Since "LitterSweep Ultra" has been the most common search term used to find my site in recent weeks, I guess I'd better get on that product review. (I don't want to disappoint Karen, either.) And then, I promise, absolutely no more scatalogical references for at least six months!
Product review: LitterSweep Ultra
I bought the LSU about three weeks ago after experiencing litterbox "issues" with my new kitty, Luna. She's an absolute doll besides this one thing, so I decided to do whatever it took to accommodate her. While my boy, Tango, couldn't care less what shape the litterbox is in, Luna is extremely fastidious, a real girly-girl. Since I have neither the time nor the inclination to follow both of them around with a pooper-scooper 24 hours a day, I decided to buy an automatic litterbox. I did my research, read reviews of the various Littermaid models and a few other brands, as well. Reviews seemed very mixed -- some people loved them, some thought they were junk. The LitterSweep Ultra was new on the market, and although I couldn't find much on it, the few mentions I did find were positive.
But when I hauled it up to the register at PetsMart, the checker said, "Just to let you know, a lot of people have been returning these. Be sure to save your receipt." Sure enough, I've decided to return it. I really wanted to like it. I've withheld judgment until now, hoping it would grow on me. And the thing is, this litterbox works great -- when it works, which is about half of the time. The other half of the time, it either fails to completely deposit the clumps in the storage container -- bringing them back to the tray and gently laying them down again -- or the red unbalance light comes on when kitty scoops too much litter to one side of the tray. Which is often.
Bottom line: I might try the LitterSweep Ultra again a generation or two down the line, when they've worked out some of the kinks. It has great potential. But 80 bucks is too much to spend on something that only kinda-sorta works.
27 Comments:
Patia, the other brand -- I think it's Littermaid -- is great. It's $100 for the basic model, which is plenty for two cats in my experience. I just had to replace the one I've had for about three years, and it's improved in the interim, not so noisy.
Also, The Best Cat Litter In The World really is.
I had the littermaid for about a year and it does work. My problem was with changing the plasitc boxes - the litter always seemed to fly everywhere. I finally decided scooping is easier.
Thanks for the info, ladies. I may give the Littermaid a try. (And possibly the Best Cat Litter in the World, when we finish our current Costco-sized box.)
Wow - I'm surprised that you can return it! I'm scooping here... only one cat now, Rocky. He spends quite a bit of time outside, too.
Thanks!
Karen, I specifically asked about their return policy when I bought it. I probably wouldn't have risked that much $ otherwise.
Yeah, Tango prefers the great outdoors, too, but Luna will actually hold it till she comes inside, then whimper and fuss because the box isn't pristine.
hi Patia,
Found your review of the LSU via Google - very helpful. I too am ever searching for an ideal solution to the litterbox woes of my two cats. (currently using the "Booda Step" box, but researching the automatic ones) I was wondering where I could find "The Best Cat Litter In The World" brand litter. Does Petco or Petsmart carry it?
Hi Milo,
I haven't yet tried the Best Cat Litter in the World, but I did see it in the PetsMart catalog.
I ended up trading in the LSU for a Littermaid 520. It is definitely better than the LSU, but still not perfect. It doesn't have the unbalanced problems, but often misses clumps or fails to dislodge them into the disposal bin. I have made tidying up the box part of my morning routine. However, the bin is really handy -- I line it with a plastic grocery bag for easy, once-a-week disposal. Another bonus is that the LM is MUCH quieter than the LSU.
Thanks for the "scoop" on the LitterMaid. It may be a matter of semantics, but are we talking about "The Best Cat Litter in the World"? or "the World's Best Cat Litter" (www.worldsbestcatlitter.com) - which I did happen to find on my last PetsMart trip?
Hey, I'm all about semantics!
Uh, I can't say for sure, but I'd guess the stuff you found is the stuff Sharon's talking about.
To update y'all, we're still using the Littermaid 520 to mixed results. It's definitely better the the LSU, but only slightly better than scooping a couple times a day.
