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Who likes cleaning out a litter box? No one we know, so it seemed like a great idea when LitterMaid came up with a self-cleaning box. Only trouble is, it doesn't seem to work very well. Despite that, even the most ravenously dissatisfied customers keep coming back like cats to catnip, buying one derelict pooper scooper after another.
A few of the more recent complaints ...
Leonard of Taylor, MI March 15, 2008
Leonard of Taylor MI (03/15/08)
I also had years of satisfaction with the original large size Litter maid for my two cats. It had a strong motor, strong structure, no real problems, and did all I expected to do. It was even replaced by litter maid as it broke prior to the warranty expiring. At the time I thought this is a company that really takes care of its customers. Needless to say I felt an allegiance to litter maid and bought the new version of the litter maid unit when my old one broke. WHAT A MISTAKE THAT WAS.
There is constant stopping of the machine due to the motor not being strong enough to move through my cats' waste. Not to mention the fact that I have to use my hands to snap the container under the tabs when emptying. There is spillage of litter dropping through the slightest opening between the tabs, and the waste container. Therefore, you must take apart the machine (as you can't pick up the new version like the old) to clean the litter that falls through that slight opening, or the new waste container won't fit into the opening. I have read other complaints about the motor being to loud, but it actually is a blessing. You are alerted when the rake can't get through the liter and bogs down and returns back to the home position as the motor is so loud you can hear when that happens from other rooms in my Condo.
In conclusion I called litter maid and told them of my opinion of the new version of their product. The representative politely wrote down my complaints and thanked me for my call. I no longer feel any allegiance to a company that changes a product that worked well, and then updates it with an inferior, cheaply made unit. When the unit stops working I will never purchase another litter maid product again. I will look at other manufacturers and check for reviews of that product before I make a buying decision. Sara of Dallas, TX March 11, 2008
Sara of Dallas TX (03/11/08)
We also had years of satisfaction with the original large size Littermaid for my two cats. It had a strong motor, strong structure, no real problems other than some side spillage around the container. After about 4 years of heavy duty work, it finally broke down, and we decided to buy the new Elite model. We wanted to just buy the old version, but it was discontinued. We should have known that corporations just have to make more money, and this good machine was not breaking down enough! The new plastic replacement is horrible. My husband could not even put it together and carry it to place it, without it falling apart. He was livid. The motor is horribly loud, and the moving cleaning tines are fragile and miss picking up a lot of material. They catch on the leading edge of the plastic container and pull it up, dumping litter down below the container well. You can't pick the machine up to clean it without it falling apart. Large waste particles get left behind or get caught behind the movable mechanism, and it needs constant cleaning. Poop falls out on the sides. The container lids come loose and jam the machine as it's dumping.
We had constant clogging and stopping of the machine due to the litter and waste being too heavy for the machine to move. We called a local PetCo (who told us they'd been getting complaints), and they told us we had to use lighter weight corn husk based litter which would allow the machine to work less hard, trying to move the waste. The new litter stinks like the material used in a petting zoo. It is horrible. There was no solution but to purchase and keep an air purifier on full blast to try to control the odor. Our cats have even protested by pooping outside the Littermaid, which never happened before. This company made a horrible decision, no doubt based in greed, and ruined a great product. We are on the hunt now for any other company that sees this market opportunity! I can't imagine that any market test group would have approved of this new machine. Something stinks, and it's more than the mess this new and improved Littermaid causes in our house! Two thumbs down for Littermaid.
Had to buy more expensive litter. Wasting my time (which could be spent in my business) always fixing the containers that come loose, or cleaning up the clumps that jam, or cleaning behind the movable head where the clumps get caught. Had to buy an air purifier to clean up the smell from the corn husk based litter we had to buy since regular litter won't work. Lil of Jacksonville, FL March 10, 2008
Lil of Jacksonville FL (03/10/08)
I bought the older style Littermaid LM900 model a long time ago and loved it. However, after a few years of owning it, the motor died. I was very pleased with this model and decided to upgrade to the Elite Mega Advanced model. Like the other complaints on here, I too, experienced the knob falling off, and the rake broke; and then the motor wouldn't stop going back and forth, so the motor eventually died. I had the Littermaid maybe 6 months before this all happened. When I called to have my 'knob' on the track replaced, they told me the item was on backorder, and it took a month to get here! I found that this was a waste of money, and I plan on buying the older model soon since it worked rather well.
Beth of Auburn, MA March 9, 2008
Beth of Auburn MA (03/09/08)
I owned the original littermaid for many many years, and was very happy with it. I have two cats, and it worked perfectly, never need a replacement part in all the time I owned it. When it finally broke, I went right out and purchased the LitterMaid Elite LME5000, assuming it would be better than the original. I was mistaken. Not only is it incredibly loud, but the rake gets stuck ALL the time, and when it rakes, the litter falls between the box and receptical, all on the floor under the unit. The rake broke after 6 months (which i am assuming is due to the fact that the top and bottom piece do not clip together like the original, so if the rake meets any resistance, the two pieces shift and the rake goes off center).
LitterMaid sent me another, which I installed a few months after receipt (I had moved, it was packed in the box it arrived in and I had to find it), and don't you know, it broke in the same manner again a few weeks ago. The rake went ever so slightly off-center, and one of the rollers broke. I wrote an email to the customer service address I found on line, and was informed that my unit was no longer under warranty and directed to a site where I could purchase a new rake for 18, PLUS 11 shipping and handling. Not to mention that there does not appear to be any encrypting/security features in place for your credit card info (no verisign symbol or anything of the like). Now, if you ask me, when you pay over 100 for a cat litter box, it should last, and the company should stand by its product. I shouldn't have to buy a rake a year at 38 a pop! I will not be purchasing another littermaid product. This experience has turned me into a VERY dissatisfied formerly loyal littermaid customer.
Need to purchase a new rake for 40, which lasts less than one year OR I will need to new litter pan - cost of a new self-cleaning (NON Littermaid) pan is 100-200 Howard of Las Vegas, NV February 27, 2008
Howard of Las Vegas NV (02/27/08)
This works for about one month only then stops. I think Litter Maid is a rip off.
Cost 150.00 and only worked for one month.
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