Okay, so I recently got one of those fancy automatic litter boxes for my cat, Mittens. I thought it would be so convenient, right? Wrong! Mittens was terrified. She wouldn’t go near the thing. It was like I brought an alien spaceship into our living room.
The First Encounter
I set up the litter box, all excited, and waited for Mittens to check it out. She walked into the room, took one look, and ran out faster than I’ve ever seen her move. I tried to show her it was a litter box, even put some of her old litter in it. Nothing. She just stared at it from across the room, like it was going to attack her.
Bribery Time
Next, I figured food might do the trick. Cats love food, right? I put some of her favorite treats near the entrance, hoping she’d get curious enough to step inside. She stretched her neck out as far as it would go, snatched a treat, and darted away. Smart cat. This was going to be tough.
Operation “Make it Familiar”
Then I remembered something I read online. Someone suggested making the new litter box seem less intimidating by letting the cat explore it without pressure. So, I turned the automatic function off, making it just a regular litter box for now. I also put it in the same spot as her old one. I started scooping her old box less often, making it a little less pleasant. (Sorry, Mittens!) The idea was to make the new, clean box more appealing.
Small Victories
It took a few days, but guess what? I saw Mittens sniffing around the new box! Progress! Then, one afternoon, I heard the familiar sound of digging. I peeked around the corner, and there she was, using the new litter box! I wanted to jump for joy, but I didn’t want to scare her off. I just quietly did a little happy dance in the kitchen.
Turning it On
After a week of her using it like a normal box, I decided to turn on the automatic function. I waited until she used it, then I flipped the switch. The motor whirred, and the rake started moving. Mittens jumped about a foot in the air, but she didn’t run away. She just watched it, wide-eyed. The next day, she used it again, even with the automatic function on. Success!
The Takeaway
It was a bit of a journey, but now Mittens is an automatic litter box pro. Here’s what I learned:
- Be patient: It might take time for your cat to adjust.
- Make it familiar: Put the new box in the same spot as the old one.
- No pressure: Let your cat explore the new box at their own pace.
- Go slow: Introduce the automatic function only after your cat is comfortable using it as a regular box.
It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be, but seeing Mittens use the automatic litter box makes it all worth it. Now, if only I could train her to make my coffee in the morning…
