we got this and our cat won't use it. i think it freaks him out.

That's fabulous. It almost makes me unafraid to get a cat. The commitment is still scary though. Know of any stylish rat cages? (Heh, serious question)

I have a feeling that my cat would hate to jump down to do his business.. and climb up when he's done. too much work.

$180 for a litter box? Seriously?

i love the idea that sand doesnt get everywhere but for $180 i can probably DIY it and buy a couple pairs of shoes.

Great litterbox- not quite as cute but about $150 less than the litterbox you have. To train cats you have to put them in it a couple of times with the top off then let them use it themselves with the top off for a week or so. Then put the top on and put them in it a couple of times. I use it for foster cats and have to train at least 5 of them. They all pick it up quickly.

http://www.hdw-inc.com/clevercat.htm

This is a great design, but for the price, I'd rather choose a self cleaning litterbox.

Plus my cat is an old man and I don't think he'd appreciate the entry method, or going from an open litterbox to being shut in with all the smelly stuff.

no kitties here so don't have any comment on the litterbox but does anyone know where those chairs are from. They are adorable.

I would LOVE to have one of these, but for the price, I'm sticking with my Booda Dome for now, even though litter gets everywhere when my kitty jumps out :-(.

This is a wonderful looking box, but I really think these things are designed by people who have never had a cat.

Problem #1: $180. For a litter box. $180. Plastic. Litter. Box. $180.

Problem #2: Plastic is porous and should be replaced periodically for sanitation reasons. Say you do that annually. Say your cat lives to, oh, 16. That's 16 years x $180. See problem #1.

Problem #3: Smart that they have a roof entrance to avoid kicking litter. What do they do to avoid tracking litter? Rather unsavory underfoot if your litter box is in the dining room, as it is in the picture.

Problem #4: The scoop. On the outside. The scoop that was just in the litter and, alas, is probably not spotlessly clean any more. Again, not so nice in the dining room.

Problem #5: The noise of kitty going to the litter as you are eating.

Problem #6: The smell of kitty going to the litter as you are eating. Oh, the smell!

I could go on and on (Reusable liner? Great in theory, but in practice? Not so much.), but time is too short. Suffice it to say this is another great idea that just does not translate into reality, much like those silly litter boxes that pretend to be, say, a fake indoor tree or a side table. An indoor tree or side table that, at least periodically, smells like cat feces.

Remember, form AND function. It has to look good AND be practical. Otherwise, no.

And $180? Really?

I bought one of these when they first came out because I was desperate for an un-ugly litterbox that wouldn't hold smells like the porous plastic most litter pans are made of. I have two cats--a huge elderly male and a small young female--and they both took to it right away. It's a HUGE improvement over the old covered litterbox and I can put it wherever I want, rather than having to find a place to hide it where guests won't go. (In my tiny apartment, that originally left only the kitchen, which was unhygenic and basically prevented me from using about three feet of counterspace for a year because I was so worried about food contamination--there was literally nowhere else to put the big ugly box with its accompanying horrible litter mat and it drove me crazy.)

Now, I proudly point to the modkat tucked away in the corner and boast, "Guess what that is?" (No one's guessed yet.) The sleek design makes it really easy to clean, and the reusable litter liner saves cash, and is ALSO very easy to clean--I hose the whole contraption down once every week or so when I change out the litter. And neither of my sharp-nailed cats has put a hole in the liner yet. The only problem I've run across was that my older cat once tramped down a corner of the mat and did the do on the exterior of the liner, which made things slightly less pleasant to clean. Just the one time, though, and considering that he used to rip holes through the old liners entirely, not a big deal.

At $180, it's pricey, definitely, but for me it was totally worth it.

it's a lot, but when you have a cat, you have to change the litter boxes frequently because the unine smells seeps into the plastic and can cause them to go outside the box. I have gone through many plastic bins because as soon as they get old enough, my kittehs won't use them.

How big are these? I have 3 fatties that weight about 10-12 pounds each. They produce a lot of pee and poop. I really like the look of this, but I don't want to get anything that's too small. Right now I'm using a rubbermaid bin that's about 2.5- 3 feet wide. They seem to like it, but even with it's high sides, it still doesn't keep litter in.

