Automatic Litterbox Central

Purrforma Litter Box Knowledge Base - Helpfull things I have learned from using Purrforma plus-Jumbo and XL models

1. Box must be on flat surface or it will jam - carpet or floor.
2. Tabs that the secondary hood sits on must be lined up properly or unit will jam.
3. Tape the seam between waste container and liter liner(scotch tape) - This prevents waste from getting under liter liner and jamming unit - both models.
4. Litter liner must be lined up correctly or unit will jam - Use guide holes or tabs to align liner - XL = tabs and Jumbo = guide holes.
5.When black plastic rake rollers get dry unit will jam on the return - Lube rollers with a light amount of white lithium grease.
6. Use only premium clumping litter - fine grain clay.
7. Rake timer must be set to 15 or 20 minutes for proper clumping.
8. Always keep litter level to max by adding litter regularly.
9. Use dry enzyme (ex. Natures Miracle) to litter to keep urine smell under control - Bulk litter is only changed every 30 days.
10. Waste bags can be reused - save some money:
a. Take top off waste container
Dump contents into trash by turning container vertical and shake.
b. Replace waste container and the replace waste container top. Don’t forget to re-tape seam.

- These units can be tempermental like your kitty but if you have already taken the plunge the this post may help you.

- If you have either of the two boxes please post questions and I will do my best to help you out..

I have acouple of things to add. I use grocery bags as waste bags in my Ex-large Purrforma and I did tape the liner to the machine under the waste box so I don't have to redo it constantly. The following is a post I am distributing about how to fix a couple of issues I've discovered:
I have a FIX for the clunking noises and stalls of the Petmate Purrforma Automatic Litter Box.
I just bought a Petmate Purrforma extra large off of e-bay. They claimed it was new never used. After I won the bid I started looking for supplies and information about the machine, I had wanted one since they first came out.
Then I discovered the complaints. I am a former technician and I decided to analyze the complaints and be ready to address known problems as they occurred. I should mention that I have 6 cats and am giving the box a true workout.
Well right off the bat the box started hanging up in the rake sweep as it ascended the platform to dump in the container. I took it apart and discovered that the black nylon tube that attaches to the top of the rake guide was cracked, switch side, and causing the hang up. Obviously the box was not new. The tube comes right off and looks like it should be a spared part, I will write to the company about this ASAP, in the meantime I reinforced the section with epoxy putty, available at any hardware store or Home Depot. Now it works great, no hang up and smooth quiet operation. I will monitor how long this fix works and let everyone know.
I discovered that if you overfill the box, the waste will end up behind the rake. If you use a heavy clay cat litter it wont clump well and will apply too much pressure to the rake and bend it. DO NOT assume this is a design flaw. You would not want your cat trapped somehow in a box that could physically injure her. The box is designed in a lightweight fashion for safety reasons which is why it has a 12VDC motor and an aluminum rake.
People you must be smarter than the box. Use lightweight cat litter for starters, here’s a link to what I’m using it’s called P.POD and is all natural and NOT clay and VERY light http://www.jbpet.com/P-Pod-Clumping-Cat ... ,1255.html , it is solid clumping litter and works very well. P.POD is available from Fred Meyer in my area (Kroger Food Group). Fill with fresh litter as you empty the waste container, but be sure to only add it across the rake at the back of the box up to the middle of the box, DO NOT OVERFILL, and NEVER add litter on the ramp up to the waste container. I find that the convenience of not having to sift cat litter daily is immense in spite of known problems and even though I have to empty it daily.
Since beefing up the nylon tube guide I have had no issues with noise or faulty running. I’ll let everyone know if it quits and whether I can fix it or not, and I will let you know the response from Petmate about sparing (replacement part) the nylon tube that causes the malfunction and is giving this system such a bad reputation.
Last night I found three of my cats playing with the box while it was running standing on the plastic flap that lifts to allows the litter to be deposited under it into the waste container. Needless to say this could be a problem, but the box held up to the Cat curiosity and survived the excess weight.
PLEASE don’t chuck the box without trying this tube fix if you are experiencing clunking noises and stalls. If you need help with this procedure I will be more than willing to help anyone by sending photo’s or other information as necessary. Contact me on MySpace – Kiznkitten

Hi,
I have two of these rather expensive boxes and both are sitting out in my garage with three of the plastic guides broken and one missing. (probably stuffed under my fridge or couch by the little monkeys!) The boxes have worked fine for over two years, then they both started to jam and upon inspection I found the plastic guides causing the problem. It's ashame that a 5 cent piece of plastic has made these units unuseable! I'll have to take a look at the one and see if I can try the epoxy fix but I need to find the missing one.

Would be VERY interested to see what the company says, I have been able to get no where with them.
Wonder if there is a way to engineer a aluminum guide?

