Hi, I’m Dorie, the host of this video! I love learning about overrated products that don’t work (also they pay me to do that) so if there’s something you’d like to learn more about, leave a comment! Also please keep the comments nice I am so sensitive and I will take them all to heart
I like the idea of this channel, but I have some constructive criticism for this video in particular the portion about the self-cleaning litter boxes. I currently don't own one, as I am in the middle of researching them which lead me to this video and there are a couple of things that I thought were misleading about that portion of this video. It seems like a lot of the information was given off of one person's subjective opinion. I'm not trying to say her opinions aren't valid, but it would be nice if multiple people's opinions were included rather than presenting one person's opinion in a way that makes it seem like an objective fact (She did present some facts, but mixed in were opinions which made it more convoluted IMO). Also that figure for upkeep of the pet smart model is exaggerated from what I've gathered. Although the replacement trays for it are relatively expensive and a fair criticism from what I've read, apparently they do make a "lifetime" tray replacement for ~$50. Also, the cost of tray replacements is NOT a valid critique of other models (e.g., Litter-robot 3) and this video makes it seem like they all have this concern. I realize there is A LOT of information you would potentially need to convey in an impossibly short time, especially since you tackled two other topics in this video, but trying to cover that many topics in one video might be a mistake. I also realize that the it seems like the idea of this channel is to give a high-level summary/critique of each "topic", but I think going a little bit more in-dept in each topic and potentially splitting them up in to multiple videos would lead to more informative/useful videos. At the very least try to make sure it's very clear when you are presenting objective facts vs. subjective opinions. Again, I do really like the idea of this channel and by no means think anything you did was intentionally deceitful, but just wanted to throw in my two cents In an unnecessarily long reply, but I digress...
Um…Litter Robot has been life changing for us lol I would recommend it to any cat owner I know. We empty the catch tray twice a week. We have 2 cats who use it. It’s totally worth the money!
Definitely the litter robot section felt misleading even if unintentional. You don’t really need any special litter, bags, cleaner, etc. It’s definitely saved me money on litter in the long run and saved me a lot of time scooping poop.
I’ve been using the Litter Robot 3 for more than 4 years now with 2 cats. The Litter Robot accepts ANY type of clumping litter so no special litter needed. It works like a charm and the cats love it as they ALWAYS have a clean litter box. No more scooping for me: I can recommend it to everyone !
We had ours for few years and for what she is saying she is completely wrong. So great to have the litter robot to deal with the cats bathroom times and my cats love right from when they were kittens they used it
I 100% disagree about the litter robot. I have two cats, one of whom doesn't like to use the litter box if it's at all full. It makes my life so much easier & my cats love it. There is also a new company that has a very similar box for $250. If you have the money and more than one cat I would recommend the litter robot. I also have a automated feeder and I think my cats really enjoy the consistency with their feeding times, and I get to sleep in on the weekends without them yelling at me for dinner.
I'm another one who completely disagrees about the Litter Robot. I bought one after three of my cat owner friends told me hold much they all loved it. We bought one and loved it so much we bought another one for the second floor! I then recommended it to two friends who also love it. It is big but you can buy stairs for the senior cat and it uses regular cat litter. Because the litter is getting scooped each and every time, the litter is always clean which greatly reduces the odors. Yes, its expensive but no joke, it's possibly the best $500 I have ever spent!
I have a Litter Robot and I love it. Mobility issue? They do have a ramp attachment, my cats just jump out of it anyway so I am not currently using the ramp. My two cats got used to this right away. I only have to empty this every 4-5 days. As for the high price, as the device runs a few minutes after use, you will use half the litter, due the reduced time it has to clump extra litter. I expect an ROI in 3-4 years on litter savings alone, not to mention time savings (2 years if you use more expensive litter). I also use a Wopet automatic feeder, when changing the food brand, it may feed more or less food. I now have time to brush my cats teeth and clip their nails, tasks that a robot can't currently achieve.
Dorie, the Litter Robot is literally one of the best appliances any cat owner can own. In fact, I'd rather own a Litter Robot than a microwave or a toaster...that's how good the device is. You talk to someone that is trying to use ONE litter box for MULTIPLE cats...do a quick google search and you'll see that multiple cats require multiple litter boxes. I can't believe the NY Times act like an authority and flaunt your opinion that was one of the laziest anlyses of any product I've ever seen.
Great video! We have 3 cats in our home and I own the litter robot 3 with WiFi connection. It went so well, I got a second one. Thankfully we have a large home to have one on each floor. Zero problems after a year so far. The ability to just replace a bag once a week is a big difference than scooping multiple boxes every day, and the app will tell me whenever it’s full. This video leaves out the option to have steps so cats don’t have to jump in and out. Two of our cats are 18 pounds and aren’t bothered by the space inside. It also better contains any odors than traditional litter boxes. It’s a pricey investment, but we’ve been relieved to have it.
