Has your cat been asking for an AI cat litter box for the holidays?
If Santa comes through, 2025 could be a very special year for both of you.
Just when you thought that American pet owners couldn't spoil our domesticated beasts any more than we already do, here comes the UK-based PETKIT with a $900 cat litter box that would be the most expensive item under the tree in more than a few homes this holiday season.
A close look at this litter box raises another question: Whom, exactly, is this gift designed for? Is it truly for cats – or their helicopter-parent owners? Forgive me for asking such impertinent questions, but just look at this (partial) list of features:
- 180-degree cat-tracking camera
- Multi-cat facial recognition
- 24/7 pet livestreaming
- Two-way audio
- Fecal health monitoring and in-app health insights
Is this Rolls Royce of cat litter boxes a sign of the coming Apocalypse, a clear indication that pets are the new kids, or does it just signify that some people have way too much money on their hands? (It could be all three, of course.)
That said, if you want to be the first on your block to own one of these, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I have to admit that as a cat owner who happens to be the Official Cat Box Cleaner in our home, as someone addicted to metrics of all kinds, and as an undying fan of the latest tech ("It's an AI cat box!"), it does sound kind of compelling. And I can see that the health data would be especially interesting to owners of older cats.
But don't take my word for it. Check out this glowing video review left by one of the many enthusiastic fans of the Purobot Ultra:
And just to emphasize the enthusiam of Purobot Ultra's raving fans, this thing has a 4.6 rating on Amazon, which is kind of off-the-charts amazing when you consider that these customers are reviewing a $900 litter box.
All that said, I do have to wonder about other possible uses of $900, especially at this time of year.
For example, I happen to really like Boulder Food Rescue. This group does an outstanding job of collecting fresh food (typically from restaurants, grocery stores, and farmer's markets) that would otherwise be wasted, and delivering it, same-day, to those in need in the Boulder community. To make it even better, BFR focuses on distributing produce and other healthy food, and it makes its deliveries by bicycle, thus helping the environment. Very much a win-win-win, and I know they would really appreciate your support this year.
Of course, for many of us, this wouldn't have to be an either/or choice: We can help a worthy, local nonprofit that's oversubscribed and underfunded, even as we also grab that $900 Purobot Ultra cat litter box. If you decide to go that route, be sure to let me know how you (and your felines) are enjoying that 180-degree cat-tracking camera.
