Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #110 in Pet Products
• Size: 27''L x 16.75''W x 9.25''H
• Brand: LitterMaid
• Model: LM900
• Dimensions: 10.00" h x 18.00" w x 28.00" l, 15.20 pounds

Features

• Automatically rakes waste into sealable container 10 minutes after use
• Large capacity: ideal for large- and multiple-cat households
• Plugs into wall socket or operates with eight D-cell batteries (not included)
• Paw cleaning ramp and 12 reusable/disposable waster containers included
• 29 inches long, 8-7/8 inches high, 16-3/4 inches wide

Amazon.com Review
Ideal for a household with a large cat or more than one cat, this big, self-cleaning litter box eliminates most odors while keeping the litter pleasingly fresh for tabby. It's ingenious in design: a cat entering the box triggers a sensor; the sensor sets a timer that counts off 10 minutes; then a rake runs through the litter, scooping out clumps and depositing them in a plastic container at the box's end; the container is automatically sealed until the next cat visit, when the raking cycle opens the container for another deposit. (Twelve reusable, disposable containers are included, each 13 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 3-1/2 inches deep.) The litter box can be plugged into a wall socket (AC adapter included) or operated on eight D-cell batteries (not included). It comes with a durable carpeted ramp that leads a cat into the box and cleans its paws on the way out. For safety, the rake stops and reverses at the slightest touch if an object gets in the way. If a cat re-enters the box before the initial 10 minutes have elapsed, the timer automatically resets. The litter box is made of hard plastic and measures 29 inches long, 8-7/8 inches high, and 16-3/4 inches wide. For proper operation, it requires premium, clumping litter but does not need as much as a nonautomated litter box of the same size. For cleaning, the litter tray can be detached. Instructions for acclimating a cat to the box are included. --Fred Brack

Customer Reviews

FANTASTIC item. A few "tricks of the trade"...
I've had the Littermaid for about 4 years now, and I won't do without it. I had two cats (one has since passed), and both reacted differently. One absolutely loved it from the first. (She would run into the utility room whenver it started raking just to watch.) The other seemed terrified so I left the old litter box out. But after 2-3 weeks, he took to it as well, and stopped using the old box altogether.

There are a few tricks to make use of the Littermaid easier and less expensive.

1. Re-use the Waste Recepticles! Also, I found that using just one tended to be messy when trying to clean out the residual damp litter. So now I use 2 at a time. I keep the empty "dirty" one covered off to the side with a SMALL amount of Arm & Hammer carpet deoderizer sprinkled inside, and when it comes time to empty the bin, I "sweep" the old (now dry) one with the included brush, and switch it with the (just emptied) damp one. Works like a charm.

2. DON'T empty waste bins directly into your trash! I put mine into the kitchen trash, and this smells up the room something awful whenever you open the lid. I dump the bin contents into a small (3 gallon) plastic trash bag, and also put the "sweepings" from the dry bin into the same bag. (The old deoderizer goes with it and helps subdue the smell.) The bag is a bit oversized for this, but that gives you plenty of extra bag to twist & knot.

3. Replacement rakes ARE available directly from Littermaid. You won't find them in the parts/accessories section of their website. You have to call them. However, they're pretty cheap ... Over the course of 4 years, the rake has broken on me three times, so it's a good idea to have a couple spare ones on hand.

All-in-all, it works out quite well. I highly recommend the Littermaid (Mega size). The smell, (even in the same room as the litter box), is MUCH better. If your cat is skittish about it, give it some time. It's worth it.

It's a helping tool, not a replacement for you!
I usually don't write reviews but after reading these, I have to say my piece. This is a wonderful product. It's certainly not perfect. I would like it to be less noisy and have an adjustable wait time to allow for larger messes to clump harder. 10 min. sometimes is just not enough. I've had mine for 2 years with no breakage or slowing down. But I CLEAN mine now and then. I use the brush it came with and actually brush out the litter. Every 3 months, I take it apart, and soak the pan in warm soapy water and wipe the dust off. It's a MACHINE. It needs some care. I would do the same to a "manual" litter box too because it gets disgusting otherwise. If your machine is making several passes, it's stuck. READ the manual. This machine is like having an extra person who helps you. It keeps my cat happy and me happy. My husband is happy because the house never smells like we own a cat. Our guests are always surprised when they see the cat. The receptacles are expensive, but if you have one cat they do not need to be emptied for 5-7 days. Then, empty it and reuse it a couple more times. Because the litter clumps, it's not really that messy. I dump it if it becomes smelly. You can also put down a layer of baking soda in the empty bin first and that helps prolong its use. The machine can not replace the love and attention you give your cat, but it's worth $100.00 to have the job of scraping waste handed over to a roboting comb. I recommend this product to smart people.

Free to do other things besides scoop the cat box
I agree with other reviewers who indicate that the time window of 10 minutes is too short for the litter to clump hard enough, the pan is too shallow and the thing is a chore to clean when the time comes.

However, it is a nice convenience to have when you live with two cats and don't want to spend your time monitoring the litter box. And, the cats seem to enjoy watching the rake go back and forth.

Littermaid does have their own brand of litter which works better than any of the premium litters available. It has a funky smell but our cats don't seem to mind. The bags are small and a bit pricey. It is worth not having to clean muck off of the rake and it does track less. I have only found it stocked at Target so far.

Unfortunately, I am hunting for a replacement since our old one stopped working AGAIN. The first time it was under warranty and they replaced it, but it is completely dead again after only 8 months of use. The motor most likely burned out as the power indicator [red light] is lit.

Both of our cats are between 9 and 12 pounds each and the LM900 works well for them. I may go with the LM950 this time, though.