I am a huge Wirecutter fan and usually take your word as gold, but I actually disagree with this one. While it is very true these devices aren’t for everyone, I have 2 auto feeders and a litter robot and LOVE them.
I also disagree. I have 3 litter robots. I have the litter robot 2 and 2 of the 3s. Love them. Much needed. The 2 is so small compared to the 3 and so is the bin. They changed all of that with 3, no issues and the app connectivity is amazing as well. It just needs clumping litter...any kind. And they have stairs for older cats.
One thing to note about Smart Feeders is that shape of food matters since the auto feed relies on a slight ramp and gravity. Round food works great but flat kibble sucks. Also PetNet was dreadful. It broke within a couple months. PetSafe has been great. I believe PetSafe can still work without the servers but you can't use the app. My biggest problem with the regular auto feeders is they don't hold enough food. I don't want to use auto feeders if I leave. I want to use auto feeders for regular feeding so I want them to store at least a week of food. Did not realize that laser pointers are bad for pets. That's something that should be discussed more.
I love my litter robot ! It is 100% the best purchase I have made for my cat (and me) ever. It saves me so much time and as someone who has a big cat who poops a ton it does a great job at containing smells. Also any regular clumping litter works.
Litter Robot is awesome. 9000+ five star reviews don’t lie. I recently purchased it and I don’t smell cat crap anymore. That alone is worth it. Having the cat walk on cleaner litter, no scooping, no taking the box out in the snow every week to bleach it all totally worth it. Also, saves a ton of litter.
I bought the plate-style feeder y'all recommended and it's been GREAT! Love the video, but please consider not using the "iPhone ding" noise (3:15), especially not 4 times in a short window. It sounded like my phone was blowing up with messages!
Wow, that manifesto for conventional litter boxes was embarrasing to listen to, especially the being-around-for-generations "argument". The comment section shed way more light on the topic than the video.
I have 6 cats so I gotta have the Litter Robot & I also have the Feeder, couldn’t not recommend any more. You don’t need no special litter or liners for it. Just clumping litter & a trash bag will suffice. Definitely a lifesaver! Make sure to get that extended warranty too. Well worth the investment!
I have the Litter Robot 3, and my cat never seemed to mind stepping up into the machine. My wife, who happens to be blind and works from home, prefers to empty the litter frequently. The machine allows her to easily swap the bag out of the tray instead of digging around with a scoop. The WiFi enabled phone app allows her to know what's going on with the robot, as she can't see the status lights on front panel. I used to think these types of devices were gimmicks, but they can offer some people a greater level of independence.
Litter Robot changed my life. Gone are the days I squat down scooping 💩 twice a day. And I hide the robot under a credenza shelf that looks cute and doubles as a countertops for my microwave/ fruit bowls. Worth. Every. Penny
We got the litter robot 4. I'd have to recommend even though it is'nt perfect. It has a bit too many faults, but ultimately saves us time. And I think the bin is bigger than the 3.
The litter robot is a 100% must buy. It’s worth the money. Coming from someone who has 5 mainecoon cats (we rescued a whole litter and fell in love with them all) they all fit just fine and as most of you know they are big cats. You end up saving SO MUCH on litter. We just buy the standard clumping litter. You empty it maybe once a day but can go two days before emptying the bag. We got the steps to go along with it so as they get older they can get into it easily. the litter robot is absolutely amazing and my cats love it.
I have to disagree with the review on the Litter Robot. First off it is big, yes, but it has a big area for the cat to do it’s business in. Larger than the regular litter pan I had before. I’ve had one for over three years and will NEVER BE WITHOUT ONE. The cat is always presented with clean litter. Greatly reduces odors, little maintenance and easy to dispose of waste matter. I have two cats and have to change the waste bag every 5 to 7 days. I find the reviewer here should perhaps do some research and look at the reviews. Ultimately it comes down to the pet owners, their life styles and budgets. If you like to scoop littler each time your cat poops and don’t mind the smell then this product may not be for you. I have to give this video a 👎
I *love* the litter robot. One of my cats would go in the bathtub if there was so much of a *hint* of anything in the regular litter pan, even if it was seconds old. The litter robot absolutely solved this problem! Worth every penny for no more cat crap in the bathtub.
I am glad you addressed mobility issues. 3 of mine are over 10 now and they really can't tell you that the same litter box they used with ease their whole lives isn't gonna fly now.
I too join the Litter Robot band wagon. Have been using them for over 10 years. The earliest model was BULLET PROOF. Almost no issues at all. The later models are not as reliable and takes more monitoring and interaction. Still WAY better than cleaning litter boxes IMHO>
Great video. I know my dog has boredom issues and while I wish some device could help her play during the day, she can chew through anything in minutes and what she really needs is doggy play days.
