Ours is connected, and the one reason we like that function is for trips. We hook up a camera to point at it, and then if it seems like it has a fault or something, we can force it to reset or cycle. Worst case scenario is that we turn it off and then on again from the app. So far it’s always managed to fix it, all remotely. We have one very prissy cat (out of three) which is why we got it in the first place, so if we know the person checking in on them won’t be coming soon, it’s nice to know that they won’t arrive to a mess from a pity party.

All that being said, the price is still a gut punch. Even with the privilege to afford it, you’re still spending an obscene amount of money on a computerized shit receptacle.