Changing litter boxes

[boricuajenny5]

My cat's automatic litter box has recently broken and I bought the Cat Genie litter box to replace it. I still have the old box in the basement as the Cat Genie instructions say to leave it near by until the cat starts using the new box on his own. Its been a week and the cat has not used the new box at all. The instructions on the Cat Genie say to not clean out the old litter box and the cat is sure to use the new, clean, litter box. This is not true as my cat hasnt seemed to care how dirty it is and its just causing a bad smell in the basement.

I dont want to get rid of the old box completely because i'm afraid he might find a new place to "go". I was thinking of just emptying it out and leave it with no litter.

Do you guys think this is a good idea or is there something else I should try?

Thank you in advance!

[Catlady711]

I take it both boxes are those automatic ones?

I've never used one of those types all mine are the old fashioned scoop-it-yourself type.

For my cats they've never cared if I get a new box, or even move the boxes around, they seem to use them just the same.

I know some cats are really fussy about their boxes and I'm wondering if there's something different about the new box? Is it smaller/larger, deeper/shallower? Different litter? Different noise than the old one if it's an automatic?

If nothing basically is different I'd try just leaving the old box empty of all litter and see what happens. Could be the cat is just using it because it smells familiar, even if it's stinky, you could try adding just a bit of the dirty litter to the new one so the cat's own smell is there.

Sorry I don't have any personal experience with this one to help you with.


Good luck.

[Taz_Zoee]

I would suggest putting some of the old litter in the new box and leave the old box empty. But I am not a professional.:p And I use a non-automatic box.

[boricuajenny5]

I removed all the litter from the old box and he still used it!! LOL. I moved the old box into the garage last night and left him with the new box and that forced him to use it. He did go "pee" in the new box but thats as far as he's gone. They are both automatic boxes but the new one uses reusable litter so it may not smell like litter to him which is understandable.

I use automatic boxes becuase I spend alot of my time working full time and taking classes part-time. It makes my life easier and my basement less smelly :)

Thanks for the suggestions!