This has got to be the first video I've found that doesn't recommend smart litter robot. I've had mine for 6 months and I'm never going back to traditional litter boxes. It's huge, yes, but works extremely well and worth the steep price tag. My previous cat had a lot of issues and it would have been extremely helpful to know how many times he was going to the bathroom per day; which the litter robot does. I'm glad I'm not the only one here that disagrees with you. Secondly, while you bring up good points with the pet cams, I would definitely pay more for these features. A $200+ one, yes, is overboard. But there are plenty of smart ones under $100. Also, a lot of these smart feeders have backup batteries. So, in the rare event that there is some sort of outage, it will continue feeding your cat. Furthermore, some pet feeders come with cameras. So you get two items for the price of one. I have my cat on a feeder and it works great for us. Though I will agree that if you are gone for more than 2 or 3 days, you should have some sort of sitter so they get that attention. Lastly, I've never heard that laser pointers being bad for cats. If you're not paying attention and you let your cat run into a wall, that's your fault, not the laser pointer's fault.
Every cat is different, but I have the wifi enabled LR 3 and my very large Maine Coon has zero issues fitting inside. It also has stairs for my elderly cat with mobility issues. I also have the ScoopFree box and you can buy a reusable tray for it so you don't have to keep buying the disposable trays. They even sell pre-measured bags of litter. If it weren't for the fact that I have one cat that dislikes crystal litter, it'd be my all-time favorite box. It was $200 total with the hood and reusable tray and it's been running flawlessly for almost 10 years! Litter costs me about $7/month.
Based on the comments alone, the LR seems like a pretty good deal. However, one argument that actually seems valid to me against a litter robot is not being aware of your cats' poop conditions (which can help you identify illness). Although, I suppose you could just inspect the bag, or watch them as they're eliminating periodically so I don't think that is a deal breaker. I don't and probably won't get a LR simply because its cheaper to scoop by hand and with a litter genie, it takes like 2 minutes a day so its not a big deal. Also, we have a litterbox with a lid, and that seems to really help contain the smell. That being said, we also only have two cats (and two litter boxes). I could see having more cats would make this a more stinky and tedious chore.
first off, thank you! second off, RIGHT?? this stuff seems SO great so it's such a bummer when it ends performing worse than the (far cheaper!) options
I guess you don't know about Home Assistant where you can operate Smart Devices locally at your house even if your internet goes down. Smart Feeders are superior.
Our cats are trained to poo and pee with a simple WC plastic cover with disposable rounds from the center to the outside, (cat toilet training kit). It's a cheap and simple option to forget forever about the sand litter for cats. With about 6 or 7 months, any cat already learns how to use it. Just needs at first a bit of patience and dedication.
I wonder how many cats Kaitlyn owns because the self-cleaning litter boxes have been a game-changer and this is coming from someone who owns 5 cats! I have two Litter Robots and, yes, they are expensive and big, but I'd gladly deal with that if it means that my cats will have a clean litter every day. As a cat owner, I put the well being of my cats first and then think about how convenient it may be for me as well. I think this video review is one-sided.
Honest question: What is the actual benefit of a pet camera, other than checking for separation anxiety. So you can see your cat sleeping while at work? Even if they are getting into something, no one is home to do anything about it? I wonder if its more for pet owners anxieties about their pets? Not trying to be rude, just genuinely curious. Like I said, I know separation anxiety is a real issue that is hard to notice without a camera, but otherwise is there really a benefit?
Real user here. The Litter Robot is well worth it, works flawlessly and has 0 reoccurring costs. I have had it for 4 years and if it broke I would buy one without a single thought.
O respectfully disagree with respect to the Litter Robot. I actually have 2 of them (one 3 and one 4), and I will definitely say that they are LIFE CHANGING! Yes, it's expensive. And it takes up a fair amount of space. But if you have multiple cats, it will literally change your life! It's very high quality, and the company that makes them stands behind them. Your video's opinion on them is way off base coming from someone who actually uses them.
I love Wirecutter, but such a misinformed video on the Litter Robot. We have had multiple versions of the Litter Robot over many years and 100% can recommend them over traditional litter boxes or other Automatic litter boxes. Saying that you need to use special litter, bags, etc is just flat wrong. And though the LR3 had some design issues, the LR4 has been a huge step up (also more expensive). It was released after this video to be fair. If you are in doubt, get one and return it within 90 days if you don’t like it.
I have the PetSafe ScoopFree, How am I spending over $600/Year!? A replacement tray has gone up in price, but are still only about $25 each, so that ends up being about $300/year. Are they assuming multiple cats?