Pedal powered - are you in LA? If it was big enough, I'd be interested in purchasing it.

I have an older kitty too, who would never jump in and out of her box like this. She likes her privacy and when I moved into the new tiny apartment without basement space like I used to have we got her a Booda dome, the kind with the steps. It was about 35$ (I thought THAT was a lot to pay for a litter box). She doesn't mind it at all,it has cut back on the litter tramped through the living room.

@ chusmabilly:

I have a 15 lb. cat who fits into my Modkat fine. It's much bigger than it looks in most of the promotional photos.

Also, the quality of the plastic is different, and if your cats are using it properly, feces and urine will never touch anything but the litter liner, which is a mere $9 replacement. Regular scooping and cleaning the box regularly should mean that urine smell won't seep in. A mild solution of bleach and Nature's Miracle does the trick for me.

Gee rudebega, you mean they didn't give you one for free? And you just opening an Apartment Therapy account and doing all this work on their behalf?

That's a shame. Especially at $180.

I'm with Auburn, I'd like to know where to find those chairs!

Hazel is a cutie!

You make the modkat sound good but my Little Guy does not respond well to new litter boxes and I just cant picture him jumping in and out of that one. He is 5yrs old.

The price is rather high for me but if it works for you then it is certainly worth it.

Lovely description of your CoCo.

@ CookingSchoolConfidential.com

PFFT. That was uncalled for. I'm not a 'bot or a shill. I'm just happy with my admittedly stupidly expensive purchase, bored at work, and since it's something that people are on the fence about I figured I'd pop in with my personal experience since no one *I* know has one. I have one. It works for me and my cats better than any litter box I've ever had, and I'm going to say so because, gee, I really do like it that much.

I AM a journalist in my dayjob for a fluffy entertainment-style magazine, so I guess I come off as extremely PR-ish in my writing style, but accusing me of being a shill is pretty hurtful. I've been a lurker here forever and only recently made an account so I could ask about those gorgeous sky-blue chairs in a previous post. Don't be a jerk.

Funny, redebega, how when I originally checked your very recently opened profile, your comment about the chairs was not there. I know. It is in my history.

But it's there, now.

Hmmm. Did you, say, scroll back to an earlier post to create a comment?

Alas. So interesting.

And the box is still $180.

@CookingSchoolConfidential.com

i actually remember rudebega's post from the other day on the eames-style chairs because i was thinking the same thing. so your history is wrong and yes, you're a jerk.

@ CookingSchoolConfidential.com: Wow! You're crazy paranoid, aren't you? How can my post about the chairs be only #5 then, and timestamped several days ago? Unless I've somehow hacked the Apartment Therapy site, which would make me a very *resourceful* PR shill.

One of my friends warned me against posting here and boy, they were right. I guess I'm not allowed to like and recommend something I spent $180 on? Because I have a new account? Jeez. It was sure smart of me to make this shill account several days before anyone posted anything about the litterbox in question, too! Wow. Count me out of the rest of this conversation. I'm going to go ask about the rug on the new post.

For the BIG kitties and cheapskate owners (like me):

*Large rubbermaid bin (the roughneck comes in several sizes)

*Litter tray that is almost as wide and about 3/4 as long as the bin

*Tablecloth

Cut a cat-sized hole in one of the ends of the bin. Put the litter tray in, pushed all the way to the opposite end. Cat uses the litter tray, has to walk across the extra space INSIDE the bin before exiting, kicking off all litter in the process. (It helps to put a carpet scrap in this space if you have one.) You can also keep the scooper and a roll of bags in the extra space between the tray and bin. Cover the whole thing with a tablecloth that reaches the floor, and voila, a cheap litterbox that looks like a table. To clean, just take off the top of the bin and scoop or remove the tray.

whether or not rutebega works for the box company, he/she answered my question. I have fat cats, was wondering if they would fit. They will. Thanks, Rutebega
Ta-da.

Apologies, all. I did, and still do, find rutebega's whitewash of this absurdly costly kitty litter box suspect. Ditto her comment about writing like a journalist. She does not. I know. I am a one.