BTW, I've heard others with Laura's complaint about litter flying everywhere when changing the box -- but I'm guessing that's a different model, because I don't have that problem. The boxes slide in and out fairly easily, and by lining the box with a plastic grocery bag, you can make it last for a long time.
We bought ours about the time you posted this article and have had very few problem with it, particularly in comparison to our littermaid(s). [ Note: We've had three in about 5 years, which is not bad with three and four kitties. ]
The biggest problem we've had was the litter we're using in it ( Schweet scoop ) has a fine dust to it that tends to cake and can, if the pan isn't totally cleaned out soon enough can block the rake. But this will happen with any pan - including manual. :)
It's a very light litter and I suspect that's why we haven't had the "out of balance" pan problem.
I do agree it has room for improvement, I think the scoop would dump better if it had a sawtooth action on the end of the dumping run and if the whole unit was higher up, and thus could have a deeper dumping pan.
A couple of our kitties won't use it with the dome on and stick with the littermaid, but this split the load between the two boxes and *probably* has helped us in the long run. :)
I just love that this is my most popular post ever!
David, that's interesting about the lighter litter. I'll bet that does help with the unbalance problem.
I am still reasonably happy with the Littermaid. Happier than I was with the LSU, anyway. It's not perfect, but it does the, ahem, "heavy lifting," and I do a quick tidy-up every morning. No more problems with Luna peeing where she's not supposed to, anyway. The Princess is satisfied!
I also line the box with a plastic grocery sack to save money. With two cats who also go outside, I'm able to change it once a week.
We do still use the littermaid as one ( or two, I can't be quite sure ) of the other kitties won't go inside the privacy dome on the LSU ( though I'm pretty sure they use it when it's off )
Last year I actually had the littermaid "up on blocks" and cut out the buttom of one of the receptacles. Between the extra hieght and the hole, I could slip a normal plastic grocery bag in side and would - even with four kitties - only empty it about once a week. With good litter and a deodorizer in the in the litter room, it was hardly noticeable.
My biggest issue with the Littermaid is because of multi-cats seeming to all want to do their morning constitional within about 5 minutes of each other ( I have seem them wait in line before ) the box can get overwhelmed and jam, clog, and or waste litter. This is almost a non-issue with the LSU and with the two boxes, the "loads" are better distributed, which also helps.
The one other issue with a mechanical with indoor kitties, I've noticed they get lazy and don't scratch anymore.
We have had the LSU for about three days now. Our two cats don't mind it, they just get out of the way when it starts. We have noticed that once the bag starts to fill up, it scoops clumps back into the box. We are going to try out grocery bags because the bags it says to use cost around 50 cents each.
The worst problem is that it becomes unbalanced when the cats dig in it, as others have mentioned. I have to scoop the liter back into position before the box will run. We think we will return it because of this, it happens five or six times a day. We think we will try out the LitterMaid and if we don't like it, we will go back to the old-fashoned box.
Thanks for the reviews! (if only we had looked before we bought it)
June 27, 2005
Well, we've had the unit quite a while now, and finally finished of a gigundo bag of Schweet Scoop and decided to see if our kitties that don't like the LSU use it with the other litter ( we'd been trying with the dome off and that seemed to attract ( at lerast sometimes ) Curious ) and I don't really see much difference in performance, but it's been a couple of days now.
Juries still out on if Fion and Curious are really using it though. I haven't spotted them.
Miss Stephens,
Yep, found your page while looking for information on this incredibly lousy self cleaning litter system. I've had mine for less than 24 hours and the gear that drives the rake stripped 4 out of 8 teeth off already. I awoke to the sound of grinding and skipping, tore the machine down after work, put it back together with the 4 teeth in a can, and I'm praying my wife didn't lose the receipt.
My question to you is: Price being no object (I'll blow some cash on this), what is the best machine out there? It definitely isn't the Littersweep Ultra or the Littermaid Feline Fecal Trebuchet (yes, there's nothing quite like the sight of cat turds being flung well past the container and across the kitchen...)
Hi Weaver. Which one did you get -- the Litter Sweep Ultra?
