Reader Amy forwarded me a link to ModKat – a decidedly stylish litter tray system made in the USA. I had seen mention of this litter tray while it was still an idea and had figured it as another one of those things that only American cat lovers could own. This time, I checked the pre-order link and to my surprise Australia is one of the countries they are willing to ship to!
Okay, so now I’ve stopped marveling over the fact it will be available to Australians, let me tell you what the ModKat is about. It is a new and modern litter tray design, made with both humans and kitties in mind.
The features include:
- Rooftop access. While it does give kitty a bit more privacy it also means you don’t have to stare at kitty litter all day. The rooftop has a perforated, non-skid surface that doubles as a litter catcher for when kitty hops out. The rooftop also pivots (and removes) for easy cleaning, but locks into place when you’re done.
- A litter scoop that suits the tray. The litter scoop has curves that match the curves of the box, making it easier when you’re ‘going fishing’ for those delightful presents. It also has a little brush on the side so you can simply sweep any litter on the rooftop back into the tray easily.
- A reusable liner. The liner is constructed of commercial-strength tarpaulin, which is rip-resistant and (apparently) easy to clean. There are handles on the sides making it simple to lift out and empty.
…And now the cost. And, just prepare yourself because litter trays this pretty don’t come cheap. You’d be looking at approximately AU $218… not including shipping. Are you wishing I mentioned that at the start so you could have tuned out and not seen any more?
These are still on pre-order, so here’s hoping once they’re into the swing of production and maybe have another product or two that there might be some specials happening. Until then, I’ll just have to stick to the photos!
savvycat x
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
being almost sealed in like that you would wonder if the litter would dry out any from those number 1′s as its not really open .. it could easily just turn in to a bucket of stink :-(
I thought it would be expensive, but wow! That’s a lot! It looks like a great design.
.-= Forever Foster´s last blog ..Gorgeous =-.
Phil – I guess if you clean/ move the kitty litter around as often as you’re meant to it wouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Forever Foster – I know, and seeing it has the same use as a $5 one from the local supermarkets, it’s hard to justify spending that much!
The website (www.modkat.com) has all the details regarding the comments above, the basic design is the same as any hooded litter box – a covered box with a hole for entry/exit. After reading all of the features and functionality improvements described in the review above I am shocked to see it compared to the local supermarket version right afterwards.
Hi rtown.
I can’t see that the website addresses the possibility of the box turning into ‘a bucket of stink’ as Phil so delicately put it. I can only see that it suggests that “Odor is nature’s way of telling you that it’s time to scoop or replace the litter.”.
It also doesn’t have a section for ‘Why so expensive?’. I understand though that the answer to that would be because it’s so shiny and designer-y.
You’ll also notice that I compared it to a local supermarket version in it’s use only – and unless I’m a little confused, all litter boxes are used for the kitty to deposit waste in. So, regardless of how awesome you make it look or how many features you add to it, it will always be “a box for the cat to shit in.”
While I like the product that you’ve designed (as I assume by your address and link that you either represent the designers or that you work for the company), I still can’t help but feel that your product and it’s pricing is well out of reach for most cat owners. But, I’m sure that you will reach the niche market of rich cat owners that your product is (and should be) targeted at.
Feel free to comment further if you have any questions in regards to any of my comments.
I like it. Well done to the designer for their innovation!
I think the price of the unit is justifiable, but not the shipping price- $91! Unless it is hand-delivered by unicorns, I don’t see how they can justify that.