cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/3610354

Looking to pick up a self cleaning litterbox but there are a lot of options. The coolest one I've seen by far is the CatGenie Automatic Cat Box, but it's nearly $500 and seems a little overkill.

I've also seen that the PetSafe Litterbox is a very popular choice, but it uses proprietary litter refills and crystal litter when I'd prefer clay litter.

I've been getting away with a $15 do-it-yourself litterbox just fine for a while, but I think I (and my cat) would appreciate something that doesn't require daily maintenance. Something as simple as an automatic rake would be interesting.

My main goals are:

1. Requires as little maintenance as possible while keeping my cat happy and the smell under control
2. No proprietary lock-in (I can use my own litter)
3. Doesn't break the bank
4. Built well, won't break / easy to fix / good warranty / cheap enough that I can just buy a new one if it breaks

While I am looking for budget friendly options, I'm also curious on the more expensive options. I can't imagine what justifies spending $700 on a Litter-Robot when emptying a litterbox manually isn't that bad and the CatGenie is $500 and promises zero-maintenance. Have you had good luck with premium options like that?