Hey folks! Welcome to my humble channel. It's just me here, sharing my product reviews, travel stories, a bit of aquarium life, and some cooking escapades. I just do this for fun, when I have time. Definitely not professional, but if you're looking to kill some time and maybe even enjoy the videos, you could do worse (maybe).
I'm looking for an automatic litter box and you may have sold me on the M1. I will be out on vacation for 9 days and I want to make sure I get a litter box that will be safe, roomy, and clean for precious spoiled little brat. Thank you for an excellent and very detailed review. I especially needed to see the true interior measurements. My cat needs her space so she can be comfortable inside, and have enough depth for digging, and not peeing or pooping on the walls. :)
Thank you, and thanks for watching! Everyone’s experience will be different, but what I shared has definitely been mine, and others I personally know, with the Litter Robot. Happy to say those issues are no more with the M1! I do still have both the LR and M1 running until I get another M1 or two!
LR4 liners are horrible my cats always tear it up. the weight sensors are unnecessary idc how much the cat weighs it just an extra point of failure. needs a stronger motor. i use Sustainably Yours litter i will not use anything else. Also would like to disable to 4th button, that button dumps all the litter into the bottom waste tray i press it alot of time unintentionally due to creating an open cabinet for it.
Hi, thanks for watching! I have to agree on the LR4 liner, you can see in my video the one I show is already tearing apart, and that was after just a month! Seems worse than the previous liners on LR1 through LR3. However, I will say the Litter Robot support was awesome, and they sent me a new globe piece. It would be nice to deactivate buttons via the app to prevent accidental pressing. That’s a great suggestion-you may want to send it to them!
He may not have enough litter boxes for the amount of cats he has. That said, the LR3 and 4 are made by a different company than the LR 1 and 2. The material for the interior of the LR1/2 had less interior issues for me personally. I had to clean the exterior more than interior and the need to clean the exterior was an issue many had. The real issue with the LR1 and 2 were the inability to be notified when full so people would let the bin overfill which is what really lead to the exterior getting gross. The interior material of LR3 and LR4 is inferior I feel to the previous versions and material sticks and clumps a lot against the sides.
I have LR2 and do not have the smearing issues you show here. I do use the LR litter and I believe the cycle time from use to empty is 8 minutes. I wash this out maybe every 4-6 weeks and not because it's gross but because I feel like I should. I have other issues with it and am looking into replacing it with a Neakasa so really appreciate this side-by side review.
The LR2 was made by the original manufacturer. The LR3/4 (which are what he has) are made by a U.S. company I believe who bought the rights. I can attest that these later models have issues with poop sticking to the interior walls. I wish my LR2 had not died because the LR3 was a disaster. The LR4 (in the thumbnail) is a tiny bit better in regards to the app and some functions, but the interior material is subpar. My cat was able to even scratch through the LR3 liner just from normal use.
Thanks for watching! The issue for me is with the circular and smaller litter area in the LR. I’ve emailed them since LR1 saying the litter area is too small, especially for the size of the LR! Some of my cats just don’t get in a great position, and they miss the litter or parts of it, so the poop doesn’t dry or get covered. When it rotates, well… you see what happens! If your cats don’t have that problem, then the LR is a great litter box; I’ve used it since LR1. For me, though, using the M1, I never have smearing issues, and it just works so much better for my cats, having the larger rectangular shape for the litter area, which is more like a regular litter box.
I didn’t know it was a different manufacturer making them-that makes sense. When I got the LR4, my first thought was, "Why does this one seem cheaper in terms of material and quality, yet cost more?
Litter Robot was bought by a U.S. company I think and that is who has produced versions 3 and 4. I didn't have a huge problem with the interior of the 1 and 2 which were produced by a Japanese company. A U.S. company bought it and the 3 and 4 have been not so great. Our cats ripped a hole in LR 3 and it broke down a lot. On the LR4 I have to actually scrape stuff off the interior and I've tried 3 different litters so I also think the interior material is the issue. The LR1 and 2 "bladder" material was a bit thicker and more rigid. I also think the "smearing" has created a problem with one of my cats - if a box is a bit dirty he'll just poop on the floor so I would have to clean the LR daily which kind of defeats the purpose of the automatic box.
I posted in another comment, but I didn’t know it was a different manufacturer making them-that makes sense now! When I got the LR4, my first thought was, "Why does this one seem cheaper in terms of material and quality, yet cost more?" Also, after just 1 month, the liner tore on me-that never happened with the older LR models I had. I also don’t like the back cover piece over the dome, it feels very flimsy, cheap, and it doesn’t line up correctly.
