16/11/2023
Petree Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCFYGB1L?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
Who’s surprised to learn that this is my least favorite of the litter boxes I’m testing and my cats’ favorite? Cats! 🙄
As of today (11/16/23) there’s a $100 coupon that brings the cost down to $259. Am I going to have to buy another one for the little stinkers? Maybe.
Pros:
Ease of operation – The Petree litter box has just one button with limited functions, so the app is a necessity. The box will operate without the app, but in a limited way. So far, the app works well and the messages I get from it are hilarious. It functions well to control the box. For example, if I want it to do a manual cleaning cycle startup is instantaneous. When the waste bin is full the button on the front of the box turns red, the box emits a very loud, prolonged beep, and you get an alert on your phone. If you have your box in an out-of-the-way location this could be an advantage because it’s hard to ignore the fact that the bag needs to be changed asap. The bottom of the drum flexes to release stuck clumps.
Ease of use – This litter box is average in a lot of ways. It’s in the middle of the ones I’m testing with regard to the size of the entry way and its height from the floor. The drum size is the smallest I m testing at 56 L. Even so, Lily the Maine C**n, who is big and long, uses it with no problem. There is no step available for this model so I’m using one of my $3.25 five below folding crates with a litter mat under it. Why do the cats love this box so much? I have no idea.
Ease of filling – Any clumping litter can be used. There is just one type of screen that works fine with my normal clumping litter. Adding litter to this box is a little cumbersome since it has to be scooped in from the front through the average-sized entryway. I picked up a few cheap XL scoops and keep them in the litter containers.
Ease of cleaning – The waste bin slides out from under the box for easy cleaning. The bin doesn’t fit tightly to the box so more odor escapes in comparison with other boxes I’m currently using. All the bags that came with the box were torn. It looked like someone cut through them with a razor knife before they were packaged with the litter box. There are no branded bags, so I’m still experimenting to find the alternatives that work best. A plastic ring sits on top of the bag, but it’s a loose fit and doesn’t seem to serve a purpose. At the same time, I haven’t had any problem with the bag falling into the bin and cleanups are mess free.
Other pros: This small box fits under the vanity in my master bath. Measure carefully, though, because it’s just a tiny bit too big for the space under my guest room vanity. I managed to find one even smaller for that, so there are options even if you have limited space.
Cons:
The waste bin is the smallest of the litter boxes I’m testing at just 6 L. In comparison, the box with the largest waste bin holds 13 L. This means that I have to change the bag more often, usually once a day. This is less of an issue if you have fewer cats using the box and still beats scooping multiple times a day in a multi-cat household.
There’s a gap in the front of the box between the litter guard and the cover that allows “stuff” to get between them. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it does make cleaning a little more challenging.
The legs on this box allow litter to get underneath it, further complicating cleaning.
Other things to consider:
This box seems to be available only through resellers, so reviews that mention customer support generally aren’t positive.
The box comes in either black (for a hefty increase in the cost) or white if you have a preference.
In general, the box doesn’t seem to be as well made as some of the other options. For example, the litter screen seems cheaply made compared to other boxes even though the box overall isn’t less expensive. This makes me worry a bit about the parts that I can’t see, but the box is functioning well and only time will tell when it comes to its longevity.
Overall opinion:
While this isn’t my favorite automatic litter box, it’s still a solid choice. It functions as expected and the cats love it. It’s small size makes it suitable for situations where an enormous litter box isn’t an option.
