LitterMaid LM900 Self Cleaning Litter Box Issues

LitterMaid LM900 Mega Self-Cleaning Litter Box (UNAVAILABLE  as on September 9, 2016) is an automatic litter box that we can safely recommend. Please note the model number. The later versions have reportedly shown a number of problems.

If you are planning to buy a self cleaning litter box and live near the coast, you are probably better off not buying Cat Genie even though it is, otherwise, a very good automatic litter box. Cat Genie works by flushing out the used litter but a certain parasite in feline excreta is hazardous to some forms of aquatic life including the sea otter.

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Please note that you will not get the full benefit of LitterMaid unless you also buy Littermaid litter disposal system for LM980, LM900 along with it.

The Waste Disposal System allows you to go virtually odor free and you don’t need to dispose of the used litter as frequently – you enjoy the full benefits of a self cleaning litter box if you invest in this accessory.

If you would rather use cat litter that you can manually flush

please refer to our comprehensive guide to biodegradable litters that are flushable.

Problems with LitterMaid Self Cleaning Litter Box

The basic problem is that LitterMaid works best with premium clay based clump litters which could kill your cat. However, we have experimented with organic litter that clumps, and the machine operates just fine.

Owners of LitterMaid that we know of use equal parts of fine saw dust and raw wheat chaff. You might want to use other natural cat litter brands.

Wheat chaff does track quite a bit and the area becomes a little dusty. LitterMaid comes with a paw cleaning ramp (!) which minimizes the problem somewhat.

The Waste Disposal System is perfect except for the fact that it will have you sit the litter box on a higher ground. Usually, cats will come on their own to investigate. If you have kittens, use something beside the Disposal box to create a step.

How the LitterMaid Self Cleaning Litter Box Operates

A sensor detects the cat entering the litter box. The timer is set automatically to ten minutes. The litter is raked into a self-sealing reusable bag after ten minutes.

How the Waste Disposal System Works

The Disposal Box is basically a cabinet with a large capacity bag that expands as it is filled. You need to empty the litter once every two weeks with this disposal system installed as opposed to once every two days when you are using only the basic LitterMaid self cleaning litter box.

This upgrade is perfect for people who travel frequently or for a household with multiple cats.

A Final Word on the LitterMaid LM900 Mega Self Cleaning Litter Box

If it were not for the poor sea otters we would not go beyond Cat Genie. We hope to convince cat owners living in coastal areas to stay away from Cat Genie or any method of disposal of cat litter that flushes it out of the home.

LitterMaid, although it has no such problem, does affect the environment adversely in that if you are using non biodegradable cat litter, you are contributing to landfills. Please consider using one of the organic clump litters, instead, both for the health of the world we live in as well as for the safety of your pet.