I purchased a LR4 about 2 months ago and am very happy with it's functionality on every one of the points you raised in this review. It took my cats a while to accept it, but now that they have, it's working as advertised and I could not be happier. I have not done a "deep clean" of my LR4 in about a month, and while it's not flawlessly clean, it doesn't look anything like the gross mess inside of your LR4. Is the LR4 worth the $700 price tag? Maybe not for a lot of folks, but it was for me. I have 4 cats, I am 70 years old, have mobility issues and severe lifting restrictions and was faced with the unthinkable choice of having to re-home my cats because keeping traditional litter boxes had become something I could no longer do. My purchase of the LR4 was a complete game changer.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m glad the LR4 has been a game changer for you, especially with your situation. It’s great to hear it’s working well for you and your cats! So don;t get me wrong, if your cats can use it proper and it is working for you - keep using it. I’ve used Litter Robot since LR1 and owned about 8 units in total, so I still liked it despite the issues I had to deal with. However, for me, the real game changer came with the Neakasa M1. I get all the benefits I liked from the LR-automatic cleaning, fresh litter-but without the negatives. Zero smearing, way easier to clean, and the larger rectangular litter area works perfectly for all my cats. If the LR4 works great for you, that’s awesome-it is still a great auto litter box with excellent support. But it seems like Neakasa paid attention to complaints from Litter Robot customers and decided to address them since LR wasn't! Is it a perfect litter box? No, but it’s their first one, and already better to me than the LR4, which LR has been around for over 20 years with the same issues since LR1. It feels like they never cared to listen to actual customers or evolve the design, or even create a new version of the LR to address these concerns.
Hi, thanks for watching! For me and my cats, it’s less about the litter or cycle time-I’ve tried all the litter! It’s more about the small, circular litter area in the LR. I’ve been emailing them since LR1, saying the litter area is too small, especially for the size of the unit. Some of my cats don’t get in the right position, and they miss the litter or parts of it, so the poop doesn’t dry or get covered properly. When it rotates, well… you see the mess. If your cats don’t have that issue, then the LR is definitely a great litter box! However, after using the M1, I really appreciate the open top-no smearing because the litter area is larger and deeper, and it’s so easy to clean! Even the way it cycles to sift the litter is way better to me. Neakasa did a great job for their first entry with the M1, and it will only get better, probably at a faster pace than Litter Robot, which really hasn’t improved much in 20 years except for adding app functionality I never use.
Anyone have ideas on keeping the wet pee litter from sticking to the liner? My cat pees in the same two spots in the front. I'm scared to scrub it off and ruin the liner. Someone once mentioned a spray? Thanks
That sounds like it’s on the Litter Robot! Funny you mention that, because I’ve had the same issue-always getting that fried, hard litter stuck on the very front, and it’s tough to clean unless you catch it immediately. I haven’t had that problem at all with the M1. It’s been much easier to keep clean.
Hey man, what kind of cat house is that in the background? We have watched a ton of videos on this pooper box and your's is the best. Thanks for all your hard work.
Hi, thanks for the comment and watching the video. Glad you enjoyed it! Did you check out the video comparing the LR4 to the M1? I have that up as well. The Cat house in the BG is by Aivituvin. They make all kinds of cool pet houses - aivituvin.com/ The one in the video is the Aivituvin Air09-B and crazy that I currently see it for $54 on Amazon - ship and sold via offical Aivituvin. That one is normally $95. Here is the link to it for $54. Id grab it! amzn.to/3zVfUXH Oddly, they also have the exact Air09-B from the official Aivituvin for $94 - here is the link, but I'd go for the $54 option in the link above! But here is the one listed at 94 amzn.to/3NEkWux I also want to get this one at some point amzn.to/3YgzLbA
Thanks for watching! If you have no issues like I’ve had with the Litter Robot, then I think you’re good getting another one. The Litter Robot is a great option if it works for you and your cats. That said, it might also be worth trying the M1 to see how you and your cats like it-they offer a 30-day return and money-back guarantee, so nothing to lose. Comment back and let us know what you decided and how it turns out!
I haven’t seen that issue with the M1. I also have the M1 litter mat in front of it, and to me, it’s just the normal, nominal amount I would expect. The litter I use is also low tracking, but no, I don’t see the cats raking the litter out. I think the lip around the litter area is high enough to prevent that.
