CrossPost about Automatic Litter Boxes

[shais_mom]

This is a cross post from the MSN CATS board.
I thought it was important:

Sent: 2/8/2003 10:25 PM

A tragedy caused by a litter-box. Maybe we should ALL just clean our own
boxes.

PLEASE CROSS POST TO ANY AND ALL LISTS!

A lot of us also own cats and right at this moment I am devastated to say
that I, my daughter and my mother in law are in mourning over the loss of a
beautiful little kitten named Kanga. He was only 5 months old and was
raised by us from the time he was three weeks old and a wild kitten. My
mother in law has one of those automatic litter boxes that sweeps the litter
into a containment system. This litter box killed this poor baby about an
hour ago. He had his neck broken (at least we hope he went that quick
because I hate to envision the alternatives) by the sweeping mechanism.
Please warn everyone you know about this danger. The machine was
supposed to have a sensor that stops it when the cat goes into the box but
unfortunately for Kanga it didn't.. Now we no longer have this beautiful little
boy. He was so full of life and just loved everyone. PLEASE WARN
EVERYONE EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE A CAT YET!!! THEY MAY
SOME DAY. We have a call into the company to find out if this happened
before and what can be done about making these boxes safer. Please say
a little prayer for Kanga.

Thanks for listening, Karen Havighorst

[ChrisH]

That is such an awful thing to have happened. :(
Thanks Staci for cross posting.
And thanks also to Karen Havigorst who in the midst of her sorrow thought to warn others about the danger. Sending prayers for little Kanga, Karen and her family.

Chris

[neko1]

OH no that so horrible!!! My thoughts are with the family.

[jenluckenbach]

what a sad thing to happen:( technology is NOT always a good thing

[Pam]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
what a sad thing to happen:( technology is NOT always a good thing

How true! Thank you for posting this warning Staci. :( :(

[marysmerrycats]

that is just awful. so tragic. maybe you can do a search on the internet about that company that made the litter box, and see what news about them you can find?

unfortunately it won't bring back sweet Kanga.:(

[Cinder & Smoke]

Here's a *Click Link* to the posting on the MSN "Cats" BBS:

Link to MSN "Cats" BBS (http://groups.msn.com/Cats/newphotos.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=70872&LastModified=4675408981065376816&all_topics=1)

Thoughts & Prayers to Karen Havighorst and her Family
over the loss of "Kanga".

No mention yet of the Brand of litter box involved.

[gini]

What a terrible thing to have happen. My heart goes out to the owners of Kanga!!

Just this very evening, my brother was telling me I should get one of the automatic ones, as he watched me clean the box!

What a devasting loss!

[krazyaboutkatz]

How terrible and sad. :( Thanks for posting this information and warning us about this product. I've always believed in cleaning my litterboxes myself and now I'm glad that I do. Prayers are on the way for sweet little Kanga and his family.

[amoore]

oh my god ! that is horrible !im so sorry for the terrible tragic thing that happened to kanga ! this must be heartbreaking ! i hope any one who has ever thought about giveing their kitty a automatic litter box reads about this tragedy! thank you for bringing this to our attention .:eek: :eek:

[stacwase]

That is really very terrible. I wonder if it has happened to any other cats?

[carole]

Oh My Gosh, this is just so tragic, I am gonna stick with my old fashioned one thats for sure, how terrible everyone must be feeling.

[luckies4me]

I have read this before about a year or so ago right here on Pet Talk! Do a search for it and you will for sure find it. I would assume this is VERY rare as the Littermaid Boxes are very safe and I have several friends who use them and have had no troubles. It seems to me like the kitten who would be old enough at five months, having something come at him would be bright enough to move if there was something knudging him. If it is true than my heart goes out to the family, but like I sad, I have read this before on PT. Does anyone recall who had posted it?


I hope it doesn't happen again, but I think it's fairly rare for something like this to occur.

[luckies4me]

Ok it happens to be the same person, which makes me feel better because now I know someone was not just reposting for kicks. Here is the thread:

http://www.petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20860&highlight=Automatic+Litter+box


Poor poor kitty. :( I wonder what ever came of this?

[uschka]

This just breaks my heart. Poor baby - I also hope he went quickly.

I never for a second thought those boxes would be safe in all situations, since flukes can always happen. I have 4 old fashioned litter boxes that I scrub out as needed. I don't trust automatic things around animals.

Uschka :(

[IttyBittyKitty]

That bought tears to my eyes ... and tonight I will be honoured to scoop my babies' craps out of the litter tray (and probably off the floor too :rolleyes: )

Poor Kanga, play hard at the RB.