delyverence (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
delyverence) wrote2019-08-16 07:08 am
delyverence) wrote2019-08-16 07:08 am
Bragging and Bribing
I must (again) brag on my cats.
After two years with a litter box in the laundry room and a huge litter box in my master bath, I finally broke down and ordered a Litter Robot, on the insane optimism of getting the boys down to one box that would be kept in the laundry room. I was just so tired of having litter tracked all over my bathroom floor, and tired of being able to smell the box (however slightly) while I was working from home. "Let's give it a shot," I said. "If it works out, it's worth the price of the Litter Robot," I said.
The Litter Robot arrived Monday. I set it up, but left one of the old school boxes out. The was curiosity, but the Litter Robot went unused until 1AM Tuesday morning, when it was used by someone but I didn't know who.
Tuesday:
Scooped the old school box and left it out, unwilling to take chances while I was out at the office all day. I realize the cat using the box is Pix who, despite his small size, lack of claws and chill demeanor, is not afraid of any damn thing. (Seriously, friendly as Pavi is, Pix is the one who is up in your face first, sitting RIGHT THERE on the couch next to a running vacuum. Pix gives zero fucks. Also, Pix being voted Most Likely To Be "Creative" About Where He Pees worked for him in this scenario.)
Wednesday:
Did not scoop the old school box but left it out.
Thursday:
Awoke to find that someone (probably Pavi) has expressed displeasure about the dirtiness of the old school box by peeing right in front of it (on the linoleum, easy to clean up). Me too, buddy! I scoop the old school box and then put it in the garage, leaving us only with the Litter Robot. I train a Cloud Cam on the Robot with the plan to watch when someone uses it and then immediately give them two treats for doing so.
I spend the day giving Pix treats, while Pavi stubbornly sleeps all day.
Thursday evening: I lead Pavi into the Robot by holding treats in front of him until he goes inside. See, buddy? It's not a washing machine! It won't eat you! It's full of litter! It's totally cool to pee here! Please pee here! 30 minutes later, Pavi voluntarily uses the Robot, earning himself two treats.
So far, it's going great with the Litter Robot. Everyone seems to have gotten over feeling weird about it, it doesn't smell AT ALL, and (importantly) I no longer have a litter box in my master bath, and nobody's walking around their own poo all day. Two thumbs and 8 paws up!
After two years with a litter box in the laundry room and a huge litter box in my master bath, I finally broke down and ordered a Litter Robot, on the insane optimism of getting the boys down to one box that would be kept in the laundry room. I was just so tired of having litter tracked all over my bathroom floor, and tired of being able to smell the box (however slightly) while I was working from home. "Let's give it a shot," I said. "If it works out, it's worth the price of the Litter Robot," I said.
The Litter Robot arrived Monday. I set it up, but left one of the old school boxes out. The was curiosity, but the Litter Robot went unused until 1AM Tuesday morning, when it was used by someone but I didn't know who.
Tuesday:
Scooped the old school box and left it out, unwilling to take chances while I was out at the office all day. I realize the cat using the box is Pix who, despite his small size, lack of claws and chill demeanor, is not afraid of any damn thing. (Seriously, friendly as Pavi is, Pix is the one who is up in your face first, sitting RIGHT THERE on the couch next to a running vacuum. Pix gives zero fucks. Also, Pix being voted Most Likely To Be "Creative" About Where He Pees worked for him in this scenario.)
Wednesday:
Did not scoop the old school box but left it out.
Thursday:
Awoke to find that someone (probably Pavi) has expressed displeasure about the dirtiness of the old school box by peeing right in front of it (on the linoleum, easy to clean up). Me too, buddy! I scoop the old school box and then put it in the garage, leaving us only with the Litter Robot. I train a Cloud Cam on the Robot with the plan to watch when someone uses it and then immediately give them two treats for doing so.
I spend the day giving Pix treats, while Pavi stubbornly sleeps all day.
Thursday evening: I lead Pavi into the Robot by holding treats in front of him until he goes inside. See, buddy? It's not a washing machine! It won't eat you! It's full of litter! It's totally cool to pee here! Please pee here! 30 minutes later, Pavi voluntarily uses the Robot, earning himself two treats.
So far, it's going great with the Litter Robot. Everyone seems to have gotten over feeling weird about it, it doesn't smell AT ALL, and (importantly) I no longer have a litter box in my master bath, and nobody's walking around their own poo all day. Two thumbs and 8 paws up!