Wished I hadn't purchased,
October 16, 2009
by pastagal
from Downers Grove, IL
"The only good thing about this product is the sleep timer. You'd think by now they'd make a motor that was strong enough to handle cat waste, ( i only have 1 cat), and was quiet enough to not be heard throughout a 3-story home. The rake also is completely inadequate."
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
3
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
Pros: i like the ramp, littermaid does make other good products, there are no other "pro's" Cons: it is not engineered properly, the motor is too week, the way the rake operates is not effective, it does not automatically reset itself, it wastes clean litter, litter gets under the receptacle onto the floor, the ramp is the oly thing that is not a "con"
"I owned a standard model Littermaid (similar to what is now the model LM500) for over 6 years. It wasn't perfect but we and our cat liked it just fine. It finally quit and, since we were pleased with Littermaid, we bought another one. This time we paid about 50% more and got the "top-of-the-line" single cat model. BIG MISTAKE! It gets stuck 3/4 of the time and when it does it will not run again until you manually reset it. That's a problem if you are out of town. The old one would get stuck every once in a while (less than 10% of the time) but it would still try to run again next time the cat used it and it would very often clear itself when it did. Plus, since it just pushes the clumps into the waste bin instead of lifting it, it wastes a lot of the clean litter every time it does run.
The manufacturer just offered to replace mine with the LM950 (which is the LM900 with the ramp and cabana). The customer service rep at Littermaid didn't say it, but I got the impression that this is a pretty common complaint.
Don't get me wrong, littermaid does make good products, just not this one. Save yourself the money and go with the LM500 or LM900 models instead.My rating is listed as a 1 star, but if I could have given it 0 stars I would have."
What is your gender?:
M
How many pets do you have?:
1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
I thought I was the only one,
September 30, 2009
by 4LJY
from Tinley Park, IL
"I am in search of a new self cleaning box. I used to have the older model and it lasted 8 years. I was so sad to throw it out. Then I was really upset when after a couple of months if that the new product stopped functioning. The rake would not go past a certain point. I thought it was just me but I see now that I'm not."
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
Does what it's designed for,
September 13, 2009
by shechrissy
from Wisconsin
Pros: automatic scoopint Cons: messy, receptables don't fit, receptables don't catch all the litter, mechanicals/electric system failure after 48 hrs, needs a design overhaul
"The first line in the product description says "Designed for single cat households." It might work properly if you have 1 cat in your household (like me), but I couldn't tell because it didn't work well enough to keep it and get a good grasp on its performance. There was litter everywhere on the floor beneath the receptacle tray, the receptacle bins don't fit very well at all, and the entire motors/lights/electronic components went out within 48 hours of setting it up, which rendered the darn thing useless. I had previously owned the older model about 8-9 years ago, and love it. This one, though, is junk and needs to be redesigned. Ask around for other automatic products."
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
A few times a year
I like it,
September 6, 2009
by LargeMike
from Philadelphia, PA
"I have used for a few weeks and I am pretty satisfied. I found it binding up at first, but I removed the rake, cleaned it and sprayed it with silicone lubricant, (as recommended by the manufacturer) and I have had no trouble since. I have two cats and they fill up the boxes pretty fast, but I line them with a garbage bag, so I can just remove the bag and re-use the boxes a few times."
What is your gender?:
M
How many pets do you have?:
3
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
Buy something else...,
August 26, 2009
by dxd813
from Brandon, FL
"I originally had the older model which lasted 7 years, really got my moneys worth from that one. This one, however, is junk. I am having the same problems as other reviewers. Weak motor so it does not scoop clumps, receptical box does not fit properly so if anything does make it to the box some of it spills onto floor from the front and sides. Save your money and research other products, this one is a waste of money and does not work very well. (I have 1 cat.)"
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
4
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
The worst litter box I have ever owned,
July 24, 2009
by LoveMyNala
from West Texas
"I bought this Litter box a few months ago because my old automated one stopped working after 5 years. It was made by the same company, so I figured it would be just as good. WRONG! Within the first month, this box stopped working. It won't scoop larger clumps, even when there's only one clump! It starts to push it forward, then acts like the clump is too heavy and goes back to starting position and repeats itself, never actually scooping it into the collection tray. Also, when it does finally scoop something, it leaves a pile of litter underneath the collection tray. I might as well have purchased a litter box that I scoop myself, and saved the $100+ dollars!"
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
A few times a year
It's okay,
May 6, 2009
by okinawa26
from Okinawa, Japan Kadena AFB
"I have had this cat box For almost 2 yrs and it really doesn't work very well. It has a hard time removing large clumps and only works well if there is barely any litter in it. We are going to toss it when We move, I definetly will never buy this or any other product made by this company."
