How to Troubleshoot a Littermaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Perhaps the messiest chore of cat ownership is cleaning out the litter box. Self-cleaning litter boxes, such as the Littermaid brand, offer cat owners a way to put off the chore a little longer. Although they take up the same basic footprint of standard litter boxes, self-cleaning boxes include a mechanical rake, a motion detector and a timer. When a cat enters the litter box, the motion detector activates, setting off the timer. A few minutes after the cat leaves, the timer activates the mechanical rake. It moves through the litter, sifting out clumps and moving them into a disposal tray that can be emptied every few days. Littermaid boxes sometimes do an incomplete job, but owners can take steps to make things run smoothly again.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clumping cat litter
• Small dustpan brush or flat paintbrush
• Mild detergent
• Silicone spray
• Soft cloth

1. Check the level of the litter. Be sure it remains below the "full" line as labeled on the side of the pan.

2. Use a small brush to clear the rake tracks of any excess litter, which can clog them and hinder the rake's motion.

3. Use premium clumping cat litter to fill the litter pan. Avoid pearl-based or crystal-based litter.

4. Clean the litter tray surface with soap and water. Over time, cat claws can mar the plastic surface of the litter pan, causing waste to adhere to the plastic. Cleaning the tray and drying it thoroughly can reduce the chance of sticking.

5. Spray the clean litter box lightly with silicone spray before filling it with litter and lightly wipe the spray with a clean, soft cloth. This will help prevent any soiled litter from sticking to the pan.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid spraying the main motor casing with water, and never immerse the unit in liquid.