However, I did not awaken this morning planning to start a spat. Hence the apology.

As for Timmy - I will merely congratulate him on getting out of the well. Let's end with a giggle!

My cat is far too fat for this.

Is that Hazel in the pictures above? She's a ruddy Abyssinian, no? So gorgeous!!!! Appreciate the review of the box, and I'm glad it works for you. :)

Its not really an apology when you say oh I'm sorry but I still think your comment is "suspect", is it CookingSchoolConfidential.com?

I didn't wake up this morning thinking I'd jump in here to vouch for a friend to someone who seems determined to be suspicious and rude, but hey, every day has its surprises. Except it isn't really. Because I'm one of the people who warned her about joining this site because there always always is a subset of commenters who love saying some pretty obnoxious eyeroll-inducing things.

Maybe you feel she doesn't write like a journalist, random personal pot-shot there btw, since I know for a fact that she is one. And I know she had her own reservations about spending so much money on a litterbox but if she's happy with her purchase why shouldn't she write about it here, in a post that's about it?? Its not that bizarre to spend a lot of money on something and then want to spread the word that yes, at least in her case, it was worth the cost; If you can afford it then go for it.

Thanks for reminding me why I mostly lurk here as well. :P

I write for 225 Magazine in Baton Rouge, have for the last year and a half, and worked PR for a videogame company in Beijing for some years before that. I am, most assuredly, a journalist, and the fact that you say I don't write like one while making various typos in your own posts is really just... well. I don't know what it is. Irritating, mostly. You're also being very condescending to the people who proved you wrong. Very underhanded apologizing you're doing there.

I just don't see why you're attacking me for liking something that I spent--yes--an absurd amount of money on. Not everyone who likes something is a PR shill. I just saved up for something that was expensive, found that it worked for me, and shared my experience. Isn't that what a comment page is for?

I'd be worried that one day the cat would decide it's too much work to climb up there to go to the bathroom.

As it is, I have two cats who think it's too much work to keep their bottom inside the litter box when they go. One of our litter boxes is grotesquely ugly, putty colored, and the size of a small house as a result. Doesn't help. Still sand everywhere. Another has a house around it that I built. They go to the bathroom with their fat bottoms out the house window.

Somebody needs to invent a designer cat that will go to the bathroom neatly.

Count me in as another person who really appreciates rudebega's posts.

I don't mind spending $180 on a litterbox and I have liked the looks of this one for a long time. But I hesitated to buy it because I wasn't sure if my lazy 16-pound kittylump would fit through the hole. Now thanks to rudebega, at least I know that if he musters the energy to climb up there, his fat kitty butt will fit.

Also, rudebega, who cares what CookingSchoolConfidential says? Personally, I think it's funny that someone who feels such a moral obligation to police the integrity of this site ends up looking dumb for attacking you for no reason. You know, funny in an Alanis Morissette way.

Post if you want to, don't post if you don't want to. In either case, do what makes you happy. Life is too short to let the haters make choices for you.

I tried the Modkat and had to send it back after a few weeks.

My cat was used to the CleverCat top entry box (~$30 bucks), so getting him to transition away was no problem. Taking the plunge to spend six-times as much was a challenge, but I did it and I wanted to love the ModKat.

Fantastic design: check. Great components: Check. Usable liner: Fail.

The liner is the crucial piece of any litterbox design. It needs to hold the elements and stay upright. The CleverCat solves this problem since the liner is locked down by the top of the box. It's very similar to how most trashcans work. Since this design is freestanding but attached to the walls of the box with velcro, it's not locked in.

In my experience, my cat would always end up peeling the liner away from the wall with his paws. Even tried heavy duty velcro, but that wouldn't affix to the walls of the box or the bag. Once the bag fell down, the pee went outside the bag, litter over the side.

For something that's $180, this design needs to be bullet proof. That bag needs to be locked down with physical attachments - hooked to the side, buttoned to the side - not Velcro.

I wanted to love it, but I ended up going back to my homely, but functional CleverCat.

I really like the look of this kitty box, but as mine has to live in the bathroom beside the sink, I'd be afraid of dropping things in it.