I am still mostly happy with the Littermaid 520. Although it's not always thorough, it does get about 90 percent of the stuff. I tidy up the other 10 percent every morning. With my two cats going both outside and inside, I empty the bag-lined box once a week whether it needs it or not, to control odors. I don't have problems with flying litter.
I honestly don't know if there is a perfect solution out there. I vaguely recall seeing a very expensive brand that some people raved about. It might have been on the Cat Fancy boards. Try going there and searching on "automatic litterbox."
I also read a lot of reviews of various models on Amazon. There seems to be a lot of variance in experiences with even the same brands. I don't know if it depends on the model or if these things are just prone to a high number of "lemons."
BTW, despite the clean box, Luna had several more "episodes" of peeing on my bed, and even on ME once. She's now on kitty anti-anxiety drugs and "happy" facial pheromones via a room diffuser. So far (maybe 2 1/2 months), so good. If all goes well, I will try to wean her off the drugs in another month or two.
Good luck!
Hi there
I tried it for about two weeks, then took it back.
I love the concept,but we have three cats and it was to much work.
How I would improve it
1. make it quieter.
2. bigger or deeper litter tray.
Ok....here is the deal...I have had the LitterMaid Ultra for about 3 weeks. I really, really want this thing to work. But its not....here is the problem. When the cycle starts the "forks" get to about halfway through the pan. At about midpoint it seems as if they get stuck and a "clicking" sound starts. I have to actually use my hand to push the forks through that spot. I have been using Arm and Hammer cat litter. I am wondering if that is too course. Has anyone run into this problem and for those of us who are using the LMU what kind of litter are you using ??
I have had two Littermaids - one stopped working after about 1.5 years. This one is working fine, but as others have posted, does have some issues - doesn't get everything, etc. Mine is an older model and uses the plastic containers with lids. About three years ago, I purchased a Litter Robot and I've had absolutely no problems with it other than the fact that you cannot set it up on carpet - must be on a level hard surface floor. This automatic litter device is not inexpensive but it has a large drawer underneath and it uses small garbage bags (I buy the wastebasket size). It sort of looks like a space ship. I do have one kitty who won't use it. if your kitty doesn't like to get into boxes, sacks, etc. then it probably won't like the Litter Robot. Look it up at http://www.litter-robot.com. It costs $329 (which is cheaper than when I bought it. They have very good customer service. When mine first arrived I had a few problems getting it set up (didn't read the instructions!) and they followed up with me several times to make sure I was happy.
I think Litter Robot is the one I read about on the Cat Fancy boards. Really good, but really expensive.
Luna update: She has been off the kitty buspar since January and I think we stopped using the Feliway pheromone diffuser in March. She has not had any "accidents." (Knock wood.) Hooray!
The Littermaid is still going strong. It's not perfect, but it helps a lot.
Yes, the Litter-Robot is more expensive to purchase. However, operating expenses are extremely low as compared to the Littermaid. I recently added up what I spend in just one year buying those little receptacles for my Littermaid - If I replace the receptacle twice weekly and buy the 18 count box at Petsmart for $19.99, I am spending around $120 a year just on receptacles. If one buys the little filters, that's another $100 or so a year. I've just spent in the first year of purchasing and using a Littermaid the price of a Litter-Robot! Of course, I could just dump and wash but that defeats the purpose for which I want an automatic scooping machine. The operating cost for my Litter-Robot is less than $10 a year, I get the cheapest trash bags (I use the 8 gallon ones) and I can usually get a roll of 90-100 of those for under $10! And remember, you've still got to buy the litter on top of the operating costs.
I also tried the Purrforma but again, all the extra stuff you have to buy along with it and the fact that it didn't work very well, I shipped it back. I still like the Littermaid I have but when it breaks down, I doubt I'll get another one. My kitty, Smokey, will just have to learn to use the robot! (easier said than done)
I only use the litter that's labeled "premium" in my LMU. I've tried others and have not been satisfied. You'll probably have to go to a pet supply store like Petco or Petsmart to find premium litter. I remember reading somewhere in the LMU instructions to only use "premiuim" litter. My Litter-Robot instructions also call for "premium" litter. Off the top of my head, I can't remember any brands but I've only found one that has the word "premium" at the local grocery and it's not always in stock, so I usually just to to Petsmart or Petco. The package will have the word "premium" on it.
