save on solution because the poop really does get hard and can clog the poo resevoir. It's gross, but avoidable.
Anyway here is a link for the upgrade and they also impoved on the scoop rake and added another sanitation device to keep the CG even cleaner. WOW!

http://www.catgenie.com/powerflusher/

I have ordered some new solution cartridges (with the two upgrades) since the two that came with it are almost out (that is almost 3 months!) I only clean it when there is poop in there and the urine goes to the bottom in the solution so it is very reasonable cost. I will have to see how easy it is to install the upgrades! I also plan on getting one of the reset gizmos on ebay that reset the cartridges. It looks really cool and will let me fill it up with my own cleaning solution and reuse those things again and again. I just hope they work! Hahahaha

When I get one, I'll review it here....unless someone on here already has a reset device. Then I'd be dying to find out if they like it or not. Ok, happy New Year everyone!

free skin care · Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:28 pm

Wow, sounds great. Someone was giving away a free one at work a while back and I didn't even bother. I thought it was just another littermaid knockoff and my cat didn't like the littermaid.

I just started using the smart cat box. It has been 3 weeks and so far I like it. No dust and it is good for the environment. Unfortunately I still need to touch the litter and waste Confused

One of my cats has urinary problem so the smart cat box is good for me if I need to get a urine sample Bad Grin

Keep us a posted.

free skin care · Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:14 am

Mtview,

I like these too! I have a similar cat box called the Breeze. I bought it on sale at Walmart before we got the Cat Genie. You are right, these are nice. I have been using it recently with my sick kitty. And it does keep the odor and work down. I only scoop the poop once a day and change the pad out once a week. Not bad. The breexe is a little cheaper than the Smart Cat box, but it looks like yours is more ecofriendly.

Here is the link:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10105232

PS. My oldest kitty ran away 6 months ago soon after I brought home the little orphan. (I had to keep them separate until I could get the newbie tested) Now I find myself having to keep the older one quarantined until he gets over the ring worm he picked up and to nurse him back from starvation. I am so glad he is back and I'm glad I kept this cat box so I don't have to worry about him passing anything to the youngster while he mends. this is a really good type of cat box. I don't think it would do for mulitple cats unless you have more than one set up. It is pretty cheap and it a pretty good option to add to the cat litter issue.

free skin care · Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:14 pm

Thanks for the link, deanne123. It has similar idea and cheaper. I guess the cons would be you can't dispose of the pellets in the toilet and have to buy the pee pads.

So far I have cleaned the box 1x and haven't pour in any new litter. I will see how long the 5 lb litter last for my 2 cats.

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