I agree that pet cameras are silly. I use Wyze cams like you mention in the video. I have one in the laundry room to monitor their litter box usage. But on the topic of litter boxes... while they all have their own set of issues and limitations, I cannot imagine ever going back to scooping litter. It's messy, dusty, smelly, tedious, and gross. I have 2 of the cat-genie self-cleaning boxes. They run without any intervention on my part for months at a time. It's honestly amazing. BUT I would only recommend them to someone who is willing to modify them to bypass the requirement for the proprietary cleaning solution cartridges. Those are a total scam, but fortunately there are a few good options to circumvent that. And as far as the plastic granules go, many people use safflower seeds instead. Dirt cheap, available anywhere you can buy bird seed, environmentally friendly, and work just as well as the plastic granules. As far as feeders go, I've been using a hopper style feeder for several years now without a hitch. It's actually pretty accurate. Even though it's proven to be reliable, I still leave out a big bowl of extra food if I leave the cats alone for more than a day or two. After all, any piece of technology can fail eventually.
You could not be more wrong about the Litter-Robot 3. It’s amazing. Look at the other comments REAL pet owners know. This video is embarrassing to watch.
I loved my Petnet feeder and was sad they went out of business. They were great feeders. I had the Cat Geni and loved it when it worked but it was unreliable due to the heating element breaking. I have 2 Litter Robots and love them. I wish the tray was bigger. You are so wrong on tech to skip.
I completely disagree with this review. Most of the auto litterbox are terrible with the exception of 2. The PetSafe Scoopfree and Litter Robot 3. I made the mistake of getting the PetSafe and what I found was the waste bin gets full and and the crystal gets scooped into it so I would have to keep filling it. LR3 connect, it was easy, simple, and scoopfree. Sorry, but those who cannot afford it shouldn’t buy it or don’t get a pet.
Wow. Hard to understand how you can absolutely diss the Litter Robot when it has, literally, thousands of satisfied users. Maybe you should try different testing criteria that isn't based solely on the experience of one cat?
I think the comments show how wrong the opinion was on the Litter Robot. I’ve been testing 7 different machines this year, many have issues but the latest Litter Robot 4 is pretty great. Here’s my video about it. czcams.com/video/3K8omHO8hCg/video.html
I also made a video all about pet treat cameras. They are a wonderful way for me to be able to interact with my cats when I am away from home. 🥺 czcams.com/video/vu1v18P_qqM/video.html
The "expert" review on the Litter Robot is just horribly wrong. Mine has been incredible, will never go back to manual pans. This was frustrating to watch.
I read her review on an external site "The Litter-Robot III Open Air, for example, jammed when we loaded too much litter". This is user error. There is a clear line to fill to.
I disagreeeeeee. I travel a lot but want to stay in touch with my kitty and pups, this new age pet tech is a life saver for me. Love smart litter boxes, I have the iKuddle, love automatic feeders. I hav wine I can program on the actual feeder itself and I just have a pet cam facing it to make sure it’s all going smoothly. Worse case scenario, im out for a week and I’ll have my friends stop by once or twice a week and I can keep an eye on them myself the rest of the time
Well, #1 reason why we shouldn't use Litter robots is because WE NEED TO SEE OUR CAT POOP! Cats are masters at hiding sickness, until it's too late, one of the best ways to monitor their health is through their poop. That is all.
Amazing how all the Litter Robot bots react to this Video 😅 Not Obvious at all. If it's too much work to scoop some boxes, then why get a cat in the first place?? Also cats don't like closed environments to eliminate and those robots are way too small...
petkit pura max automatic litterbox by far is the only automatic litter box i would recommend, the litter robot I returned after a month of use, it was loud, and had a very poor design.
Hi, I’m Dorie, the host of this video! I love learning about overrated products that don’t work (also they pay me to do that) so if there’s something you’d like to learn more about, leave a comment! Also please keep the comments nice I am so sensitive and I will take them all to heart
I like the idea of this channel, but I have some constructive criticism for this video in particular the portion about the self-cleaning litter boxes. I currently don't own one, as I am in the middle of researching them which lead me to this video and there are a couple of things that I thought were misleading about that portion of this video. It seems like a lot of the information was given off of one person's subjective opinion. I'm not trying to say her opinions aren't valid, but it would be nice if multiple people's opinions were included rather than presenting one person's opinion in a way that makes it seem like an objective fact (She did present some facts, but mixed in were opinions which made it more convoluted IMO). Also that figure for upkeep of the pet smart model is exaggerated from what I've gathered. Although the replacement trays for it are relatively expensive and a fair criticism from what I've read, apparently they do make a "lifetime" tray replacement for ~$50. Also, the cost of tray replacements is NOT a valid critique of other models (e.g., Litter-robot 3) and this video makes it seem like they all have this concern. I realize there is A LOT of information you would potentially need to convey in an impossibly short time, especially since you tackled two other topics in this video, but trying to cover that many topics in one video might be a mistake. I also realize that the it seems like the idea of this channel is to give a high-level summary/critique of each "topic", but I think going a little bit more in-dept in each topic and potentially splitting them up in to multiple videos would lead to more informative/useful videos. At the very least try to make sure it's very clear when you are presenting objective facts vs. subjective opinions. Again, I do really like the idea of this channel and by no means think anything you did was intentionally deceitful, but just wanted to throw in my two cents In an unnecessarily long reply, but I digress...
