Our Final Verdict
We give PETKIT Purobot Ultra Litter Box a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars
Features: 5/5
Odor Control: 5/5
Phone App: 4.8/5
Value: 4.8/5
Whether you have multiple cats and are looking for a better way to deal with litter odor or are worried your cat might be hiding their health problems, the PETKIT Purobot Ultra claims it can help.
This intelligent automatic kitty litter box has smart sensors, a camera with facial recognition, triple odor protection, and many more advanced features. All of them are meant to help you keep an eye on your cat’s health while taking the work out of litter box management.
For the last month and a half, I have been testing the PETKIT Purobot Ultra with the help of my eighteen-month-old Domestic Shorthair, Makoa. And I have to tell you, this litter box rules! Find out why and if it might be worth your purchase in my full PETKIT Purobot Ultra review.
Overview
| Product Type: | Auto-empty litter box |
| Best Suited For: | Cats over 3.3lbs, single and multi-cat households |
| Price Range: | Premium |
| Contents: | Litter box components, 2 waste bag rings, 1 odor block, and stickers |
| Specs: | 21” wide x 32.2” deep x 24” high, 32 pounds |
| Options: | White only |
| Assembly: | 10 minutes |
| Waste Removal: | 14+ days for one cat |
| Litter Type: | Clumping |
Our Experience
I’ve tested a number of automatic litter boxes in my time. I’ve seen many wonderful features that make life with unpredictable kitties a little easier. But for the most part, I have been underwhelmed by the odor control these high-tech litter boxes offer.
That may be why the PETKIT Purobot Ultra took me by surprise. I’ve been using this new box for the last six weeks and have yet to smell even a hint of kitty litter. And that’s saying something because my cat, Makoa, is pretty famous for clearing the house with his stinky stools.
Yep, this litter box certainly has a lot to love, but there are also a few places where I see room for improvement.
What I Liked
This box has so many awesome features and functions, but topping my list of things to love is the odor control. I am all about natural litter without added chemicals or fragrances, which means odor control responsibilities in my house fall to litter box management.
Luckily, this box does all that managing itself. It automatically scoops the litter after each use, pushing the clumps of urine and feces into a special waste-bag-lined compartment that is sealed to trap 97.5% of odors. The housing over this compartment and the N60 odor-eliminating block inside remove the remaining odors.
Waste continues to collect in the waste bag until it fills up. The website says it can hold up to 20 days of waste for a single cat. I found that mine fills up about every 16 days or so, but that still translates to very little work on the part of the cat owner.
Once the waste bag is full, you have to initiate packing, which is as easy as pressing a button. The litter box seals the bag all by itself, which means, again, no smells escape. All you have to do is remove the bag and toss it in the trash.
Beyond odor control, this smart litter box has many features.
The attached camera records your cat while they use the bathroom and can be accessed live, swiveling 210 degrees so you can watch your kitty anytime they are near the box. Since my cat sleeps in the same room as his litter box, this has been a super useful feature.
In addition to tracking when and how long your cat uses the litter box, the camera also records the waste as it goes into the waste compartment. This is a huge benefit over most other automatic litter boxes that push clumps out of sight without giving you an opportunity to check for issues. With the PETKIT Purobot Ultra, you can go back and review every potty break to check for diarrhea and other stool and urine issues that might indicate a health problem.
These features helped me identify a period of constipation Makoa was experiencing and get him some relief.
The camera also features facial recognition. This, along with the weight sensors, helps track the potty habits of each cat in multi-cat households, even when they are similar in size.
All this potty data is compiled to track changes in average potty duration, potty times per day, and pet weight. Fluctuations in these metrics can help you identify potential health issues, including kidney stones, kidney disease, constipation, blockages, and more.
Personally, I rely on this data to track potential issues with Makoa’s pica. He has eaten inedible objects in the past that required surgery to remove. By tracking his bathroom habits, I get an early warning about potential blockages so I can take him to the vet before critical issues arise.
Where I Saw Room for Improvement
I have encountered very few issues with this cat box, but there are a couple of areas where I see room for improvement.
Like most cylindrical cat boxes, this one is difficult to fill with litter. You can’t just pour the litter straight from the box because the opening is too narrow.
I’ve had to resort to pouring the fresh litter into a small bowl and then dumping it in. Alternatively, you could pull the cylinder off, tip it up, and pour straight from the box.
The PETKIT Purobot Ultra also doesn’t provide any reminders or warnings about low litter levels. This means you have to track it yourself. This isn’t a big deal, but given how hands-off this litter box is, it can be easy to forget it even exists.
The app associated with this smart litter box is fairly intuitive, but it can take some time to find the many functions. And unlocking all those functions requires a subscription.
If you want all the advanced health trackers, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee. There are enough perks with the Premium and Premium+ subscriptions that I think they’re worth it if you have concerns about your cat’s health or potty habits. PETKIT also offers a cheaper Basic subscription and a free version.
I’ve tried the free and the Premium+ options. The free version provides enough features to get by on, but I can see the Premium+ being worth the expense, depending on your needs.