This was the BEST review on these litter boxes. I like and appreciate your pure honest truth which made up my mind. I looked at least 4 videos and they didn’t give as much information as you. The unclean boxes gave an insight of what to expect which NO ONE showed. Definitely giving a like and subscribe. Thanks 👍🏽
Thank you so much! I’m really glad the review helped. I always want to keep it honest and show my real experience, which I understand may not be everyone’s experience. I appreciate the like and subscribe! I never know when I’ll have time to post or what I’ll post, as I do this for fun but there are some other vidoes up that you can check out :) Thanks again for watching!
Good review. My only real complaint with the M1 is that it looks so.... Anime. I don't want the litterbox to draw attention to itself, and that *very clearly made-in-Japan* design bothers me. I mean, I'm surprised it doesn't have a tail that wags during the cleaning cycle. The insistence of having legs means my Roomba wouldn't be able to get stray litter from under the M1. LR4 is big but has an understated design to blend in
Haha, you’re right-it totally looks like an anime robot! I don’t mind since mine is out of view, but if you’re trying to tuck it away under a table or something, the M1’s size makes that easier. The Litter Robot, on the other hand, is good if it’s out in the open, since the covered design hides the litter area better, though it does resemble a giant salon hair dryer! The LR4 has a sleek, modern look, and the color choices are nice. I agree, the M1 could definitely improve its design in future iterations-maybe that’s feedback they need to hear!
Cats poop shouldn’t be so loose that it runs and stains like that though. What litter are you using? Or more likely Its the food. A high quality, high protein diet would help give your cats healthy firm stool. My cat had loose stool once due to illness and it still didn’t do that. He is a good cover upper though. Some cats don’t cover and a litter robot probably isn’t best for that type of cat. I do use high quality litter and make sure the rotation is not set too fast. Dr Elsey’s Clay, No Dust Clay litter is a must have. Really great review! I’m tempted to switch. Maybe when they create a star step.
Hi, Thansk for watching! It isn’t really loose or runny. One of the bigger cats goes outside the litter area because it's a round and smaller space. Also, with the covered box, the positioning is limited. When poop is outside the litter ring, it will streak just due to how the Litter-Robot rotates 360 degrees. We only feed quality food-Fromm dry and BFF wet. Litter we use PrettyLitter or Boxiecat.
Do you think i can eliminate the three litter boxes and go down to this one? A client of mine recommended a nekasa. I ordered it as its on sale right now. She did a ton or research and I have maincoon a large barn type cat and stealthy hause panther. I hope they like it! We clean 3 boxes every other day and if were off by a few hours 🙄 one will pee outside box (they arent that bad! Hes just a virgo) So happy I ordered a m1! Dont have it yet but now watching in anticipation. Any suggestions on transitioning from an analog litterbox to the digital 😂 Thanks beautiful cat man!
You need 2 litter boxes if you have two cats. You will end up dumping out these boxes every other day. It’s tedious because it actually stops before it’s full. You gave to open the tray and spread it out so it will fill up. 1 cat I change it out fully every 4-5 days.
Looking foward to hearing how you and your cats liek teh M1 once you get it!! The M1 has a 30-day return policy, so if you don’t like it, you’re covered. Also, in the description is a code for 7% off.
Thanks! Hope it works for you and your cats! They have a 30-day, no-questions-asked return period, so if it doesn’t work, you’re not stuck with it. Also, I have an additional 7% off code in the description. Comment back after your cats have used it for a bit to let me know how it’s working for you!
Even if i wasn't looking at a review of these two litter boxes, this has to be the best review I've ever seen. Real life use and shots of what it actually looks like with cats actually using it. And one major takeaway I got from it...... Don't eat cat litter! 😂
Thanks so much! I’mglad you found the review helpful - andnothing beats seeing these litter boxes in action with actual cats. And yeah, the biggest lesson here: definitely don’t eat the cat litter! Trust me, scented or unscented, it’s not a taste test you want to try. :)
I really appreciate this review. A friend of mine has the Litter Robot 4 and she loves it - she's been trying to talk me into getting one for awhile now. So I finally decided to do some research and see what would actually be best for my cats (one is 14 yrs old, 22 lbs and diabetic - so he pees ..a LOT). But I also have to take into consideration that I am 62 yrs old, with COPD and other health issues. Doing the 2 regular litterboxes we have has become very difficult for me. After watching this comparison review, I think the Neakasa M1 is going to be exactly what I need. It's not "hooded" so I will be able to see into it easily to keep it clean, and my older cat won't be having such a limited space to do his "business". My older cat really HATES anything mechanical, but I think after watching how both of these work, he will be okay with the self-cleaning motion of the M1 Neakasa more than that of a spinning Litter Robot. I missed a Lightning Sale ($479) on Amazon today, so I'll wait until (hopefully) another sale comes along soon - it's "waiting" in my cart for when that happens. Thank you so much! I'm not "on the fence" now! 😉😁
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! It sounds like you've put a lot of consideration into what will work best for both you and your cats. I'm glad the review helped you make a decision-especially with your older cat's needs and your own health in mind. The Neakasa M1’s open design and gentle self-cleaning motion should be a great fit. It is very easy to clean! No box is perfet but this is close! I think the official Neakasa site has the sale going on thill Sep 22nd right now, and I have a code for an addditonal 7% off that you can use Both the link and the code are in the description below.