Um…Litter Robot has been life changing for us lol I would recommend it to any cat owner I know. We empty the catch tray twice a week. We have 2 cats who use it. It’s totally worth the money!
Thank you for this comment
Definitely the litter robot section felt misleading even if unintentional. You don’t really need any special litter, bags, cleaner, etc. It’s definitely saved me money on litter in the long run and saved me a lot of time scooping poop.
I’ve been using the Litter Robot 3 for more than 4 years now with 2 cats. The Litter Robot accepts ANY type of clumping litter so no special litter needed. It works like a charm and the cats love it as they ALWAYS have a clean litter box. No more scooping for me: I can recommend it to everyone !
We had ours for few years and for what she is saying she is completely wrong. So great to have the litter robot to deal with the cats bathroom times and my cats love right from when they were kittens they used it
Idk, for health reasons I want to see what ends up in the litter box and what it looks like
Litter robot 3 was completely worth it for not scooping after our 3 cats.
Amen brother
I 100% disagree about the litter robot. I have two cats, one of whom doesn't like to use the litter box if it's at all full. It makes my life so much easier & my cats love it. There is also a new company that has a very similar box for $250. If you have the money and more than one cat I would recommend the litter robot.
I also have a automated feeder and I think my cats really enjoy the consistency with their feeding times, and I get to sleep in on the weekends without them yelling at me for dinner.
100% agree, not to mention how many cats are abandoned due to owners not wanting to deal with the litter box every day. It's a felineitarian crises!
@@joshuacadwell8938 I agree to all this too. Plus not having to clean litter as often is great for my back
What's the name of the new company with similar box?
Bump for name of cheaper product that's similar
I'm another one who completely disagrees about the Litter Robot. I bought one after three of my cat owner friends told me hold much they all loved it. We bought one and loved it so much we bought another one for the second floor! I then recommended it to two friends who also love it.
It is big but you can buy stairs for the senior cat and it uses regular cat litter. Because the litter is getting scooped each and every time, the litter is always clean which greatly reduces the odors.
Yes, its expensive but no joke, it's possibly the best $500 I have ever spent!
I have a Litter Robot and I love it. Mobility issue? They do have a ramp attachment, my cats just jump out of it anyway so I am not currently using the ramp. My two cats got used to this right away. I only have to empty this every 4-5 days. As for the high price, as the device runs a few minutes after use, you will use half the litter, due the reduced time it has to clump extra litter. I expect an ROI in 3-4 years on litter savings alone, not to mention time savings (2 years if you use more expensive litter). I also use a Wopet automatic feeder, when changing the food brand, it may feed more or less food. I now have time to brush my cats teeth and clip their nails, tasks that a robot can't currently achieve.
Dorie, the Litter Robot is literally one of the best appliances any cat owner can own. In fact, I'd rather own a Litter Robot than a microwave or a toaster...that's how good the device is. You talk to someone that is trying to use ONE litter box for MULTIPLE cats...do a quick google search and you'll see that multiple cats require multiple litter boxes. I can't believe the NY Times act like an authority and flaunt your opinion that was one of the laziest anlyses of any product I've ever seen.
Great video! We have 3 cats in our home and I own the litter robot 3 with WiFi connection. It went so well, I got a second one. Thankfully we have a large home to have one on each floor. Zero problems after a year so far. The ability to just replace a bag once a week is a big difference than scooping multiple boxes every day, and the app will tell me whenever it’s full. This video leaves out the option to have steps so cats don’t have to jump in and out. Two of our cats are 18 pounds and aren’t bothered by the space inside. It also better contains any odors than traditional litter boxes. It’s a pricey investment, but we’ve been relieved to have it.
I am a huge Wirecutter fan and usually take your word as gold, but I actually disagree with this one. While it is very true these devices aren’t for everyone, I have 2 auto feeders and a litter robot and LOVE them.
I also disagree. I have 3 litter robots. I have the litter robot 2 and 2 of the 3s. Love them. Much needed. The 2 is so small compared to the 3 and so is the bin. They changed all of that with 3, no issues and the app connectivity is amazing as well. It just needs clumping litter...any kind. And they have stairs for older cats.
The analysis of the LR is the most ridiculous one I've seen so far. Talk to owners and gather real feedback instead of theoretical analysis.
One thing to note about Smart Feeders is that shape of food matters since the auto feed relies on a slight ramp and gravity. Round food works great but flat kibble sucks.
