Automatic Litterbox Central

by **rocketwidget** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:56 pm

I'm getting a kitten this week, and I'm glad I found this site. However, the organization of this site is poor. After reading for two hours, I made a Pro-Con list of all the products, to help me and anyone else as a quick reference guide. I hope you like it!

NOTE:
I didn't include the LitterFree (LF) because it is no longer being produced, and I personally despise EBay. Check out the LitterFree forum if you want more info on it.

DISCLAIMER:
I have not personally used any of these products. I've just consolidated information about them from these forums. I've tried to represent the majority opinion on each product, but there are people who hate/love every box (Except maybe the Perrforma). If you disagree, or think an update is needed, post and i MIGHT update. Also, feel free to re-post this anywhere or edit it as you like. Just give me some credit, OK?

Omega Paw (OP) $25-30-Regular, $35 Large (Most recommend large)

Pros
+ Seems to work fairly well
+ Rocking the unit cleans it, just empty the tray
+ Very Cheap
+ Cats that use covered boxes use it
+ Masks smell well
+ Easy(er) to clean than some
+ Can use generic bags for waste

Cons
- Not automated, must still interact daily with it
- Covered litterbox (might be a + for some)
- Large
- Some report slight mechanical/cleaning problems

LitterSweep (LS) $70 Regular, $80 Ultra (Most recommend Ultra)

Pros
+ Attractive Looking
+ Easy to clean
+ Most cats adjust to it easily
+ Cheapest automated litterbox (Ultra only)
+ Can use generic bags for waste
+ Cleans 25 minutes after cat leaves, allowing waste to harden better (Ultra only)
+ Manages smell well
+ Company seems to offer replacement rake for free

Cons
- Loudest, longest clean cycle (though can be unplugged at night)
- Smallest litter area, some cats may feel cramped, especially if optional $20 cover is used, but cat may spread litter on the ground if it isn't
- Must use premium cat litter
- Rake can rust
- Tends to not get smaller waste pieces, may need to scoop every few days
- Can malfunction if too much / too little litter used, cat digs too much, etc.
- Newer product, so a shorter track record of breaking

LitterMaid (LM) $100 - LM500, $150-200 - LM950 (Longer, comes with cover and ramp)

Pros
+ Manages smells well
+ Most cats adjust to it easily
+ Some users claim that, if used carefully, very superior to regular litterbox
+ 1 Year warranty
+ Although disposable containers are expensive, can line them with bags for cheap

Cons
- Poor track record of breaking, sensor malfunctions
- Tends to jam, temperamental to proper litter level
- Difficult to clean, esp. litter rake
- Loud cleaning cycle
- Mandatory cycle after 10 minutes is too soon
- Must use premium clumping litter
- Some claim not big enough

Purrforma $150 - $250 (depending on cover, ramp, etc.)

Pros
+ You don’t have to buy it (Post in this thread if you like it!)

Cons
- Everyone on this forum says its like a more expensive LitterMaid that jams more often
- Couldn't find a positive review

Litter Robot (LR) $320

Pros
+ By far, the best rated product
+ Seems to work well more often than any other product
+ Can get away with cheaper clumping litter
+ With some skill, can modify waste bin to be very large
+ Quietest automatic box?

Cons
- Most expensive box, by far
- Many cats need to be trained to use it
- Huge
- Small waste bin, some complain of smell
- Not simple to clean (though easier than LitterMaid, and needs it less often than LitterMaid and LitterSweep)

Litter Revolution

Pros
+ Website claims to be more effective than Litter Robot, at a cheaper price

Cons
- Not available yet to use or review, check website for details

CONCLUSION
For MY kittens, I will first try the Litter Sweep Ultra. Price is good, and easy to clean is very important to me. I plan to unplug it when I sleep. It seems to work OK, but you get what you pay for. Will try to use the right amount of litter, and spray all parts with cooking spray. If it doesn't work well I'll try to return it and get the Omega Paw. If I had the money, I would get the Litter Robot, but I can't justify the price. Excited to see reviews of the Litter Revolution though!

by **shfwilf** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:18 am

I think you might want to redo this when you've had some experience with these products. recounting the experiences and opinions of others is a bit useless, no offense intended.

by **espir** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:45 pm

I think this was a great compilation of the different litter boxes and very helpfull to me it is a great start for anyone looking for an automated litter box

by **jjsmilee** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:40 pm

Hello there,

Just wanted to say thanks for putting this together. I too have been on this site for quite a while trying to get all the input from other partcipants. It was very thoughtful of you to share the results of all your hard work with the rest of us.
Thanks very much,
Julie

by **abatalha** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:36 am

Thank you for this litter box summary.

