Self-cleaning litter boxes: the downsides, first

Wirecutter says the most common complaint it heard was oversensitive sensors; long-term testers got frequent 'dirty sensor' notifications, likely from dusty litter. Wirecutter also hit a flashing pink-and-blue panel light that Whisker's support pages didn't explain. Tom's Guide says it sometimes squeaks during cleaning, so maintenance is key.

Amazon's review summary says durability opinions are mixed: some say it's built to last, while others say the premium price doesn't match its longevity. Reliability also gets mixed feedback. Wirecutter notes the standard warranty is one year, extendable to three years for a fee.

Wirecutter says Whisker's accessories, waste-bin bags and filters are expensive. Cheaper generic consumables exist, but third-party add-ons might invalidate the warranty. Cats.com says it only works with fine-grained clumping litter, not tofu litter, and may be cramped for large cats.

Wirecutter says the Catlink app gave it more trouble than any other pick: setup and 'binding' a cat were glitchy and unintuitive, and some wording is unclear or oddly translated. Its privacy expert called the app's privacy policy very vague.

Wirecutter notes user complaints about the machine breaking quickly and a one-year warranty with no extension. Cats.com says some reviewers reported malfunctions and tech issues, and Amazon's summary says some buyers call it one of their worst purchases.

Cats.com rated odor control 3/5 because the waste bin lacks a tight seal. Amazon's summary says some customers report clumps sticking to the bottom. Wirecutter once saw a clump fall outside and behind the box during a cycle.

Wirecutter says the PuraMax 2's interior is just as small as the Purobot Max Pro 2's, which was one of the smallest it tested. Cats.com says it may not suit large cats.

Cats.com found the magnetic litter remover ineffective and deep-cleaning tedious, and says it is designed for hard floors only; on carpet the reviewer turned off auto-scooping and the weight sensor became inaccurate.

Amazon's review summary says odor control, durability and size get mixed reviews: some say it keeps smells away, while others say it doesn't control odor well. Value for money is also mixed.

Wirecutter tested it for nearly two months and found the app controls extremely glitchy. BGR got frequent sensor errors (false 'extended scale activity' with no cat nearby) and motor issues, had to manually reset it about once a week, and saw the app show the wrong status and setup crash several times.

Cats.com says the Whisker+ subscription ($7.99/month) is needed for real-time video, visual cat identification and up to two years of history; the free tier gives two days of video and five minutes of live view a day.

Cats.com lists it at $899 and flags the high price and possible new-model glitches. BGR found the camera more novelty than daily necessity.

Wirecutter says there were a few safety incidents where cats were reportedly injured when the drum over-rotated and trapped them, so it moved the M1 out of its picks. Neakasa updated its firmware and removed teeth from the gear in its new model; Wirecutter advises M1 owners to install the latest firmware and contact the company for a new gear.

Tom's Guide says the open design scatters more litter when cats dig and exit, so the reviewer still needed to vacuum around it, even with the included netted mat.

Tom's Guide says you must buy PetSafe's tray inserts with its special crystal litter, about $48 for three; each lasts about a month for one cat or around 15 days for two. A $49.95 reusable tray plus about $17 for two bags of crystals is cheaper after about three months.

Amazon's review summary says durability is concerning, with several customers reporting it broke after several months or lasted no more than five days. Functionality and value get mixed reviews.

Tom's Guide found waste stuck in the rake several times, pushing litter back and forth until the reviewer scraped it off. Emptying means folding a soiled cardboard tray, and it's not something you can forget about for a month.

Wirecutter says recorded video and waste analysis require a subscription that costs about $95 to $160 a year, more than its other picks. Petlibro also recommends replacing the internal litter mat every 90 days, and waste piles up in the center of the drawer, wasting bags.

Amazon's review summary says reliability is concerning, with multiple customers reporting that it constantly malfunctions. A Wirecutter long-term tester waited four days for a customer-service reply, and Wirecutter notes other users warning about poor service.

Wirecutter's tester found a steep app learning curve, and the AI could rarely tell pee from poop. Wirecutter says there were initial safety concerns at launch that Petlibro addressed with firmware; it couldn't trigger any in testing but says to keep watching. Its privacy expert flagged that the company appears to reserve the right to access your videos.

Cats.com says technology issues are the most common customer complaint, along with a sifter that falls out of place and noise. Amazon's summary says many owners don't think it's worth the price.

Cats.com says the entry is about 12 inches off the ground with no step, so kittens, seniors and cats with disabilities may struggle, and the box is too small for large cats. Amazon owners are split on size, with some calling it too small inside.

Amazon's summary flags leakage, with bits of waste flying out of the front. Cats.com lists clumps sticking to the sides and litter kicked out as complaints, and a few owners said it smelled worse than a regular box. The drum doesn't self-empty for a full litter change, which Cats.com calls a 'major oversight'.