Also PetNet was dreadful. It broke within a couple months. PetSafe has been great. I believe PetSafe can still work without the servers but you can't use the app.
My biggest problem with the regular auto feeders is they don't hold enough food. I don't want to use auto feeders if I leave. I want to use auto feeders for regular feeding so I want them to store at least a week of food.
Did not realize that laser pointers are bad for pets. That's something that should be discussed more.
It took a couple weeks but now our 4 cats love the litter robot, but make sure you get the staircase with it. No more scooping is amazing for sure
I love my litter robot ! It is 100% the best purchase I have made for my cat (and me) ever. It saves me so much time and as someone who has a big cat who poops a ton it does a great job at containing smells. Also any regular clumping litter works.
Litter Robot is awesome. 9000+ five star reviews don’t lie.
I recently purchased it and I don’t smell cat crap anymore.
That alone is worth it.
Having the cat walk on cleaner litter, no scooping, no taking the box out in the snow every week to bleach it all totally worth it.
Also, saves a ton of litter.
I bought the plate-style feeder y'all recommended and it's been GREAT! Love the video, but please consider not using the "iPhone ding" noise (3:15), especially not 4 times in a short window. It sounded like my phone was blowing up with messages!
Duly noted! We won't blow up your phone in the next vid. Thanks for the note and we're glad you're enjoying the plate-style feeder!
Wow, that manifesto for conventional litter boxes was embarrasing to listen to, especially the being-around-for-generations "argument". The comment section shed way more light on the topic than the video.
I have 6 cats so I gotta have the Litter Robot & I also have the Feeder, couldn’t not recommend any more. You don’t need no special litter or liners for it. Just clumping litter & a trash bag will suffice. Definitely a lifesaver! Make sure to get that extended warranty too. Well worth the investment!
I have the Litter Robot 3, and my cat never seemed to mind stepping up into the machine. My wife, who happens to be blind and works from home, prefers to empty the litter frequently. The machine allows her to easily swap the bag out of the tray instead of digging around with a scoop. The WiFi enabled phone app allows her to know what's going on with the robot, as she can't see the status lights on front panel. I used to think these types of devices were gimmicks, but they can offer some people a greater level of independence.
Litter Robot changed my life. Gone are the days I squat down scooping 💩 twice a day. And I hide the robot under a credenza shelf that looks cute and doubles as a countertops for my microwave/ fruit bowls.
Worth. Every. Penny
We got the litter robot 4. I'd have to recommend even though it is'nt perfect. It has a bit too many faults, but ultimately saves us time. And I think the bin is bigger than the 3.
The litter robot is a 100% must buy. It’s worth the money. Coming from someone who has 5 mainecoon cats (we rescued a whole litter and fell in love with them all) they all fit just fine and as most of you know they are big cats. You end up saving SO MUCH on litter. We just buy the standard clumping litter. You empty it maybe once a day but can go two days before emptying the bag. We got the steps to go along with it so as they get older they can get into it easily. the litter robot is absolutely amazing and my cats love it.
I have to disagree with the review on the Litter Robot. First off it is big, yes, but it has a big area for the cat to do it’s business in. Larger than the regular litter pan I had before. I’ve had one for over three years and will NEVER BE WITHOUT ONE. The cat is always presented with clean litter. Greatly reduces odors, little maintenance and easy to dispose of waste matter. I have two cats and have to change the waste bag every 5 to 7 days. I find the reviewer here should perhaps do some research and look at the reviews. Ultimately it comes down to the pet owners, their life styles and budgets. If you like to scoop littler each time your cat poops and don’t mind the smell then this product may not be for you. I have to give this video a 👎
I *love* the litter robot. One of my cats would go in the bathtub if there was so much of a *hint* of anything in the regular litter pan, even if it was seconds old. The litter robot absolutely solved this problem! Worth every penny for no more cat crap in the bathtub.
Yeah I swear by my scoop free litter box. For people with ADHD it’s a game changer. My cat has loved it or is cool with it for about 6 years.
…risk of hacking is probably the most important issue to consider when researching cameras. Surprised they didn’t mention that.
I am glad you addressed mobility issues. 3 of mine are over 10 now and they really can't tell you that the same litter box they used with ease their whole lives isn't gonna fly now.
I too join the Litter Robot band wagon. Have been using them for over 10 years. The earliest model was BULLET PROOF. Almost no issues at all. The later models are not as reliable and takes more monitoring and interaction. Still WAY better than cleaning litter boxes IMHO>
Great video. I know my dog has boredom issues and while I wish some device could help her play during the day, she can chew through anything in minutes and what she really needs is doggy play days.
