Last Tuesday morning, while nursing my third cup of coffee and watching the rain streak down our kitchen window, my wife Sarah dropped a bombshell that would change our household dynamics forever.
“Honey, I ordered something for Whiskers,” she said, not looking up from her phone. “It should arrive today.”
Now, Whiskers is our 8-year-old tabby who thinks he’s the undisputed king of our two-bedroom apartment. And when Sarah says she “ordered something,” it usually means I’m about to discover a new piece of furniture that costs more than our monthly grocery budget.
What arrived that afternoon was the ELS Pet spaceship automatic litter box – a gleaming white contraption that looked like it had just landed from the International Space Station. At 21 inches long, 19.5 inches wide, and 26 inches tall, this thing dominated our bathroom like a benevolent alien overlord.
First Impressions: Houston, We Have a Problem (Or Do We?)
I’ll be honest – my first reaction was pure skepticism. At 13.7 kilograms, this ELS Pet spaceship automatic litter box felt substantial enough to double as a small bomb shelter. The ABS material gave it a sturdy, almost industrial feel that made me wonder if we’d accidentally ordered something meant for NASA’s cat program.
“It looks like R2D2 had a baby with a washing machine,” I muttered to Sarah, who was already reading the manual with the enthusiasm of someone planning a moon landing.
“Give it a chance,” she said, shooting me that look that wives have perfected over millennia. “Whiskers deserves the best.”
And there was Whiskers, sitting in the doorway, tail swishing with what I could only interpret as feline judgment. Even he seemed to be questioning our life choices.
The Setup: Easier Than Teaching Your Dad to Use Netflix
Setting up the ELS Pet spaceship automatic litter box was surprisingly straightforward. No engineering degree required – though I did spend twenty minutes trying to figure out why the power cord was so short before realizing I’d been holding it upside down.
The white design actually grew on me. It looked clean, modern, almost like something you’d see in a high-end veterinary clinic. Sarah was right about one thing – it definitely didn’t look like a traditional litter box that you’d want to hide in a corner.
Whiskers’ Verdict: The True Test
Here’s where things got interesting. Cats, as any cat owner knows, are the world’s harshest critics. They’ll reject a \$200 bed in favor of a cardboard box, and they’ll boycott their food if you dare to switch brands without a formal consultation.
Whiskers approached the ELS Pet spaceship automatic litter box like a detective investigating a crime scene. Sniff. Pause. Circle. Sniff again. For a solid hour, he treated it like it might explode at any moment.
Then, just as I was preparing to eat crow and return the whole thing, he hopped in.
And the magic happened.
Living with the Space Station: Three Weeks Later
It’s been three weeks now, and I have to admit – this thing has changed our lives. The automatic cleaning cycle kicks in about 15 minutes after Whiskers does his business, and it’s quieter than our dishwasher. The waste gets separated and stored in a sealed compartment that we only need to empty once a week.
“Remember when we used to scoop twice a day?” Sarah asked last night, curled up on the couch with a book.
I did remember. I also remembered the smell, the tracking, the constant maintenance. Now our bathroom actually smells like a bathroom instead of a barn.
What Works:
- Nearly silent operation
- Dramatic reduction in odors
- Whiskers actually likes it
- Weekly waste disposal vs. daily scooping
- Sleek design that doesn’t scream “cat bathroom”
What Doesn’t:
- Takes up serious real estate
- Initial investment is substantial
- Power dependency (goodbye, simplicity)
- Might intimidate nervous cats
The Bottom Line: Worth the Investment?
Look, I’m not going to pretend the ELS Pet spaceship automatic litter box is cheap. But after three weeks of use, I can honestly say it’s one of those purchases that improves your daily quality of life in ways you don’t fully appreciate until you experience it.
Last weekend, we had Sarah’s parents over for dinner. Her mother, who has never been shy about commenting on household odors, walked past our bathroom twice before asking, “Did you move the litter box?”
That’s when you know you’ve made the right choice.
The ELS Pet spaceship automatic litter box isn’t just a litter box – it’s a lifestyle upgrade. Sure, it looks like something from a sci-fi movie, and yes, it takes up more space than we’d like. But when Whiskers emerges from his space pod looking satisfied, and when our house guests stop making subtle faces when they use our bathroom, you realize some investments are worth making.
Would I buy it again? In a heartbeat. Would I recommend it to other cat parents? Absolutely – with the caveat that you need the space, the budget, and a cat who’s willing to embrace the future.
As for Whiskers? He’s adapted to his new spaceship with the dignity of a true space commander. Sometimes I catch him sitting inside even when he doesn’t need to use it, like he’s checking his instruments before the next mission.
Maybe cats really do have it all figured out.