Overall, the things I love about this litterbox easily outshine the issues. For me, the odor control is so amazing that that feature alone makes it worth the purchase. Considering all the other functions the PETKIT Purobot Ultra offers, I would happily recommend this box to all the cat owners I know.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unparalleled odor control
- Cat facial recognition
- Live rotating camera
- Hands-free waste packing
- Records waste for reviewing
- Health insights
Cons
- Litter filling is difficult
- App could be easier to navigate
- Pricier than other options
Key Features
Smart Camera
The smart camera attached to the PETKIT Purobot Ultra is the basis for many of its advanced features.
This camera notifies you each time your cat passes by the litter box and when they use it. The camera angle can be controlled via the app, allowing you to rotate it to view the larger room and keep an eye on your kitty. Each time your cat enters the litter box, the camera automatically adjusts to capture video of them pottying.
Uniquely, the camera will remain trained on the litter as it automatically cleans itself, capturing images of the waste before it’s collected. This is meant to help you identify issues with stool consistency and waste type before the waste is sealed away.
This smart camera also features facial detection to help keep track of each individual cat’s bathroom habits in multi-cat households.
Self-Sealing Waste Department
One of the most ingenious aspects of this litter box is the self-sealing waste compartment.
During cleaning, the box automatically dumps waste clumps into a bag-lined compartment on the back of the unit. This compartment features flaps that automatically seal after each cleaning cycle, locking in 97.5% of odors.
The included N60 deodorizer block removes the remaining odors to keep your house free of litter smells day after day.
This process works so well to contain odors that the litter box smells just as good on day one of a new waste bag as it does 16 days in. Considering how much waste each of these bags can hold, this is an impressive feat.
Hands-Off Operation
The PETKIT Purobot Ultra is one of the least labor-intensive litter boxes I have ever tested. In the last six-plus weeks of using it, I have done almost nothing to maintain it. I’ve added litter a few times and taken out the pre-sealed waste bags three times. Beyond that, I haven’t touched the unit itself.
Because the unit handles all the scooping itself and features a huge waste compartment, the only real labor required of you is to initiate the packing process when the waste bag is full. This literally involves pressing a single button twice.
From there, the PETKIT seals the bag with an internal heat sealer and then pops the compartment open so you can grab it. Once the bag is removed, the box will reset itself, engage a new waste bag from the internal bag ring, and continue maintaining the litter box without any input from you.
About PETKIT
PETKIT was started by twin brothers Weike and Weixue Guo in 2013. Today, it remains one of the most innovative pet technology companies in China with products available around the world.
| Manufacturing: | Designed in Shanghai and manufactured in China |
| Warranty: | 1 year |
| Shipping: | Free shipping on orders over $39 |
| Other Products: | Smart feeders, water bowls, pet fitness trackers, and more |
Is PETKIT Purobot Ultra a Good Value?
The PETKIT Purobot Ultra is more expensive than other automatic litter boxes out there, but it also has a lot more features than most. Included in this are some unique functions, like facial recognition and a self-sealing waste bin, that you just won’t find with the competition.
While this smart litter box may require more of an investment than others, we believe it is well worth the price.
How We Tested
I tested the PETKIT Purobot Ultra by using it as the only litter box in my house for six weeks. My cat, Makoa, helped with these tests.
I started by replacing his old litter box with this one, placing it in the same spot to reduce confusion and facilitate a seamless transition. From there, I kept records of his reaction to the box, his willingness to use it, and notes about odors, mess, and other common litter box issues.
I also spent quite a bit of time exploring the associated phone app and the many features available through the different subscription options. Each day during that first week, I compared the records created by the camera with my own notes on Makoa’s bathroom habits to test the unit’s accuracy.
Part of my testing also included keeping track of how often the unit required attention. I compared these notes with the information available on the website as well as with my previous experiences testing automatic litter boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use any trash bag for the waste bin?
No, PETKIT utilizes a specially designed waste bag ring to supply up to 200 days’ worth of waste removal per cartridge. This bag ring is necessary to accommodate the automatic sealing and reloading process that makes this litter box so hands-off.
Is this litter box safe for kittens?
Because many of the safety sensors rely on weight, this box should not be used in households with cats under 3.3 pounds. Kittens over this weight can use the PETKIT Purobot Ultra, but it should be set to “kitten mode” for extra safety.
What type of cat litter is this box compatible with?
This litter box requires clumping litter. It comes with two screen sizes to accommodate granule and pellet-type litters. Any clumping litter with pieces shorter than 12 millimeters and skinnier than 3 millimeters will work.
Why is this litter box so big?
The PETKIT Purobot Ultra has a larger footprint than many auto litter boxes due to the enclosed, self-sealing, self-packing waste bin. This large compartment takes up extra space but also provides unparalleled odor control.
Conclusion
For protective cat parents who want to do everything they can to keep an eye on their cat’s health while also reducing odors and litter box maintenance, I cannot recommend the PETKIT Purobot Ultra automatic litter box enough.
This intelligent product takes the labor out of cleaning the litter box while eliminating odors like no other box I’ve tested before. And if that weren’t enough, it also comes with a host of smart features to help you track your cat’s potty behaviors and waste content to spot potential health issues early. Best of all, it can do all this even in multi-cat households.
