How it Works:

7 minutes after your cat leaves the Litter Robot, the globe slowly rotates to allow clumps to fall into the plastic bag in the drawer below.  The globe then rotates back into original position.  Simply throw away the full plastic bag and replace it with a new one every few days.

Pros:

-Low operation costs. If you think the Litter Robot is expensive, consider this: no replacement cartridges or refills are required, which means that after the initial cost, there will be no maintenance costs other than the electricity costs. For certain other automatic litter boxes, the cost of refills for the first year alone is enough to buy a Litter Robot!

-Minimum maintenance. Just replace the plastic bag when it becomes full. Tip: Do NOT wait until the bag is overflowing before replacing it. An overflowing unit will result in smeared poop on the outside of the globe when it rotates.

-Highly effective odor control. Many consumers have reported huge reductions in odor after using the Litter Robot. I can personally vouch for this as well.

-Consistent performance. The Litter Robot performs consistently well for the vast majority of people that have used it, and has earned a 4.5 our of 5 stars on Amazon, making it the highest-rated automatic litter box on Amazon!

Check out the Litter Robot Here

Cons:

-The initial purchase price may be a little steep, but as was commented above, you’ll save hundreds of dollars every year in maintenance cost as compared to some of the other automatic litter boxes.

-There isn’t a lot of space inside the globe, so don’t buy the Litter Robot if you have a big cat.

-Some cat owners have complained about their cats not taking well to the Litter Robot and are scared to do their business in it (although many more owners don’t have this problem – including myself with my 3 cats).

-Some cats do not know to turn around and face the outside when peeing / pooing, resulting in pee/poop on the step and/or the base.

-It’s bigger and taller than other litter boxes and therefore takes up more space.

Comments:

Although all automatic litter boxes each has their own flaws, the Litter Robot seems to be the most reliable and the one that gives owners the least headache.  With four and a half out of five stars on Amazon from nearly 300 consumers, the Litter Robot has the highest rating of all automatic litter boxes.  This is the one I like the most from my personal experience and I currently have two of them, and I’m just waiting for my other two automatic boxes to die before replacing them with Litter Robots also. Click Here to check out the Litter Robot.

The Petsafe Simply Clean Automatic Litter Box constantly rotates (at one rotation per hour) to shift the litter around.  After the cat does its business, the clumps gets shifted continuously with the litter until they make contact with a conveyor that carries them to a hopper lined with a plastic bag (any plastic bag will do).  There are no moving parts (therefore sensors are not required to detect your cat’s movement) and the unit will continue to rotate while your cat does its business without the risk of getting its claws caught.  When the plastic bag gets full, simply take it out and replace it with a new one.

Pros:

-Low initial cost.

-Low operating costs: only plastic grocery bags and any clumping litter.

-No moving rake means more safety for your cat.

Cons:

-If  your cat has soft feces, they may break into smaller and smaller pieces with the machine’s rotation, and stay in the box instead of getting picked up by the conveyor.  Tip: Use the hardest clumping litter you can find to prevent clumps from breaking apart.

-Litter can get caught in the machine (turning wheel and/or the motor), resulting in stalling or grinding, which may require the machine to be taken apart and cleaned thoroughly and then reassembled.

Some Say:

-Some people complain about the noise being loud, while others say that it’s negligible.  Tip: get a wall-timer (for cheap from any department store) to only operate the litter box several times a day, and/or only in the day time, if you find the noise too loud.

Comments:

It would seem that people that have used this machine either loves it or hates it.  I personally haven’t had much problems with mine aside from having to manually scoop out some of the broken up clumps once in a while.  I still like my Litter Robot best though as I can truly take the hand-off approach with it, because it works as it should with no hiccups.

The ScoopFree litter box comes with a disposable tray already filled with litter crystals that absorbs urine and dries out poo after the cat uses it.  20 minutes after the cat leaves the litter, a rake automatically sweeps clumps into a covered trap to contain odor.  Periodically (up to every 30 days) you’ll need to throw away the disposable tray and slide in a new one.

Pros:

-A reliable and durable product that rarely gets jammed or otherwise malfunctions.

-Requires very minimal attention (just change the tray regularly).

