I’ve been needing something like this for a while because I’m trying to conceive and wanted an easier, safer way to take care of my cats without dealing with as much litter dust for the times when I need to clean litter on my own. This felt like a good step in that direction.Setup was pretty simple and didn’t take long at all, which I appreciated.So far, my cats haven’t started using it yet, but that’s really no fault of the machine. They’re pretty picky, so I expected the transition to take some time and we’re still working on that. One thing I will say is that it’s a little on the small side, which has been a bit of a barrier for my 16 lb cat.I do appreciate the safety features. I actually tested it multiple times using water just to make sure I felt comfortable with how it operates. When it sifts, it doesn’t completely close, so even if a sensor somehow didn’t register a cat properly, it still seems like they would be able to get out safely. That gave me some peace of mind.The controls are very simple, which I like, but definitely keep the instructions handy because I found myself going back to them a few times. I haven’t used the app since I don’t have space on my phone for another one, but the manual options work perfectly fine for me.It’s not completely maintenance free, but it’s a lot less hands-on than a traditional litter box, which I really appreciate. I’veWhat I didn’t love was the included bags. They kept ripping and just don’t feel very durable, so I’ll probably switch to something sturdier.Overall, I think it’s a cost-effective option for someone who doesn’t want to commit to a super expensive system right away. I’m hoping my cats will eventually warm up to it, but either way I’m glad I started with this one.

This is my first time ever having a litter box like this one. I don’t think I have even seen one in person before. The price and uncertainty of these boxes has always been a barrier. I was fortunate enough to be able to order one and give it a try and the timing worked out well. Two of my cats live at my father’s house from when I was younger and lived with my parents still. He just recently had a major surgery and doesn’t need to do a lot of bending and lifting for a while. I thought it would be perfect to try this at his house while he recovers so he won’t have to scoop and clean litter when I am unavailable. The box is pretty easy to put together. It looks and feels like it will be durable. The left handle on mine comes off too easily though. It doesn’t snap in and stay like the right one. I have to mess with it. That is probably just a defect on my individual one. Finding a place was a little bit of an issue because of the size of this litter box. The overall size is big. It is also a little tall too. It will depend on your cat as to whether it is too high or not. If your cat struggles to get up on things then this may be too tall. Setup is easy. The instructions are easy to follow. The quick start is a nice large card that is useful to have out near the box. The app was not hard to figure out and I got the box connected even with low wifi signal. I like that it can be controlled with the app. There are different modes. There are sensors all over for safety and it even pauses while cleaning to give a cat a chance to get out. But, the sensors are supposed to stop it all if anything is detected. So, meaning it has double and triple safety precautions. I put it in kitten mode anyway just to be safe. We will have to manually make it clean in that mode but that is easy to do. I may try full auto when they get used to it. This way still saves from having to scoop and clean it ourselves. A decent amount of litter fits inside but not as much as we put in a plain large sized plastic box. Definitely will want it to clean often to keep your cats from being deterred from using it because it is getting full. The two cats at my dad’s house are indoor/outdoor female cats. They are older and picky. So, this will probably take a little time. The smaller cat looked in there and tasted the litter (clean and fresh and just put in there) and spat it out three times like she was determining its grade or something. She then walked off. So we’ll see. I really hope they come to love it. It is very helpful compared to regular boxes. Cleaning looks like it will not be too difficult when that needs to be done. I am excited that it can clean the litter on its own. That is futuristic.

I tested this litter box's safety features a lot and the cleaning aspect a bit. It works well and is easy to maintain, but there are a few things worth knowing before you buy it in terms of safety features.Safety Features:The safety system is solid and behaves the way most automatic litter boxes do. The weight sensors in the base detect changes of at least 2.2 pounds and pause the machine until it returns to its normal weight; this minimum weight has been the same for all four automatic litter boxes I've tested. It means kittens and underweight cats should not use it. After adding litter, you need to hold the weight sensor button, or the machine may not work. (It will have the saved weight of the almost-spent litter, which is less than the fresh litter.)There is an infrared sensor on the front that pauses the machine when a cat approaches. I believe it is PIR since it seems to detect heat as well as motion. There are no sensors inside the orb, although there are six sensors at the entrance of the waste container under the orb. I prefer a sensor inside the orb, but with an open‑top design like this, it matters less.The resistance sensor can stop the machine if something presses against the orb. The amount of force needed is similar to what other models need, so it is not unusually insensitive. It still requires enough force that a cat will need to be pinched for it to stop, but not enough force to trap the cat. (Assuming your cat leaves after the first pinch.)Assembly:Assembly took less than five minutes. You place the orb into the base, lock it with the side pieces, pull out the sifter behind the litter trapper, and install it; add the adhesive litter brush strip under the orb; and install the optional urine blockers for tomcats along the edge of the litter bed. After adding litter, you need to hold the weight sensor button. The urine blockers are not in the manual or packing list, but they give enough strips for long-term use. They funnel side-wall spray into the pad instead of letting it flow underneath it.Effectiveness:The cleaning cycle is simple and works well. When the orb spins to the right, the litter falls through a grate into a container while the waste slides over the grate into the waste bin. When you want to empty all the litter, the orb spins left and bypasses the sifter completely. For how basic the mechanism is, it is surprisingly effective.Deep Cleaning:Deep cleaning is even easier than assembly. You activate the litter dump feature, toss out the bag holding the used litter, detach the orb, and spray it with a hose. It is quick and straightforward.At the time of writing, GARVEE does not sell replacement litter pads. These pads are consumable. As long as you keep the litter above the minimum level, the risk of a cat tearing through the pad is low, but it is still something to keep in mind.I included a short silent video showing each safety feature in action. It gives a clear look at how the sensors behave during use.

This automatic litter box has been a huge upgrade for our home. The self cleaning function works very well and keeps the litter box fresh with minimal effort. I love the top open design because it gives my larger cat plenty of room and helped him adjust to it quickly.The odor control is impressive and the high capacity waste bin means I do not have to empty it constantly. The app control is also very convenient for checking usage and managing cleaning cycles from my phone. I really appreciate all the built in safety features because it gives peace of mind when the cats are nearby. Overall this has made daily litter box maintenance much easier and cleaner.