You also need to make sure the pan is cleaned of any "stuff" stuck to the bottom...that can impede the combs too.
God I wish i had seen this site BEFORE I purchased the LMU. I got it right after Christmas and for a little while was the answer to our prayers as our picky britches stopped messing on the floor. NOW it is a different story and it is a nightmare incarnate. It wont lift so much as a cotton ball to the receptacle if we dont push it by hand. To make matters worse there is no website for the company. The www. website on the box converts into a company that is about as far from litter boxes as you can get. I have the box but not the receipt so I doubt Petsmart will take it back as defective but I would NEVER buy this brand again. I like the theory of what it is supposed to do but LMU doesnt do it.
Thanks for your site with all the input and comments - I've decided against spending mega bucks on a fancy self cleaning litter box - I have been doing online research on all of them and found more and more complaints. I have 3 cats and have resigned myself to sticking with the manual do-it-yourself scooping....LOL...guess I'll have to change my ways - stop being so lazy and looking for an easier way out of this dreadful chore...lol. I am thinking of investing in the Litter Locker - anyone have any comments on it? Thanks!
It cracks me up that, more than two years later, this post is still going strong. In fact, I think it's my most popular post ever!
An update: I threw out the Littermaid six or eight months ago. We've gone back to good old-fashioned hand-scooping. The Littermaid worked, sort of, just not well enough to justify its existence. The last straw was when I realized that the kitties go to all the trouble to bury their stuff, but then the LM digs it up, carries about three-quarters of it to the disposal container, and leaves the rest for the world to see -- and me to clean up.
Now we use a regular plastic litterbox, which takes up much less space than the LM, and two little covered buckets -- one for fresh litter, one for used. I line the "used" container with a plastic grocery bag and dump it once a week. I considered the Litter Locker, and although it has good reviews on Amazon, decided to stick with low-tech for now.
Oh, and Luna hasn't had any peeing problems in about a year, I think. A small book called "The Fastidious Feline" made me realize that she was experiencing high anxiety. We now have regular face-rub sessions, which seem to keep her feeling happy and secure. I think it's chemical -- she's a face-rub junkie!
Well, since continued comments crack you up, chuckle away. I have purchased 5 littermaids and owned 4 LSUs. I never liked the littermaid mostly due to the rake caking up which required frequent attention thereby defeating the role of the "automated" box. In my opinion the LSU is by far the best concept in an affordable automatic box but the execution is seriously flawed. I have, however, been able (after exchanging three self damaged ones) to modify the unit to perform acceptably (and far better than any litter maid I have owned. First, the rake and vertical scraper pins in the rim are made from the cheapest metal possible which begins to corrode almost immediately. To delay this process I have taken to spray painting them with Rustoleum which helps quite a bit. Second, you must use the World's Best Cat Litter in any automatic box. It is the key to functionality. Third, the rim on the LSU becomes easily dislodged, jams the mechanism and strips the gears (the cause of my three exchanges). I have solved this problem by putting a piece of packing tape on either side, taping the rim to the base (making sure to fold the end of the tape over to allow for easy removal). Now, there are no more jams. Finally, once they modified the mechanism (about two years ago) to "flick" the load off the rake, the only remaining (and mind bogglingly stupid) design flaw is the depth of the receptacle. I previously used a plastic grocery bag to line the receptacle until I decided that the depth issue was ludicrous so I just propped the unit up on a pedestal and cut the bottom out of the receptacle and the area of the base under it and the waste now drops into a drawer for easy cleaning. As I said, the design is terrific, the execution horrific. I would gladly pay another fifty dollars for a revised version addressing the above design flaws and have written the company to suggest same since I think they would corner the market if they did so (and hopefully made it quieter as well) but I guess they only speak Chinese. ;-) Hope this has been helpful.
Post a Comment
<< Home