Cons:

-The disposable trays makes for an ongoing cost (check them out here).  Tip: Instead of buying disposable trays, you can buy a “Forever Litter Tray” which is a permanent tray that you can fill up with Fresh Step Crystals from WalMart.  Although this method is cheaper, you’ll need to manually scoop out the poop that the rake has swept under the cover.

-Sometimes urine may soak through the cardboard tray bottom.

-A disposable tray almost never lasts 30 days – according to consumer feedback, people are needing to replace it every 2-20 days.

Some Say:

-Some people say the odor’s terrible, but others say odor’s much less than the regular litter box.

-Some say the noise wakes them up at night, others say it’s fairly quiet.

Comments:

To get better value, consider getting the Complete Scoop Free Automatic Litter Box Kit which includes a hood (which provides more privacy for your cat, further eliminates odor, and keeps litter from scattering) and 6 disposable trays.  (Check out this kit by clicking here.)

Another tip to further cut down on odor, is the pour a little bit of baking soda in the tray before pouring in the crystals.

Instead of the conventional litter, the CatGenie uses permanent washable granules that don’t require changing.  Cat pee drains through the granules into a reservoir of sani-solution below.  A scoop scoops up poo and deposits it into the hopper where it mixes with the sani-solution and gets liquified, then flushed down your toilet.  The CatGenie then uses fresh water to scrub the basin and granules clean.  The cycle finishes with a drying process where a hot air blower dries the granules.  You can start the flush manually or set the machine to flush automatically.

Pros:

-The Cat Genie is self-cleaning and self-flushing, and is the only automatic litter box on the market that currently does this.

Cons:

-Installation is more complicated than for other automatic litter boxes, as you need to hook it up to your plumbing system to get fresh water and flush out waste.

-The cost of the sani-solution (purchased separately) can add up over time.  Also, the granules are expensive and will need to be replaced as they are lost through scattering during the operation cycle.

-The granules get thrown to surrounding areas during the normal operation cycle.  (Tip: to eliminate this problem you can purchase a dome for the Cat Genie separately by clicking here.)

Some Say:

-The CatGenie has built-in error-detection and some owners complain about frequent errors which result in warning beeps that would not stop until you reset the machine.  Some cats get turned off by the beeping and would not go near the machine again.

-Some consumers complain about frequent malfunctioning such as jams and clogs that necessitate disassembly, cleaning out of disgusting water+feces+urine mixture, and re-assembly of machine.

-The scoop sometimes fails to pick up all the poop, and the left-over poop gets dried in the drying cycle which causes a terrible stink.

Comments:

It would seem that the CatGenie is receiving as many positive feedback as negative feedback.  Buy at your own discretion.

10 minutes after the cat leaves the box, a rake would automatically move clumps into a sealable container beneath the box and then return to its original position.  An ionic air cleaner uses carbon filters to absorb odor to cut it down by 50%.  When the waste container is full, simply replace it with a new one.

Note: This product is ideal if you have a large cat or more than one cat.

Pros:

-It requires much less work than the traditional litter box.

-The litter box ramp traps litter from your cat’s paws as it exits the box so you have less litter outside of the box.

-The odor-control feature is effective in eliminating odor.

-It has a built-in timer that stops the box from operating at night so it won’t disturb your sleep.
Cons:

-Both the waste receptacle and the carbon filters both need to be replaced on a regular basis, which will add to maintenance costs.  Tips: put a plastic grocery bag in the waste receptacles so that you can throw out the bag instead of the receptacle; also, use a couple of lumps of charcoal (the type people use for BBQs) instead of the carbon filter.  Doing this will save you money on having to buy new receptacles and carbon filters.

-The rake sometimes breaks clumps into little pieces and leaves them behind.  The rake can also get stuck on some clumps and stall.  Tips: Use extra-clumping litter to avoid breakage.  Also, avoid scratching the inside bottom of the box – otherwise clumps will stick to the scratched area and jam up the rake.  Try to manually scoop out the left-behind waste once in a while.  Lastly, give your cat better quality cat food that will digest more completely to leave less poop – this will reduce the likelihood of the machine getting jammed, and you’ll have healthier and happier cats too!

Some Say:

-Some people complain about the gears in the rake breaking regularly and needing to be replaced at cost after the warranty expires.

