Comments on: Cat Genie Self Cleaning Litter Box

By: cynta

cynta — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:23:03 +0000

I had purchased the first cat genie and it took me a while to decide to set it up, which I finally did in July 2009. Almost immediately, I began having problems with it. It worked for about a week, and then for the next three days, I had recurring problems even though I was following the instructions including cleaning the machine twice. The machine continued beeping three times even after it was cleaned and had run through the cycle. There were no blockages and the black knob for the black thing (you would think I would remember after having read the instructions so many times) that turns in the bottom turned freely in both directions.
I also had a problem where there was water in the bowl and all four green lights at the top were lit. It was very frustrating because my cats didn’t have a place to go to the toilet and they were starting to become scared of the machine again. It took more than two weeks and a very filthy litterbox before they even began using the Genie, and I was afraid they’d start going in other places if the problem wasn’t corrected soon.
Unfortunately, I first called customer support repeatedly, including three times in one day (if you’ve ever smelled baking cat feces or had to clean that unbelievably disgusting muck out of the bottom of the cat genie which caused me to retch every time I had to do it, you’ll know how desperate I was), and didn’t receive any response from those messages, nor from email messages. The cat genie eventually ceased to work at all; all four lights 1-4 were lit on the top of the machine but I could not cancel the auto setup. I also could not run a cleaning cycle because the button didn’t work when I pressed and released it. I tried several times to press the buttons or press and release the buttons and they didn’t work. When I finally got someone from customer service to return my calls, I had to go through a hassle to convince them I owned the cat genie and had purchased it within the valid warranty period. They send me a new processor and that one seemed to work okay, but I think the cat genie just really doesn’t handle solid waste all that well, even though both of my cats are short haired and I brush them both regularly.
Now, I am once again having issues with the cat genie, but this time it is the 120 Cat Genie which I purchased in September 2009 from Amazon.com. Briefly, the cat genie now beeps once every time a cycle goes through, even if the cycle has gone through successfully – or it beeps during the cycle and when I try to restart it after following all of the steps, it will begin beeping again mid-cycle even though there is no issue with clogs. I have had to clean the genie now every day after a cycle for more than a week, and there is nothing visibly wrong with the machine. It has been thoroughly cleaned each time and reassembled, and this is getting very annoying.

By: aprilb1

aprilb1 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:34:06 +0000

I have to say I was a little skeptical at first about getting a CatGenie, but after I did, I don’t know how I lived without it!! I never have to scoop litter again

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:22:00 +0000

Although I have 17 dogs, there is also a soft spot in my heart for cats. Recently I obtained two orphaned kitties from a local pet shelter. I brought them home and incorporated them into my lively menagerie. I thought all was well until one day my new cats approached me.

“Smith . . .I mean, Dad . . .” began Meowser, while Purrball looked awkwardly at the floor, “Purrball and I noticed that you don’t use the litter box like we do.”

“Well, yes, son,” I responded. “As a strapping human specimen, I choose to use an indoor-plumbing equipped device known as a ‘toilet’. The toilet allows me to create quite the splash when I do my business, if you know what I mean!”

Both cats just looked at me, confused, and I realized they did not know what a toilet was.

“You know, because there is water in the toilet and when I do my business I make it splash?”

The cats continued to look confused.

I was already so frustrated that I wanted to make spaghetti with cat balls for dinner, so I decided to just buy them a Cat Genie and tell them it was a real human toilet. Now I need to figure out how to convince my elderly father that it’s not, because this thing is not equipped to handle manly output.

By: Jane Scarbrough

Jane Scarbrough — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:21:26 +0000

I love the product, unfortunately this is the second one we have bought because the 1st one stopped working. But it is an essential appliance in our house.

By: Emilio Reveron

Emilio Reveron — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:21:01 +0000

I have not seen my cat’s doody in over a year….that alone is why I think this is the best invention ever. No more scooping, litter, stinky smells. I’m not sure why people say it stinks because I only smell the cleaning solution when it cleans. The customer service, like others have mentioned, is incredible. We got the dome attachment, which I was skeptical of at first, since many say that cats don’t like doing their business in such tight quarters. But as soon as we put it on top of the unit, my cat walked right in and relieved herself….so I guess that means she likes it! (Or at least isn’t fighting it.) I’m VERY happy with my purchase!

By: Lara Jobe

Lara Jobe — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:20:30 +0000

love the CatGenie! I have 2 cats… within hours they were both using it. Installation was a breeze.

By: Cande Green

Cande Green — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:20:01 +0000

My cats took right to it although they are both very young, just over a year old, i put it right next to their old litter box and just didnt clean it they started using the CatGenie and i put the old one in the trash. The only “problem” with this thing is that it is HUGE, i mean i knew it was gonna be bigger than any other cat box I’ve had but this thing is about the same size as my toilet just lower to the ground I wish i had a bigger laundry room for it but unfortinately i have a tiny laundry room so it had to go in my bathroom. It is completely automatic and you can time it to go at certain times, sorta, you have to be there the first time you want to program it to that time.
Now as far as sticker shock, well hmm dont think of this as an investment that will equal out over time because well it wont. But its not any more expensive than your average litter box once you buy the main unit. So think of it as an investment by saving your time and not having to mess with cat crap…

By: Diana Dedwylder

Diana Dedwylder — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:19:35 +0000

My husband and I are pleased and amazed at the way this cat box works.
We are happy that we got this product. We have three cats. I would like to see the bowl a little wider for large cats. We have a 19 lb cat that has a bit of trouble because the sides slope and he is a long cat besides being a big cat. Still having trouble with him using it over the litter box, but two out of 3 cats using it, helps.

By: Carol Shinsky

Carol Shinsky — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:19:11 +0000

A problem I had with my CatGenie actually improved my cat’s health. Lucky (cat) eliminated soft feces. In the old litter box, it was next to impossible to remove the bits and pieces. I bought a CatGenie, which I love. The house always smelled clean. Then one day I smelled a really bad odor. I called the CatGenie service people. When I described the smell, the nice lady (Salina?) asked about my cat’s feces. Yes, Lucky did pass loose, small ones. She explained that sometimes little bits could slip through the Genie Hand no matter how many times it scoops through the granules. She sent me a CatGenie newsletter about soft feces, written by a veterinarian who is expert on the subject. I changed Lucky’s diet and no more loose stools. He has perked up, lost weight, and he has normal bowel movements. CatGenie works perfectly. I would recommend it to any cat person who hates the litter box. And get that newsletter if your cat has soft ones.

By: Ann Marie

Ann Marie — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:18:50 +0000

This is the best thing since sliced bread!! I should have purchased this a long time ago. Once you get it setup and working all you do is push a button and wala! Customer service for this company is top-notch. One of the hoses wasn’t working properly and they sent a new one off immediately- no questions asked. Since then the machine has been working like a gem. I completely recommend this to anyone who is tired of scooping up cat poop day after day. I have two cats and they both used it right away. I LOVE the cat genie!!!