@@OTFCR Thank you SO MUCH! I just happened to catch this notification and got my order in today using your promo code! I'm super excited, and what a great discount.
I have three cats, two of them are 19 plus pounds and the other has wet loose bowel movements. I've had my Litter-Robot for 3 plus years now and I've never had smearing. You may need to add more litter or allow more time between cycles.
I'm glad the Litter-Robot works well for you and your cats! Every cat is different, and the Litter-Robot can be a great solution for many owners. We always keep the litter filled to the ring, so that’s not the issue for us. The problem comes from the round, small litter area-some of my cats position themselves in a way that waste falls outside the litter. Since it doesn’t get covered, it ends up smeared when the box rotates. If your cats don’t have this issue, that’s great! But for me, the Neakasa M1 solved the problem-my four cats started using it right away, and I’ve had no smearing issues since.
HA! That is funny, and I kind of wonder why, lol! Maybe because the litter boxes really tie the room together? But you can't ever go wrong watching The Big Lebowski again!
I'm glad the Litter-Robot 4 works well for you! Every cat is different. For me, the smaller, round litter area caused my larger cats to miss, and the waste would smear when the box rotated. After switching to the Neakasa M1, the issue disappeared, and my cats adjusted right away. If I hadn’t had this problem, I’d still be using the Litter-Robot. The M1 solved it-why can’t Litter-Robot do the same for those of us with this issue?
Hi , thank you for the video! Another video pointed out some flaws with the M1 Nekasa and fixes. I purchased the M1 after your review and I'm adding these fixes mentioned in the other video. Essentially it's just the stickers, might need extra or a sealant for the rear part behind the screen and adding a thin door sweep along the edges of the trap door to prevent leaks and keeping it debris free. I loved your video and a few of these fixes I think will help this machine a lot. Keeping the trap door to contain smells. See the section in the video around the 12:00 minute mark. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NnxRTXZhGZo.htmlsi=6kUWvr6MTN301Hww
Thank you for the feedback and for watching the video! Yes, I actually experienced that issue after posting this video , so I took the machine apart to check it out and contacted Neakasa. I was really happy with their customer service-they sent me the stickers as well. Interestingly, I never ended up using them because the issue didn’t come up again. I think it was just one of my cats adjusting to the new box, and they’ve since figured it out. That said, I do plan on making a follow-up video on this topic (I filmed it all) . I’ve also reached out to Neakasa after hearing from others that they’re addressing these design issues. Thanks again for your support, and I hope the fixes work well for you! Now, can you poist my link on to his site too :)
The over priced liter Tobot has gotten away with too much! Its about time we all realized what a waste of money and bad choice they really are with all the cons.
Agree, I’ve spent $$$ over the years and had the same issue from generation to generation. You would think by now they would offer an alternate design option for folks who have these issues, to give another choice and have more options out in the market.
Thanks for watching! I just looked up Meowant. I think they are relatively the same size. From what I see, the Meowant automatic litter box has a round litter area with a diameter of around 16.5 inches. The Neakasa M1 has a rectangular-shaped litter area, approximately 17.7 inches by 14 inches. The rectangular shape of the M1 generally offers more flexibility for cats to position themselves compared to the round designs. I may try the Meowant anyway just to ceck it out
@HokuloaBeebe I have the Meowant SC02. Two cats. Small girl fits well. But only will pee in it. Used old box for her poos. Large Siamese male got in it. He TRIED to turn twice. Very cramped. Immediately went to the old Lg box. Tried cleaning both out and using same TidyCat litter so they wouldn't have a scent preference. I'm giving it a week before I return it 😔. I love it though...but it's not MY toilet ! LOL... Very well designed, sturdy, super easy to wipe clean. Extremely quiet. Didn't startle the cats (it's near their food area)..Works with tofu litter and standard. No odor at all ..but since there has only been pee clumps in it, I can't speak to any poo smell in the container. Based on its design though, doubt it would be an issue. (If I return it, I'm responsible for return shipping)
After this video im thinking about buying M1... Just one issue... I plan to put it under the table 28 inches tall... Do you think its enough for 15 lbs cat to fit in it?