I made myself a clever cat by buying one of those rubbermaid bins at Target and cutting hole in the top. My cat has been using it since she was a few months because she would kick tons of litter out. This clever cat knock off does pretty well, except theres still some litter. Which why that Modkat top intrigues me. I would never spend that much for the kitty, but maybe I can hack myself something similar?

@ryanpsims: Yeah, that's the only problem I've had with mine--but my for my cats the litter liner seems to be high enough that they don't tamp it down much. It's only happened once and since then they seem to have decided that the litter is much nicer to scratch at than the tarp and haven't pulled it down since. Still, if your cat is one that tends to scratch and pull at the sides of their boxes it might not work out.

And thanks for sticking up for me, guys. Sorry I got all hot and bothered, I just can't stand to have my journalistic integrity impugned. It gets me all crabby. :P

Now THATS a PR shill!

I also want to know about the red chairs. Anyone know where those came from?

I know this will not work for everyone, but I'm training my cat to use the toilet...$30 kit=no mess

http://www.citikitty.com/

but I do like the look of the modkat box

Another has a house around it that I built. They go to the bathroom with their fat bottoms out the house window.

Because it bears repeating. It's just that good.

As far as the retail, I think to each their own!!

I spend ridiculous amounts of money on dog AND cat food, plus flower essences, special shampoos, and toys for my animals...why WOULDN'T I spend more money on something (ie, a litter box) that could actually be a convenience to me!?

Now, getting my husband to see my perspective may prove more difficult...but wish me luck. :-)

And rudebega, thanks for letting us know how big your kitty is. Mine is about the same size and that was my only real reservation.

Have a fabulous day folks :-)

What a pretty litterbox. Way too much, but so pretty. Would love to have one if it a) worked as promised and b) didn't cost more than my monthly car payment.

I'm glad I have a basement, where my two cats can do their thing in a non-mod, very cheap rubbermaid bin, and which has dark corners for hanging skeevy scoopers.

Swedish Fish--Yes that's Hazel, she's a ruddy (and so cute) and very happy with her box.

definitely not trying to be snarky here, just a quick note- using bleach to clean a litter box is dangerous because if the bleach mixes with the cat's urine (ammonia) it creates a noxious gas that can poison your cat. i know that some people think bleach is fine for litter boxes, but especially in an enclosed spaces, you should be very considered about using it.
i use triple pet no odor to clean the box. it doesn't have the nice smell of nature's miracles, but works way better, and then you won't need the bleach.

All the comments have made me glad I have a dog.

I pre-ordered the ModKat months ago (and got 20% off!) because I had looked literally everywhere for a good cat box solution. I have a one BR with no appropriate place for a litter box.

So, honestly, after so much searching and stress, the cost was worth it.

I slowly introduced it to my 12-pound cat, and now it's in the corner of my living room (!) behind a chair.

Plus: It's attractive, barely noticeable, does NOT look like a cat box, is easy to clean due to the liner and the swivel top, my cat likes it.

Minus: My cat still manages get cat litter on the floor.

Overall, I am a fan and still happy with my investment. If I had a place to hide the cat box, I wouldn't have purchased it. And no, I am not going to replace it every year.

The ModKat looks great (especially for my kitten, who is most definitely a 'kicker'), but I am at a loss as to why this costs more than the self-cleaning litter box I purchased this summer. If the ModKat could offer that @$180, I'd be sold. (Alas, the search continues!)

Regardless, I'm glad you've found something that works well for you.

@Miss*Lisa: in my case, the cost was for the looks/form since it was semi-out in the open, although function was important too.

Berea- I have pet rats. They are SUCH wonderful pets. They have the most incredible personalities. They are work though, and you should do some research before you get them. They need running around time outside of their cage, and like to chew things up.