Totally! And the pandemic is only making that harder :( Hoping your pup gets their play day soon
This has got to be the first video I've found that doesn't recommend smart litter robot. I've had mine for 6 months and I'm never going back to traditional litter boxes. It's huge, yes, but works extremely well and worth the steep price tag. My previous cat had a lot of issues and it would have been extremely helpful to know how many times he was going to the bathroom per day; which the litter robot does. I'm glad I'm not the only one here that disagrees with you. Secondly, while you bring up good points with the pet cams, I would definitely pay more for these features. A $200+ one, yes, is overboard. But there are plenty of smart ones under $100. Also, a lot of these smart feeders have backup batteries. So, in the rare event that there is some sort of outage, it will continue feeding your cat. Furthermore, some pet feeders come with cameras. So you get two items for the price of one. I have my cat on a feeder and it works great for us. Though I will agree that if you are gone for more than 2 or 3 days, you should have some sort of sitter so they get that attention. Lastly, I've never heard that laser pointers being bad for cats. If you're not paying attention and you let your cat run into a wall, that's your fault, not the laser pointer's fault.
Every cat is different, but I have the wifi enabled LR 3 and my very large Maine Coon has zero issues fitting inside. It also has stairs for my elderly cat with mobility issues. I also have the ScoopFree box and you can buy a reusable tray for it so you don't have to keep buying the disposable trays. They even sell pre-measured bags of litter. If it weren't for the fact that I have one cat that dislikes crystal litter, it'd be my all-time favorite box. It was $200 total with the hood and reusable tray and it's been running flawlessly for almost 10 years! Litter costs me about $7/month.
Thanks this helps me decided. I was looking into those automatic bathroom. And now I think you confirmed I don’t need one :)
Honestly the litter robot is 100% worth it. This is the ONLY person I’ve seen who said otherwise. I own one with 5 cats and it’s amazing.
Based on the comments alone, the LR seems like a pretty good deal. However, one argument that actually seems valid to me against a litter robot is not being aware of your cats' poop conditions (which can help you identify illness). Although, I suppose you could just inspect the bag, or watch them as they're eliminating periodically so I don't think that is a deal breaker. I don't and probably won't get a LR simply because its cheaper to scoop by hand and with a litter genie, it takes like 2 minutes a day so its not a big deal. Also, we have a litterbox with a lid, and that seems to really help contain the smell. That being said, we also only have two cats (and two litter boxes). I could see having more cats would make this a more stinky and tedious chore.
Such an under rated CZcams channel. I was honestly considering buying half of these products, saved me BIG TIME!
first off, thank you! second off, RIGHT?? this stuff seems SO great so it's such a bummer when it ends performing worse than the (far cheaper!) options
Thank you!! Please spread the word!
I guess you don't know about Home Assistant where you can operate Smart Devices locally at your house even if your internet goes down. Smart Feeders are superior.
Litter robot has about the same "footprint" as your regular litter box. Its the vertical height you need to be aware of.
1.5 X the length of the cat? Never seen one that big.
Our cats are trained to poo and pee with a simple WC plastic cover with disposable rounds from the center to the outside, (cat toilet training kit). It's a cheap and simple option to forget forever about the sand litter for cats. With about 6 or 7 months, any cat already learns how to use it. Just needs at first a bit of patience and dedication.
That puppy on your great video is so cuuute! 😍
I wonder how many cats Kaitlyn owns because the self-cleaning litter boxes have been a game-changer and this is coming from someone who owns 5 cats! I have two Litter Robots and, yes, they are expensive and big, but I'd gladly deal with that if it means that my cats will have a clean litter every day. As a cat owner, I put the well being of my cats first and then think about how convenient it may be for me as well. I think this video review is one-sided.
Let's be real, these are mostly toys for us, not our pets
Honest question: What is the actual benefit of a pet camera, other than checking for separation anxiety. So you can see your cat sleeping while at work? Even if they are getting into something, no one is home to do anything about it? I wonder if its more for pet owners anxieties about their pets? Not trying to be rude, just genuinely curious. Like I said, I know separation anxiety is a real issue that is hard to notice without a camera, but otherwise is there really a benefit?
Real user here. The Litter Robot is well worth it, works flawlessly and has 0 reoccurring costs. I have had it for 4 years and if it broke I would buy one without a single thought.
very helpful
IS THAT RIGBY WE NEED COMMISSION
O respectfully disagree with respect to the Litter Robot. I actually have 2 of them (one 3 and one 4), and I will definitely say that they are LIFE CHANGING! Yes, it's expensive. And it takes up a fair amount of space. But if you have multiple cats, it will literally change your life! It's very high quality, and the company that makes them stands behind them. Your video's opinion on them is way off base coming from someone who actually uses them.
I love Wirecutter, but such a misinformed video on the Litter Robot.
We have had multiple versions of the Litter Robot over many years and 100% can recommend them over traditional litter boxes or other Automatic litter boxes. Saying that you need to use special litter, bags, etc is just flat wrong.
And though the LR3 had some design issues, the LR4 has been a huge step up (also more expensive). It was released after this video to be fair.
