But First, Some Negative Reviews
- Honestly, I don't like using it and prefer the traditional litterboxes. In my apartment, I have one cat and use the flushable litter so scooping twice a day doesn't bother me at all.
- My cat doesn't like the LitterMaid because she needs a lot of litter to be happy. Her catbox has to be filled with 12 lbs. of litter so she can bury the waste. With the flushable litter and scooping twice a day, I only need to put in a new box of litter every two weeks.
- I bought the older version of the LitterMaid more than a year ago. It was noisy and required daily check to make sure that nothing was stuck in the rack. When it died 8 months ago, LitterMaid sent me the newer version. It is much more quieter and more powerful too (less blockage).
- So should you get the LitterMaid? If you don't like scooping, then you'll get annoyed at all the extra work of the LitterMaid. I'd say stick with the traditional box.
The Bottom Line
From the comments in this discussion and those that I have read elsewhere on the Net, I have concluded that many of the complaints about LitterMaid refer to older models. Excess noise was a big complaint, one that seems to have been corrected with the latest model. However, in addition to the few negative remarks on the About Cats Forum, ConsumerComplaints.com lists others, including two complaints involving safety:
- Trapped Cat
One consumer said her cat had been trapped in the box, and while trying to extricate it, she was severely bitten and scratched. - Fire Hazard
Another respondant cited a house fire and the death of her cat, allegedly caused by the LitterMaid unit. - Product Malfunctions
Several consumers complained of miscellaneous malfunctions caused by faulty circuit boards or other design faults. - Inconsistent Customer Service
A common thread among these complaints was the failure of the customer service team to either respond to these complaints, or very slow service in replacing faulty models. These complaints extended to order processing also.
These reports can be found at http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/littermaid.htm
Since I have not personally tested the LitterMaid Mega, nor heard "the other side of the story," I feel that in fairness to the company, I should give it the benefit of the doubt. Because of the overall positive comments from my forum members, balanced against the negative remarks I have cited, I am giving it an "average" rating. In closing, it also is important to stress that a "no-maintenance" litter box has not yet been invented. The LitterMaid Mega requires consistent maintenance to perform as it is advertised.