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
A few times a year
Garbage,
May 4, 2009
by cincity
from cincinnati, ohio
"DO NOT BUY THIS PEICE OF JUNK! the tray does not stay in so things are falling through and there is always about 3" of litter underneath this worthless contraption. weak motor, so it barley scoops anything. parts are always coming off or breaking off. you might as well go buy a regular box and scooper for about 10 bucks than spend 120 bucks and have to do the same stuff."
What is your gender?:
M
How many pets do you have?:
3
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
A few times a year
Litter Maid Self Cleaning Litter Box,
April 29, 2009
by bini
from Phoenix, Arizona
"I have had this for three months and am fine with it. It is not "perfect" but it is 98% better then cleaning a smelly box every day. Yes, it leaves a mess around the catch-all tray but I am clean freak so this is not big deal for me. As another poster said, "I just reuse the tray". And I do reuse the trays as well. As I said, I have had this product for three months and an only on my second tray and that is only because the first one had a tear in it. I am still trying out different litters to see what I like best. A big NO to "Fresh Step" because it smells worse than the waste. "Arm and Hammer" is too heavy and the machine can't scoop it so that is a NO as well. I like "World's Best" but for some reason it seems as if the scooper is a spoon and not a rake because it scoops almost all the litter into the tray not just the clumped litter. This I can't figure out. So I am going with a NO on this litter. I am on to my next litter brand and will post once I find one that is perfect for me. Recommend this product? ... YES. Recommend a Liiter?....Not Yet. Still Testing."
It got worst.,
March 22, 2009
by sillybuddha
from Las Vegas
"I bought one when it first came out, and it worked great. But after 3-4 years it stopped being able to hold the right amount of litter. Which meant a lot of messes. So I went and spent the money for a new one. The newer model is HORRIBLE. In a few months it has ran off its track twice. How does it do that, because it is extremely difficult for me to fix. It isn't as easy to clean as before. All the parts come off to easy and you cannot lift it up to clean under it anymore. If you do it requires to touch some nastiness. I have to tape the canister to the machine, or else it wastes alot of good litter. It makes no sense. This product use to be good. How can an updated version be this bad."
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
3
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
Convenient... but a few flaws to deal with...,
January 25, 2009
by KarpeDiem
from West Linn, OR
Pros: convenience Cons: weak motor can't handle heavy litter, receptacle does not fit tightly litter spills out
"I got this for the convenience... it does the scooping for you, and typically I only have to change the litter receptacle once a week. I soon found out that there's a price to pay for convenience... and I don't mean the cost of the unit, or the replacement receptacles.
Like other reviewers, I've found the plastic receptacles do not fit into the box as indicated in the instructions, which results in loose litter collecting beneath the litter box and receptacle. So much for a cleaner litter box area!
I also spent several months and quite a bit of money trying to find a litter that would not stick to the bottom of the litter box and would not be too heavy for the rake. Most every one I tried, especially the clay based litters, were way to heavy, making the rake bog down, stop mid-"sweep" and reverse. Also, the clumps tended to break apart into pieces too small to be scooped by the rake.
I was about to kick this electric litter box to the curb and go "old school" when I tried the "Worlds Best Cat Litter". It's a bit more expensive than most, but it clumps harder and tighter, but is still light enough for the rake to sweep it into the receptacle in one smooth pass. And I've also found it to control the odor so that I'm not bowled over when I go to change out the waste receptacle.
So I'd only recommend the Littermaid automatic litter boxes to a friend as long as they only use the best litter with it, and they don't mind cleaning up the loose litter that falls between the cracks between the litter box and receptacle."
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
Love/Hate Experience,
January 4, 2009
by JayG
from Orange County, CA
Pros: less attention needed Cons: need to create a more durable product
"I have two cats and this product makes maintenance a lot easier that scooping everyday. However, I have gone through two of these boxes in a 5yr window (now about to purchase a 3rd). The first time, the motor burned out. The second time, the retractable feature for the cord went belly-up. When it comes to the litter and motor, DO NOT fill it to the limit line.
It's not as noisey as others make it out to be. Also, it does a good job with the raking. I make sure to tend to the box every 3-4 days, but that's far better than multiple times a day. Especially if you have cats that won't go in a box if it's not 100% clean.
Tips: As for the waste bins, just line it with your basic grocery plastic bag and you're set. As for the spillage, just put a cat mat under it with most of it out front to reduce tracking. Invest in one of those plastic Kitty Kabanas. It helps w/ spillage and I don't think you or your cat(s) want to watch each other while they're doing their business."
