Week one: switch it off
Put the machine where the old tray was, fill it with the litter the cat already uses, and leave it unpowered. All you are asking in week one is that the cat walks into a new shape.
Week two: let it hear the cycle
Power it on but run the cycle manually, when the cat is in the room and not in the box. The sound stops being a surprise, which is the whole point.
Then hand it over
Switch to automatic with the longest delay the machine allows. A six-minute delay covers the cat that steps out, thinks better of it and steps back in.
What breaks it
Changing the litter and the box at the same time. Two changes at once means a refusal you cannot diagnose — change one thing, wait, change the other.
This does not replace your machine’s manual. Sensor thresholds, cycle delays and temperature limits differ between models, and the manufacturer’s instructions for yours take precedence over anything written here.
The questions owners ask
How long does acceptance take?
Most cats that accept a machine do so within two weeks, and many within days. A cat still avoiding it after three weeks is telling you something about the shape, the noise or the litter rather than needing more time.
Should I remove the old tray?
Not at first. A cat with no alternative will go somewhere you like even less. Keep the old tray until the new box is being used reliably, then move it away gradually.
Last reviewed 2026-08-17