I'll keep checking back to see what comes of this as I would like to be able to use these again.
Talk to everyone later!
Lee

1) I can't believe this site exists
2) I am glad it does.
I have two Maine Coons (one 25 lbs, one 28lbs) and one Xl Purrforma. I have had the box for a little over two years, and have been able to make it work- but it has not been easy. There are two main problems with the box, and both have been discussed. The first is the rake gets hung up at the bottom of the incline on the way back down the ramp. The two plastic posts are indeed the key to the whole thing. When you break them (and yes, it's a question of when, not if) you will not be able to get replacements through Petmate. I just called them about replacement parts and they have none. If you are out of warrantee, you are out of luck. Everything was made overseas, and petmate never had a domestic service contract for parts or service for these units. That means they will replace the unit in warantee and send another one- that is why they make you mail the whole thing back to them to fix. They won't and can't service any units out of warantees and have no spare parts (except rakes).

The second problem is that 'transmission' or the gearbox either 1) shears the pin, causing the motor to run, but the rake not to move, or 2) the main drive gear (the biggest one) will lose a few teeth causing the rake to stop along its path at arbitrary points. In this case the motor will continue to run, and if you 'help' the rake along a bit in the direction it is was going, it will finish its cycle just fine.

I have had this box completely apart more times than I can count. I know every mechanical part. I have been through 3 shear pins on the main shaft. They seem to last about 6 months. I think that the main gear is also designed to wear out after a while.

I can help with one of these problems:

For those of you who broke your plastic posts- PVC pipe.
I measured the outside of the metal posts, and went to Home Depot and picked up a piece of pcv that was just a bit smaller (inner diameter of the pvc) than the post. I then cut it the same lenght as the original plastic post. Next, drew two horizontal lines 1/4 inch apart from each other down the lenghth of my new posts. I cut the 'groove' into it using a hack saw. This will do 2 things: 1)allow the rake to slide down into it; and 2) the grove will allow the smaller diameter pvc pipe to 'expand' to get around the post. It takes a bit of convincing and some oil, but it fits perfectly.
It works better thaan the original.

The gear issue is where I need help. I need to find somone who has thrown in the towel on their box, and who is willing to sell be the base part, so I can extract the transmission from it to fix mine. That seems to be the only way this will get fixed.
I acutaully only need the rear axel (whch has the motor and the black transmission, with the two wheels the drive the belts. If anyone has any leads, I would be grateful.

My cats love this thing. When it runs right, I do too. That is not so often though. I fear that if I get a used one, they will smell another cat and not go in it. I figure I will just continue to 'borrow' parts from a donor unit and put them in mine.

I, too, am having a gearbox/motor problem--just started a couple of days ago. I went to the Petmate website, but that was not helpful. However, it appears they may not make this litter box any longer. If anyone comes up with a solution or where I might get a replacement gearbox/motor, it would be appreciated. Thanks.
Also, the rubber/plastic caps over the metal where the rake insets broke on me a long time ago. I ended up just taking them off. The rake still worked.

This is just a follow up to my request of last week. I finally reached someone at Doskocil Mfg Co. which manufacturered the Petmate Purrforma litter box. They advised they stopped making this box a year ago because it was manufacturered overseas, and it was getting too expensive. The person I spoke to could not give me any additional information as to who made the gearbox/motor for this litter box. So if anyone knows how to repair it or where to go to get a replacement part, it would be appreciated. Right now I am back using a regular litter box, and I am thinking that is the way to go--just need to remember to clean when I get home from work every evening.

TO the lady who said she made the rubber piece. Can you contact me? Id like to buy one if you are currently making them. My rubber pieces are shot and I am having a hard time finding replacement pieces. My email is rerisi@yahoo.com Thanks much!

not sure if this will hold out very long- but I too took apart my purrforma when the motor started buzzing but the rake wouldnt move. I hoped it was a belt, but upon disassembling, the main motor gear is missing a few teeth (like a few of you). Unable to replace the motor or even the gear- I bought some JB weld putty (autoparts store)- cleaned the gear with alcohol- and put a tiny dab where the missing teeth were. (You have to work really fast or it hardens!) I used the smaller gear to make fitting teeth impressions- then shaped it a little (tweezers are the perfect space size) and let it dry overnight. Then WD40'd and put back together. It's only been 6 days- but at least it's working again. Assuredly, that little piece of weld will pop off and I will have to do it all over again- but it's cheaper then a new one JB weld putty is only $4 for a whole tube... so if you are a nut like me and take everything apart- this might help you! No guarantees- but it worked for me!

I know this is an old thread, but I just purchased the XL litter box from ebay; should have done some review before purchasing. What I need are the litter pan liners. Unable to find any on the internet. Anyone have any extras they are willing to sell? My litter box came without one, so I can't use it yet.

Thanks, Kevin

Help needed. Purrforma jams when rake returns to home position.
Unit jams with NO LITTER and NO RAKE installed.
It seems to think it needs to go further than the rear of the box before irt stops.
Anyone know what causes the returning rake to KNOW it is where it needs to be?
Have cleaned everything in sight, but have not taken the unit apart yet.
Our dozen cats love this thing. Please help. Thanks.

To Kevin and anyone looking for liners
We use small crystals (Markall from Walmart) with no liner and no catch bag in the receiving box. No mess - you just have to wipe it down periodically with ammonia/water. We need to change litter once a week for our dozen cats. Be sure to stir litter so urine does not accumulate in the grooves in base of unit.

Carl

i just brought one of these boxs and wanted to know where i can get the hood from