What is a Cat Genie?
Only one of the most deluxe cat litter boxes on the market….
I first came across one a few years ago when my auntie had one. She didn’t even mention it and show off (I know I would). I just happened to notice what looked like a small toilet hooked up in her bathroom one day.
I thought to myself, “That looks like a toilet for cats or little people.”
How right I was. Well, about the first part with the cats of course. My auntie gave me a quick demonstration of how it works too, without her cat in it!
In a nutshell, the Cat Genie is an automatic cat litter box that cleans itself, uses washable granules instead of litter, takes all the hassle out of cleaning up after your cat, and looks cool!
So, what’s the drawback? Because there has to be one if this is a do-all, clean itself, take all the hard work off your hands, litter box.
As with any gadget that makes your life better – It’s the price.
It’s one of the most expensive litter boxes on the market. But that’s fully understandable considering what it does.
It’s still great value and worth every penny in my opinion.
You can check the latest price and availability on Amazon by clicking this link.
It’s literally a little toilet for cats – without the need to toilet train them!
Why Should You Treat Your Cat to the Cat Genie?
Notice how I said, “Treat your cat?” It helps me justify it in my mind.
I’m going to be buying a Cat Genie when I move house and have a spot in a utility room where I can have it plumbed in.
I’m looking at it as a treat for my two cats. Obviously, not having to scoop poop 2 or more times a day is going to improve my life a great deal, but it’s my kitties that’ll be using it.
The main reason anyone buys an automated litter box is to take the messy and unpleasant task of scooping poop off their hands. Literally.
There’s also the environmental benefit to using their washable granules over regular litter. No need to store spare bags of litter too, the granules come in a handy small box and only need topping up every few days/weeks.
For those who are wondering how often it does a cleaning cycle, this is the cool bit. It has three modes:
- You can preset it to run a certain number of times a day.
- You can click a button and run a cleaning cycle whenever you want.
- You can set it to activate when it detects a cat has used it.
The only maintenance required is changing the Odor Control Refills and Washable Granules when required.
Cat Genie Washable Granules Refills: Where to Buy?
The marketing info for the Cat Genie is keen to point out that there is no more messy litter when using their box – there are however washable granules that the box operates with.
When you first fill the box you’ll tip a whole box in. From then on you need to keep the box topped up to the indented mark inside so you’ll need a box of granules to refill handy.
The granules are much better than litter, they are right about that. The granules are dust-free, non-toxic, made from a mix of natural and synthetic materials, and much nicer to handle.
Related content – Best flushable cat litters.
Cats like them which is the important part. At least I’ve not heard of any cats refusing to use them. But there is always that super-fussy kitty out there….
These refill boxes last between 2-5 months depending on how many cats you have using the box, how often the granules are put through a wash cycle, and so on.
The good news is you can pick them up from Amazon. So if you’ve just noticed you’re running low you should have some on the way within a few quick clicks.
Cat Genie Dimensions
If you want to measure up and double check that spot in the bathroom you have your eye on for the Genie lines up perfectly, here are the dimensions:
- 19.25” wide at the front
- 16” wide at the back of the base
- 17.5” wide at the back of the top
- 21” tall
- 24.5” deep with room for connecting hoses
Cat Genie Manuals Online
Here’s a link to the manufacturer manuals for the Cat Genie.
There are some interesting manuals here and there’s some important information, so I recommend taking a look.
The Owners Guide covers everything you need to know about operating the 120 (there is a manual for the Cat Genie 60 model if you have one).
It’s not too complicated rigging one up if you want to tackle it yourself. I recommend giving the manual a good read though!
There is a Cat Acceptance Guide. This covers all the tips and tricks you’ll need to get even the most stubborn cat used to using the automatic box.
A Setup Guide, which of course covers how to get it up and running. And a Cat Activation Programming guide to help you set it up for cat activation at the hours that suit you and your kitty.
Cat Genie vs Litter Robot: Two of the Best Self Cleaning Litter Boxes
Looks like some kind of space age chamber to send your cat into space, doesn’t it?
I thought it only fair to mention one of the other best-selling automatic litter boxes on the market, the Litter Robot III.
Both serve the same purpose, they are designed to clean away cat litter automatically so you don’t have to. Both are really good at it too.
The main difference between the two is that the Cat Genie needs to be plumbed in with a water supply and waste outlet.
While the Litter Robot only requires power to work. This is because it sifts out the dirty litter and deposits it into a tray underneath for you to throw away.
So, if you want to split hairs on these two the Cat Genie is the one that really does it all. It cleans, flushes, refreshes the litter, and keeps going without any interaction from you at all.
When deciding between the two, unless you’re taken by price or design, I would say the Genie is better for people who are fine having it plumbed into a set location in their utility room or bathroom.
The Litter Robot is better if you’re restricted on place options, and just want to plug-and-go, and have no issues emptying the main tray periodically and replacing litter.
You can check the latest price of the Litter Robot on their official site here.
Convinced That Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes Are Worth the Money?
Everyone puts a different value on items and accessories, but there is no denying that automatic litter boxes are a huge help.
They are one of those luxury items, that once you’ve bought you could never imagine living without.
If you have the money then I say go for it. Scooping poop and cleaning up after cats isn’t the enjoyable bit of being a cat owner, is it?
The Cat Genie is the automatic box I’ve seen working and I was really impressed. Very impressed in fact. I like gadgets, I like seeing my cats interact with things, and I love the idea of never scooping poop again!
It makes you wonder what the future of technology and cats holds. I have already have an automatic cat feeder which has been a lifesaver when I’m away overnight. What’s next, an automatic cat fusser?!
If you own the Genie or any other automatic litter box I’d love to hear your experiences, good or bad. Just drop a note below, thanks.