-Some owners complain about the noise this unit makes, especially when in contact with larger clumps.

Other Comments:

This litter box is an improvement over the LM700 model, in that it 1)has the new odor-control feature, 2)allows the rake to be removed for easy cleaning, 3)has a timer that keeps the box from working while you’re sleeping, and 4)has more room for the cat to move in.

Tip: to save on refills, check out the Ultimate Accessories Kit for Elite Mega (click here), which includes a privacy tent (to give your cat more privacy and also to contain the litter better), 1 area carpet (to catch scattered litter), 4 replacement waste receptacles, and 4 carbon filters.

10 minutes after your cat finishes its business and leaves the LitterMaid LM700 litter box, a rake automatically moves through the litter box to scoop the waste into a waste receptacle.  You’ll need to replenish the litter every so often, and also replace the waste receptacle as it fills up (the product comes with several waste receptacles to get you started, and more can be purchased separately from here).  The carbon filters that act to control odor will also need replacing and can be found here.

Pros:

-This litter box uses less litter than the traditional litter box.

-The LM700 is praised by many for its ability to effectively eliminate odor.

Cons:

-The disposable trays makes for an ongoing cost (check them out here).

-The carbon filters, while very effective in cutting down on odor, need to be replaced once in a while, which adds to maintenance costs (you can buy them from here).

-Many customers complain that the motor is too noisy.

-The rake sometimes leaves little bits of clumps behind, which need to be manually scooped once in a while.

-While the rake is in action, it may “throw” bits of litter/waste outside of the litter box.

-The refuse bin needs to be cleaned regularly.

Some Say:

-Some customers experience repeated jamming or stalling of the rake, while others report smooth operation on the most part.

Tips:

-Use premium clumping litter to keep clumps from breaking apart and leaving a mess.

-Do not fill the litter box beyond the “max fill” line, otherwise the rake may get stalled.

-Line the waste receptacle with a plastic bag, and just replace the bag when it’s full instead of replacing the waste receptacle – this will cut down on the number of waste receptacles you go through which will save big on costs.

-Before filling the litter box with litter, spray a thin coat of cooking oil on the bottom to keep litter from sticking.

-If you’re a light sleeper, you’ll do well to turn off the box before going to bed every night.

The LitterMaid LM900 has a sensor that senses when your cat leaves the litter box, and starts a 10 minute timer.  After the 10 minutes, the rake is activated to move the clumped waste to a plastic container, which needs to be replaced when it becomes full.  The litter box is also equipped with carbon filters that control odor.  You need to supply the litter yourself, as well as purchase replacements for the waste container (see here) and the carbon filters (see here).

Pros:

-The LitterMaid LM900 uses less litter than the normal (non-automatic) litter box.

-This litter box is quite effective in cutting down on odor.

Cons:

-This litter box is more expensive to maintain than some of the other automatic litter boxes.  Aside from using premium clumping litter, it also uses disposable waste containers (see here) and carbon filters (see here), both of which need replacing regularly.

-The motor is overly noisy according to many customers.

-When the rake is moving, it can sometimes fling pieces of litter/clumps out of the litter box.  The rake can also leave behind pieces of waste, requiring some manual scooping.

-The bin that holds the waste needs to be cleaned regularly.

Some Say:

-Some owners report occasional to frequent stalling of the rake.

Tips:

-Only use premium clumping litter to avoid having clumps break into smaller pieces that get left behind by the rake.

-Only fill litter up to the “max fill” line or lower – the rake is not powerful enough to handle any more than that amount.

-Instead of replacing the waste container every time it fills up, line it with a grocery bag and just replace the bag when it becomes full.  This way you’ll be needing fewer waste containers which can be quite expensive in the long run.

-Spray a layer of cooking oil onto the bottom of the litter box before adding litter.  This will minimize the sticking of litter to the bottom of the box.

-If you’re a light sleeper, you may want to turn off the litter box before going to bed, as the noise may wake you.