Absolutely, the height of the M1 is just under 20 inches, so it should fit under the table fine. Also, one of our cats is over 15 lbs and uses the M1 with no problem, because of the open top and the litter area being a good size it works great , and from floor to the litter area is just 5 to 6 inches so it is easy for the cat to get in and out.
I don't know about the litter robot 4, but the litter robot 3 pissed me off. It's about 2-3 years old. I get that electronics have issues the more they run. I have 3 boys. With the 3, the pinch sensor is a big issue. I've had to replace it after 1 year of having it and then I've had to clean it multiple times. Litter and litter dust, etc should not be getting into this part of the unit. I've had to start traveling for work and I've had a caretaker taking care of my cats. During one of these trips, the litter robot malfunctioned (it was the punch sensors being dirty, which requires you to take the base apart with a screwdriver). I couldn't make the caretaker do this maintenance so i had to ship her a normal litter box and scoop. It was a major pain and caused lots of anxiety. I just bought the Neakasa. My boys took to it immediately. It's a lot cheaper. We'll see how it holds up for 3 years. Pretty much 1k for a litter box is crazy after you are upgrading and have to get new accessories. I'm optimistic. 😊
I’ve definitely had my share of issues with the Litter-Robot and the sensors. I’ve had to replace them and other parts too. Luckily, they covered the cost of the parts, but you’d think after four generations of the Litter-Robot, those issues would be resolved. Yet, the same problems persist even with the LR4. That’s why I always ran two Litter-Robots at the same time, but even then, I didn’t fully trust them. I always bought standard plastic litter boxes as a backup when I went on vacation or work trip. I do have people come to take care of the pets, but they wouldn’t know how to fix the LR if it stopped. The Neakasa is so far, so good for me! It’s definitely more affordable, and I’m hopeful it’ll hold up over time. It’s promising, especially since this is their first generation. They seem eager to improve the M1 by listening to feedback, which is a good sign
Well, it's possible, but I do have a very good Trane Variable Speed AC with humidity control and a digital readout that shows the humidity percentage. Our in-house humidity is typically around 45-55%, which is super important in Florida or anywhere. Below 40% is dry, and above 60% can cause mold and dust mites-not good for allergies! I think the streaking in the litter box is more due to the larger cats missing some of the small litter area, so when the litter box rotates, that stuff gets all over. I still think the LR needs a larger litter area
Ha! I've been told that before! I have a few pictures from many years ago where, side by side, the resemblance was very uncanny. Now, it's a little less every day. :) Who knows , next video I may have Curly Hair, I saw some great tips !!
Hi , did you ever had the issue with the Neakasa M1 where the litter box could not complete the clean process because the door gets stuck?? In summary the bottom chamber door will not completely close so according to customer support it can be closed manually but it's annoying to do that every time the door gets jammed.
A few weeks after I made this video, I had one instance of that. I decided to go ahead and clean the box and found that I had some waste on that trap door. I just wiped it down, and it worked fine after that, so a regular cleaning routine should help prevent that, as I haven’t had it happen again. I did see someone mention that Neakasa is looking to improve that. I may post a video of that and a deep cleaning where I took it all apart!
The biggest issue with the M1, which makes the L4 superior, is when the cats pee. The L4 contains it due to it it having a more closed dome, but the M1 the cats pee just sprays out of it and onto the floor.
I’ve been using the M1 for 6 or 7 months with my four cats, and I’ve never experienced that issue at all. My cats exhibit the typical behavior of squatting when they urinate, directing the urine downward into the litter, which is what most litter boxes, including the M1 and LR, are designed to accommodate. While most cats will squat and pee into the litter, there are exceptions where some might stand or spray, particularly males or when marking territory. If a cat is standing and peeing against the back wall of any litter box, then yes, an enclosed option might help. However, that still seems problematic, as you’d have urine all over the litter box, which isn’t how they’re designed. Litter boxes are generally made to catch everything in the litter itself. In my experience, the M1 works perfectly fine, and I haven’t had any issues with urine spraying out.