Pros: convienent, easy to use and clean Cons: price of disposable trays
"I am not sure why so many people are having problems with their litterbox. I have had the same one for 4 years now and I have never had a problem. Sure it can get messy with some litter spillage, but so do traditional boxes. You just need to make sure you keep the tracks on the side (where the rake runs) free of litter. And they even give you a little brush to do so. I empty the tray 2-3 times a week. rinse and reuse them cause they are a little pricy. I don't use expensive litter, just clumping tidy cats brand. My cat loves his box. As soon as he hears it start he runs to go watch it so it also provides entertainment for him throughout the day. When this one breaks I'm sure I will buy another one!"
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
This works great!,
December 17, 2008
by Hoya
from DC
"I dont understand how this product has worked so poorly for everyone else. I am very busy and cleaning a litter box everyday was not in my agenda. My products works wonderful and I can usually clean out the side compartment 2-3 times a week. The rake has not jammed yet. I try to use high quality clumpable litter. Once the motor had to be "reset" which the littermaid help line was very good in solving the problem. I think this was because I over filled the litter box so that is something to be really watchful in keeping the litter not too high but not too low. The only problem I see is that when my cat jumps out he gets litter everywhere and he usually does jump out since the sound of the air cleaner freaks him out."
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
Worst Product Ever!!,
November 12, 2008
by SMCR
from Parma, OH
"I purchased this box for our two cats, because my mom was all over me on scooping 2-3x a day. I know I'd never be able to do that between working and going to school. First, This is totally not designed for more than one cat. The rake doesn't scoop anything, any resistance given by a clump and it will not scoop it and will go right back into the start position. Then, the little plastic tins don't stay close enough to the body of the box, so litter and tiny pieces are always falling through the cracks. Every time I go to empty the trays, I have a good 2-3'' of litter underneath/around the product. I've resorted to taping the plastic container to the box, but I shouldn't have to go through all this extra work to keep my cats clean and happy. I wouldn't recommend this box to my worst enemy! Just stick to the regular 'scoop it yourself' box, that's what you'll end up doing if you buy this one!"
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
Save Your Money,
November 8, 2008
by CatandDogMom
from Colorado
"I am extremley grateful that I kept my receipt so I can return this expensive and very useless litter box. This machine does not work as advertised - save alot of money and buy a cheap box and scooper, works about the same"
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
5 or more
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Weekly
Best of the Worst,
November 2, 2008
by LoveAutomaticLitterBoxes
from Oklahoma
"I have owned several littermaid cat boxes over the years and the new model is not nearly as good as the old model. I just had to buy a new one and decided again on the Littermaid because of the reviews I read about the other brands and decided that this is the Best of the Worst. I don't like the rakes and it does get a lot of litter on the floor under the box. I put a pad under the box which allows for keeping litter off the floor and since it is un-used litter I can dump it back in the box and not throw it away. I still would never go back to a non-automatic litter box and this is probably the best one available."
What is your gender?:
M
How many pets do you have?:
3
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
Do your homework!,
November 2, 2008
by MackiesMom
from Ft Wayne In
"I will admit, I purchased my litter maid before reading any reviews, and I was shocked at all of the negative feedback and operational problems that folks were reporting. Mine works great.....just as promised. But you have to read the set up and programiming instructions. There are little quirks that this thing will throw at you that can be remedied by simply reading your booklet and making a few simple setup or operating adjustments. Read the book before you try to use it!!! The only bad thing that I have to say about it is that the receptacles are too pricy for the flimsy construction. The best thing about it is that it works just as promised if you set it up and maintain it properly. My home smells catless; Mackie has a clean litter box, and I have to do minimal maintenance on the thing twice a week instead of a gosh awful smelly cleaning nearly every day. Thank you Litter Maid!"
What is your gender?:
F
How many pets do you have?:
1
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Weekly
"Honestly, I HATE cleaning litter boxes. And doing is sooo often. I had another brand that was automated. It was okay for a few months. Then is get the "corn litter" stuff in the gears and they broke. Horrible. This littermaid is really good. My cat's poo smells really bad, and we don't smell it at night. While you DO have to clean and occasionally assist it in getting all the stuff out of the litter, it sure as heck beats scooping every other day. I have and do recommend this product. Just know, and if you're smart you realize, it's not a cure all. And with the sleep mode we sleep great at night without the motor running"
What is your gender?:
M
How many pets do you have?:
2
How often do you shop at PetSmart?:
Monthly
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