If you are in doubt, get one and return it within 90 days if you don’t like it.
My pet feeder is plug in and takes batteries so when the power is out my kitties are still eating well
I have the PetSafe ScoopFree, How am I spending over $600/Year!? A replacement tray has gone up in price, but are still only about $25 each, so that ends up being about $300/year. Are they assuming multiple cats?
I agree that pet cameras are silly. I use Wyze cams like you mention in the video. I have one in the laundry room to monitor their litter box usage. But on the topic of litter boxes... while they all have their own set of issues and limitations, I cannot imagine ever going back to scooping litter. It's messy, dusty, smelly, tedious, and gross. I have 2 of the cat-genie self-cleaning boxes. They run without any intervention on my part for months at a time. It's honestly amazing. BUT I would only recommend them to someone who is willing to modify them to bypass the requirement for the proprietary cleaning solution cartridges. Those are a total scam, but fortunately there are a few good options to circumvent that. And as far as the plastic granules go, many people use safflower seeds instead. Dirt cheap, available anywhere you can buy bird seed, environmentally friendly, and work just as well as the plastic granules.
As far as feeders go, I've been using a hopper style feeder for several years now without a hitch. It's actually pretty accurate. Even though it's proven to be reliable, I still leave out a big bowl of extra food if I leave the cats alone for more than a day or two. After all, any piece of technology can fail eventually.
You could not be more wrong about the Litter-Robot 3. It’s amazing. Look at the other comments REAL pet owners know. This video is embarrassing to watch.
I wish the disagree number was still there, it seems like lots of people disagree in regards to the litterbox
I loved my Petnet feeder and was sad they went out of business. They were great feeders. I had the Cat Geni and loved it when it worked but it was unreliable due to the heating element breaking. I have 2 Litter Robots and love them. I wish the tray was bigger. You are so wrong on tech to skip.
I completely disagree with this review. Most of the auto litterbox are terrible with the exception of 2. The PetSafe Scoopfree and Litter Robot 3. I made the mistake of getting the PetSafe and what I found was the waste bin gets full and and the crystal gets scooped into it so I would have to keep filling it. LR3 connect, it was easy, simple, and scoopfree. Sorry, but those who cannot afford it shouldn’t buy it or don’t get a pet.
The litter robot 3 majorly changed mine and my cats lives for better. I do want to live life without a litter robot.
Wow. Hard to understand how you can absolutely diss the Litter Robot when it has, literally, thousands of satisfied users. Maybe you should try different testing criteria that isn't based solely on the experience of one cat?
I think this video is intended for Karen
Helpful
I think the comments show how wrong the opinion was on the Litter Robot. I’ve been testing 7 different machines this year, many have issues but the latest Litter Robot 4 is pretty great. Here’s my video about it.
czcams.com/video/3K8omHO8hCg/video.html
I also made a video all about pet treat cameras. They are a wonderful way for me to be able to interact with my cats when I am away from home. 🥺
czcams.com/video/vu1v18P_qqM/video.html
The "expert" review on the Litter Robot is just horribly wrong. Mine has been incredible, will never go back to manual pans. This was frustrating to watch.
I read her review on an external site "The Litter-Robot III Open Air, for example, jammed when we loaded too much litter". This is user error. There is a clear line to fill to.
I disagreeeeeee. I travel a lot but want to stay in touch with my kitty and pups, this new age pet tech is a life saver for me. Love smart litter boxes, I have the iKuddle, love automatic feeders. I hav wine I can program on the actual feeder itself and I just have a pet cam facing it to make sure it’s all going smoothly. Worse case scenario, im out for a week and I’ll have my friends stop by once or twice a week and I can keep an eye on them myself the rest of the time
Well, #1 reason why we shouldn't use Litter robots is because WE NEED TO SEE OUR CAT POOP!
Cats are masters at hiding sickness, until it's too late, one of the best ways to monitor their health is through their poop. That is all.
Amazing how all the Litter Robot bots react to this Video 😅 Not Obvious at all. If it's too much work to scoop some boxes, then why get a cat in the first place?? Also cats don't like closed environments to eliminate and those robots are way too small...
Which cave did u come out from, try pettech's auto litter the, it very quite, and looks like a white version of death star
Man, fuck PetNet. ☠️
Lmaoo i bet you are not a cat owner
Stopped watching after the horrible litter box review …. Clearly they aren’t cat owners .
which smart pet feeder company went bankrupt during covid? I can't find more about this comment.
so none of them are actual pet owners? DO NOT LISTEN to these advices. useless
A shame they removed the dislike button, this video is a waste of time
Hot 🔥
This video is a complete fail.
petkit pura max automatic litterbox by far is the only automatic litter box i would recommend, the litter robot I returned after a month of use, it was loud, and had a very poor design.