However there are 2 litter boxes that were not listed. They are:

CATGENIE the only one that really washes away the dirt (yet it does not have a hood)
SCOOPFREE uses crystals instead of clumping litter

Regarding the Litter Robot and, since I've bought one, I have to say that the absence of a door (problems with kicked sand) and chiefly the small holes towards the waste drawer (problems with large lumps) are really distressing!

Currently I can't decide if I will buy Scoopfree or Litter Revolution...

by **jeff** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:06 pm

Litter Revolution is vaporware.

by **abatalha** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:24 pm

I had to look in the dictionary :oops:

and I found "vaporware" means it may never be launched...

Therefore I will better invest in Scoopfree. Do you know if it is really good managing smell?

by **jeff** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:35 pm

abatalha wrote:I will better invest in Scoopfree. Do you know if it is really good managing smell?

Scoopfree uses crystal litter (Fresh Step Crystals), which is extremely good at odor management. It is not at all like regular cat litter, though. If you can obtain some, you may want to test your cat(s) with crystal litter to see if they will use it. Some cats will use anything and others are very fussy. How is your cat?

by **abatalha** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:44 pm

I currently have 2 cats and I believe they will use anything. I'm still looking in Aazon the price for various cartridges, since it is a bit expensive otherwise...

by **jeff** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:12 pm

I think the pricing on Amazon is likely an error. I would expect refills to soon cost about $10-15 each. Maybe ScoopFree can comment!

by **noodlesmommy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:05 pm

I found this very helpful. I'm trying to decide which type of automatic litterbox to get for my two kitties and appreciate having the pictures, price info, and pro's and con's right there in one place.

Thanks!

by **storm0075** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:22 am

I got two kittens back in October. After a few months I purchased an SF. I think it is one of the best things ever invented. Yes the cost can be a bit steep but there are permanent cartridges out there you can buy or use someone else's directions to make your own. My kittens took right to the SF after I placed a little bit of poo from their old box in it. The biggest problem I have had is teaching them not to attack the rake (although as they get older this is happeneing less) and they will dig for china, not in the box, on the plastic edges which of course drives me crazy. :lol:

Good luck to those of you still out there searching. The SF is the first auto litterbox I bought and it will also be the last.

by **eatyourbeets** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:50 pm

Wow. A year and a half later, not much has changed in the market since that original post.

I broke down and got a Litter Robot. It's more reliable than the Litterbox From Hell (I mean LitterMaid, which I went through 3 of...) (yes, I spend too damn much on my cats...) You don't have to dump the drawer often. But, as somebody said, cats like to scatter the litter around before they get down to it and so the litter, flying out of that hole in pawfuls, creates more floor scatter than any box I've had. Also it is NOISY, and the cycle is longer than the littermaid, so conversations do pause for a solid minute at least. But the drawer is big and nice so you can forget about dumping litter for days. And if you have a technical problem, the nicest lady in the world is there to help you find a solution.

Anybody heard anything about LItterrevolution lately? I've had a few email exchanges and they've told me they've had to outsource the manufacturing or some such so the product launch keeps getting delayed. It sounds like a good product, though they all do till you have to live with them. IF THEY CAN PUT A MAN ON THE MOON (in a diaper, we now know), WHY CAN'T THEY...etc....

by **pgitta** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:49 am

shfwilf wrote:I think you might want to redo this when you've had some experience with these products. recounting the experiences and opinions of others is a bit useless, no offense intended.

No good deed goes unpunished, right shfwilf?

by **Gene and Kathy** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:04 pm

We have a lot of cats (20+) in two separate areas of the house. We have two Liter Robots in one area and one in the other. After about seven months of use, the Liter Robots have proven trouble free operationally. Yes, the cats tend to kick litter onto the floor. Yes the units are noisy. With all our cats, we have to empty each waste bin once a day. Otherwise the bin weight will activate the operating pressure switch continuously and cause the unit to become temporarily inoperative. A cat standing on top of the unit and rocking it back and forth has the same effect. We too wore out three Liter Maids in three months before purchasing the first Liter Robot on ebay. The other two were purchased directly from the manufacturer. Hope this helps.

Automatic Litterbox Central

MUST READ!!!!! PROS AND CONS OF ALL AUTOMATIC LITTERBOXES!

MUST READ!!!!! PROS AND CONS OF ALL AUTOMATIC LITTERBOXES!

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