Totally worth it. As far as the cage is concerned... good luck. :)

(someone has to say it)

Hey, kids!! Let's play nice in the sandbox!!

i'm a bit confused by everyone using the liner. Don't your cat's claws cut the liner? i could never use a liner because of this issue. is there some new technology i'm unaware of or are you all talking about cats that you've had declawed? which PLEASE tell me you aren't talking about that!

ok duh! i see it now. that doesn't seem like it would get scratched up. has anyone that has this box had that issue?

if it was self cleaning and eliminated odor I'd be sold! I have the cheapo ugly version. Works pretty well compared to other litter boxes. I'm thinking about trying this http://www.amazon.com/Bionaire-Grabber-Air-Cleaning-Litter-78800-100/dp/B001DVT7P4/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1YQ57H27NPFEN&colid=2S9CSWSJEG420

and my roomba has helped a lot w/ cleaning up litter~!

You know, I was wracked with questions - did I owe rudebega an enormous apology or not?

So I looked up rudebega's profile.

He or he posted a single comment right before this post when the Modkat company would have already known (or hoped!) an Apartment Therapy review was coming. Then he or she commented heavily here in very detailed defense of the product. Then he or she posted another, single comment afterward.

Then rudebega disappeared.

These are classic tactics. Classic.

PR is starting to own the Internet. And this is a real shame. A real shame, indeed.

Sigh.

An odd criticism coming from someone whose screen name is a URL.

Rudebega works for the ModKat company. Anyone who's not half dead and in a coma can see that by reading her review/defense of the product. And her "friend" Qstar works for ModKat as well. Come on people, what planet are you living on?

I am so very sad this box costs $180! I would pay $50 (and that's even a lot for a litter box!), but ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DOLLARS? It basically looks like a trash can. I don't get it. And I guess I won't be getting it! $180!!! OMG!

I actually bought the Modkat for the full price back in November. My cats had no problem adjusting from the traditional litter box to the Modkat. And the box is very pretty to look at. Since I am in a one-bedroom apartment and the litter box needed to be in my living room, I chose form over function. And that is exactly what the Modkat was. It is very pretty in form, very low in function. I agree with ryanpsims' post about the liner being crucial. The liner has severe problems in the design. The liner does not stay adhered to the box and pee gets outside. However, I solved that problem by using packing tape to hold all the sides to the box. But yet I found another problem, as the liner gets older, pee starts to make the liner smell and stain. Ultimately, the liner leaks. I found myself cleaning the box in my bath tub way too often. Plus, the Modkat site has been out of replacement liners for quite some time now. And this the only place you can get a liner for $9. Other places carry it for $14.
However, even with all these problems, I still opt to keep it. Not because I spent $180 on it, but because I couldn't stand having an ugly, traditional litter box sitting in the corner of my contemporary living room.

I have sent a message to the company regarding the issues with the liner. I am finding the same exact problems as cat1012 and ryanpsims.

The liner is mis-advertised. It is, sadly, not waterproof. The stitching at the seams allows liquids to soak through (I know this b/c my cat has peed in the corners and urine soaks through the outside of the liner. Very gross to clean, and smells if not cleaned quickly). In addition, the liner cannot be sanitized. I think sanitization is one of the primary criteria for the liner being re-usable, and this one doesn’t meet that criteria.
Another reason the liner is less than ideal from a design perspective is that it is not rigid. The floppiness of the liner makes it very messy and gross to clean. Another thing that makes the “re-usable liner” difficult to clean is that litter gets stuck in the seams (in addition to cat urine, see my first point about the stitching).
Currently I do not use the liner and this makes the box very awkward to clean because the box is unwieldly, and also because of a small lip inside the bottom that feces gets stuck in. If the liner were rigid, sanitizable and seamless this would not be a problem. Please consider these issues before you purchase this product.

my cat is 24lbs. He will NOT fit in this. But it looks awesome!

hi- cats are amazing- they can totally figure out the modkat litter boxes with or without the linings... they love to be clean...
also, the modkat boxes are lightyears ahead of their time... get one already!

Curiosity ............
Would any of you experienced Modkat LB owners please explain why this liner would be required in a plastic container? Is this material porous?
Comments: I hope the fatcats out there will acquire compassionate caretakers.......they will be happier and healthier losing the weight.
I also had a cat almost die from me trying to train him to use a human toilet...his bowels "telescoped" ...it was frightening!!!
Thank you very much.