The simple need of our beloved cats to dig into something and cover their eliminations has spawned an industry that has, pardon the pun, created quite a mess. One ounce of cat urine forms a three-ounce clump. One cat’s daily waste uses one-half-pound of clumping litter, which is not biodegradable.

The Bureau of Waste Management estimates that every year, 8 billion pounds of dirty cat litter contaminates landfills from the 60,000,000 cats that use litter boxes. Meanwhile, the waste produced by 85,000,000 feral cats, plus 20,000,000 cats whose owners make them “go” outdoors, pollutes the environment.

Most cat owners, from very diligent cleaners to procrastinators, detest litter boxes. Whether inert or clump movers, all litter boxes require touching, cleaning and breathing litter mess.

The new and unique CatGenie self-flushing, self-washing cat box provides an alternative that helps cats and cat lovers alike live in healthier, happier and more sanitary environments.

FROM THE CATS’ POINT OF VIEW, the CatGenie provides cat-comfy granules for digging and covering their waste and to satisfy their need for cleanliness. The granules look and feel like cat litter, making the transition from the “traditional” litter box easy. The difference is the granules are washable, permanent, do not clump, and do not absorb or create waste. With the CatGenie, cats enjoy a freshly washed, cleaned and dried cat box at least once a day. It seems cats really “dig” this contraption, with less that one-percent returns due to adjustment issues (granules, noise, shape) according to Rick Mellinger, the president of PetNovations, the maker of CatGenie.

For cat lovers, the unpleasant chore of cleaning and disposing of dirty cat litter is over. CatGenie is litter free, so it’s also dust and maintenance free. The CatGenie Cat Box is an appliance that automatically drains liquids, scoops out and liquefies solids and removes all waste out of the home. The CatGenie washes and sanitizes the Washable Granules and box interior with water and a cat-safe sanitizer that has the same ingredients that veterinarians use to decontaminate their exam areas. The granules are completely blow-dried for the cat’s comfort.

Like a toilet, CatGenie flushes all waste out of the home. The CatGenie drain hose hooks over a toilet rim or washing machine waste pipe. Waste flows to sanitary sewers for proper water treatment. Nothing remains to contaminate the environment. The washable granules never need changing. Any lost granules are biodegraded within nine-months.

For $299, you get the CatGenie Self-Washing Cat Box, two SaniSolution Smart Cartridges, two boxes of Washable Granules and T-adapters. One Smart Cartridge lasts for 60 cleanings and a replacement retails for $14.99 and is used instead of litter for the same annual cost. The Washable Granules, which diminish over time, cost $23.99. A T-adapter is included for the one-time, do-it-yourself hook-up to a cold water line. See video and further details at www.CatGenie.com.

Dr. Marty Becker is the resident veterinarian on TV’s Good Morning America and author of the new books, Why Do Dogs Drink Out Of Toilets? and Do Cats Always Land On Their Feet?