15 minutes after your cat leaves the Smart Scoop litter box, the cleaning cycle begins where a rake moves the clumps and deposits them into a waste bin.  When the bin gets full, simply dispose of the waste bag and replace with a new one.  The litter box comes with a dozen waste bags and new refills can be purchased separately (from here).  The unit also comes with carbon filters that need to be replaced as well – you can find refills here.  Optionally, you can purchase the Smart Scoop No-Stick Litter Box Spray (available here) and the Smart Scoop Odor Control Litter Box Spray (available here).

Pros:

-The Smart Scoop litter box is relatively quiet in operation (when it’s not jammed or stalled).

-This litter box does a decent job in controlling odor.

Cons:

-Several ongoing costs with this product: waste bags, carbon filters, non-stick spray and odor-control spray.

-The tines on the rake are too far apart, resulting in waste getting left behind.

-Sometimes, when the rake is trying to deposit the waste into the waste bin, it throws the waste outside of the box and onto the floor instead.

-Many complain that the rake frequently gets stalled, travels back and forth, and doesn’t complete the cleaning cycle.

Comments:

It is recommended that you consider getting a Litter Robot or another, higher-ranking litter box.

After LitterMaid LME5500′s built-in sensor senses that your cat has left the litter box, it rakes the clumps into a waste receptacle.  You need to supply the litter yourself, as well as buy replacements waste containers (see here) and carbon filters (see here) after the initial supply (that comes with the unit) runs out.  The LME5500 also comes with a sleep timer that you can set to avoid getting woken up during the night.

Pros:

-The LitterMaid LME5500 is equipped with a rake that can be detached and cleaned easily (unlike for older models).

-It’s designed with a sleep timer to stop the unit from operating in the middle of the night.

-The carbon filters eliminates odors quite effectively.

Cons:

-This litter box comes with ongoing maintenance costs.  Aside from using premium clumping litter, it also uses disposable waste containers (see here) and carbon filters (see here), both of which need replacing regularly.

-Many people find this litter box noisier than they would like it to be.

-The rake can sometimes cause bits and pieces of waste to fly out of the litter box while it’s in operation.  The rake may sometimes leave behind pieces of poop that need to be scooped up manually.

-Some report poop getting stuck on the rake.  Fortunately the rake can be detached and cleaned.

Some Say:

-Some consumers complain about the rake getting jammed or stuck occasionally to frequently.

Tips:

-Only use premium clumping litter to avoid having clumps break into smaller pieces that get left behind by the rake.

-Only fill litter up to the “max fill” line or lower – the rake is not powerful enough to handle any more than that amount.

-Instead of replacing the waste container every time it fills up, line it with a grocery bag and just replace the bag when it becomes full.  This way you’ll be needing fewer waste containers which can be quite expensive in the long run.

-Spray a layer of cooking oil onto the bottom of the litter box before adding litter.  This will minimize the sticking of litter to the bottom of the box.

-If you’re a light sleeper, set the sleep timer to stop the unit from working at night.

Comments:

It is recommended that you consider getting a Litter Robot or another, higher-ranking litter box.

10 minutes after the cat leaves the box, a rake would automatically move clumps into a sealable container beneath the box and then return to its original position.  An ionic air cleaner uses carbon filters to absorb odor to cut it down by 50%.  When the waste container is full, simply replace it with a new one (which you can find here).  You need to supply the litter, and the carbon filters will need replacing once in a while as well (you can find them here).  Note: This unit is designed for a large cat or multiple cats in the household.

Pros:

-The LME9000 model is equipped with a sleep timer which shuts off the machine while you’re sleeping.

-This model comes with a detachable metal rake (compared with the plastic non-detachable one from earlier models).

Cons:

-Many consumers report frequent jamming / stalling of the rake, during which the motor continues to run until the unit is manually unplugged and reset.  Danger of motor burning out.

-A considerable amount of litter ends up outside the box.

-The rake leaves waste behind, especially towards the back of the box, and also doesn’t scrape all the way to the bottom.

-The box is made of “flimsy” plastic and parts don’t fit too well together.

-The waste receptacle refills and carbon filter refills are costly to replace.

Some Say:

-Rake’s rollers are prone to breakage.

-Sensor sometimes malfunctions, such that the rake gets activated without the cat having used it, or it doesn’t get activated after the box has been used.

Comments:

Too much negative consumer feedback for this product.  Instead, consider getting a Litter Robot or another, higher-ranking litter box.