“For cat owners, you adore your beloved pets, but you likely despise the chore of cleaning up after them…”
Important keys
- Casa Leo’s Leo’s Loo Too offers an automated litter box, streamlining the cat cleanup process and minimizing mess and odors.
- The Leo’s Loo Too package comes with a starter bundle, complete with a custom-fit mat and plush cat toys, all for a price of $700.
- While the Leo’s Loo Too presents certain advantages, including its quiet operation and intelligent detection features, it does have room for improvement in terms of tracking management.”
Owning cats often entails a delicate balance between affection for your feline companions and the dislike of tending to their litter boxes. Over the years, numerous products have emerged, all promising to simplify the process of managing your cats’ bathroom needs, while also addressing issues related to mess and odor. Each year, it seems like I explore a new solution in the hopes of maintaining a cleaner home and happier cats.
Casa Leo, formerly known as Smarty Pear, has introduced the latest addition to their automated litter box series, known as the Leo’s Loo Too. They assert that it will “enhance the quality of life for you and your furry friend.” I decided to put this claim to the test, enlisting the help of some feline co-workers who were handsomely rewarded with an abundance of treats for their participation.
Upon my initial encounter, I held a positive impression of the Leo’s Loo Too, and both my cat companions and I found it user-friendly and convenient. While it comes with a substantial price tag, it is in line with many other high-end electronic litter boxes available in the market. Nevertheless, there are a few aspects where the Leo’s Loo Too has room for improvement.
Pricing and Alternative Choices
The Leo’s Loo Too Starter Bundle we received is priced at $700 before factoring in taxes, shipping costs, or any available coupons or discounts. When compared to other automatic litter boxes in the market, this falls on the higher end in terms of cost. However, it comes with several extras, including a custom-fit litter mat designed to snugly fit at the base, custom waste drawer liners, and a set of three charming plush cat toys.
If you opt for the Loo Too unit alone, excluding these additional items, the price is $650. There’s also the option to purchase it with a 3-year extended warranty for $750, offering added peace of mind for certain users. Notably, shelters, veterinary clinics, or cat cafés may find the multi-product discount appealing, which provides a $100 saving for each extra Loo Too purchase.
Comparatively, other automatic litter boxes like the Litter Robot 4 are available for $700. The Litter Robot 4, however, comes fully assembled and is plug-and-play but lacks the array of accessories included in the Loo Too’s starter bundle. Additionally, it is only available in black and white, whereas the Loo Too can be obtained in various colors, including Leo Gray, Avocado Green, Baby Blue, or Pretty Pink at no extra charge.
For a more budget-friendly option, the ScoopFree Self-Cleaning litter box is priced at $140, but it does necessitate the use of a relatively costly proprietary crystal litter system and does not offer the smart features or app functionalities provided by the Loo Too.
A mid-range choice comes in the form of the CatGenie’s A.I. Self-Washing Cat Box, with its standard package available for approximately $480. This option provides a more hands-off, automatic flushing and cleaning system, akin to a real toilet. However, it does entail a somewhat complex and potentially messy plumbing setup, and the use of their SaniSolution Cartridges and Washable Granules in lieu of conventional litter. Having personally used both the ScoopFree and CatGenie solutions, in comparison to the Leo’s Loo Too, I’ve noted several advantages and some shortcomings, which I’ll detail in this review.
Assembly and Configuration
The Leo’s Loo Too was delivered in a sizable and somewhat unwieldy box, although surprisingly lightweight.
Inside, the package included the litter box’s base, drum, and top sections, a power adapter with a cord designed to resist chewing, charcoal air filters, and ten waste drawer liners. Additionally, user manuals and guides were provided.
Setting up the Leo’s Loo Too proved to be a straightforward and uncomplicated process. After ensuring that the drum was correctly positioned, I could attach the top section of the device, introduce the litter, place the liners, and connect it to the power source.
It’s worth noting that the power cord is relatively short, which may limit the placement options for the Leo’s Loo Too within your home, unless you employ extension cords. The inclusion of an anti-chew cord demonstrates careful attention to detail by the Casa Leo team.
One of the standout advantages of this system, when compared to many other high-end alternatives, is the flexibility to use any brand of clumping clay litter, though Casa Leo recommends Dr. Elsey’s. I experimented with Purina Tidy Cats Light Weight and later switched to Dr. Elsey’s, but I didn’t discern any substantial disparity in terms of how effectively the litter box operated or its performance in minimizing litter tracking. Notably, the Leo’s Loo Too appeared to offer limited improvement in addressing tracking, even when used in conjunction with its custom-fit mat and cat step.
It is imperative to recognize that using any other type of litter aside from clumping clay litter will lead to damage to the device and void the warranty. To my surprise, filling the litter into the box presented a slight challenge, particularly when employing Dr. Elsey’s, which, unlike many other litter brands, lacked an easily accessible perforated side for pouring. Due to the drum’s size and orientation, it was practically impossible to invert the litter box sufficiently to allow for straightforward refilling of the drum. Consequently, I resorted to using a small jar to scoop the litter. While not a significant inconvenience, it was somewhat unexpected given that this particular brand was recommended, leading to expectations of a smoother experience with this pricier option.
The experience is somewhat enhanced when employing a product featuring a pourable spout. However, as the litter level decreases, the process can become challenging when attempting to empty the last granules from the box. In this context, the inclusion of a litter scoop would have been a valuable addition to the starter bundle (perhaps instead of the charming plush toys).
Moving forward, after filling the litter up to the designated maximum level inside the drum, you should proceed to install the waste drawer liners and filters. The drawer is situated directly below the entry point of the litter box and smoothly slides out, thanks to its built-in handle. A transparent plastic lid covers the liner, holding it securely in position and featuring a wide opening to capture all the waste sifted from the drum.
However, it’s worth noting that the lid is fastened by two hinges at the back, which I found to be somewhat less robust than desired. Lifting the lid would often result in it detaching entirely. These hinges also hindered the liners from fitting snugly around all the edges of the waste drawer, making it somewhat challenging for the bag to remain flush and open.
While I make an effort to ensure the liner is correctly seated, smooth at the opening, and as open as possible, there is a potential for the liner to fold over itself at the hinge locations. This could potentially lead to some waste spilling outside the bag if the user isn’t cautious, which I experienced the first time I emptied it. The instructions emphasize the importance of ensuring smooth edges on the liner, so it appears to be a crucial aspect to keep in mind.
On a positive note, the drawer serves as an additional compartment that can be used to store unused bags, charcoal, filters, or other accessories, ensuring they are readily available when it’s time to empty the box and replace the liner. With the device fully assembled, filled with litter, and lined appropriately, it’s ready to be connected to power and switched on.
Application Features and Capabilities
Upon downloading the Casa Leo app and creating your account, you will receive instructions to perform a long press on the front-facing power button of the Loo Too for a duration of three seconds. This action triggers three beeps and prompts a rapidly flashing white light.
It’s important to note that the device can solely connect to a 2.4GHz network, so please be mindful of this requirement. Once the device is detected, it will be seamlessly integrated into your Wi-Fi network and linked to your user account.
This marked my first encounter with a genuinely smart litter box, as I had not previously felt the need to utilize the app associated with the SmartGenie. I was thoroughly impressed by the diverse array of features offered by Casa Leo. The app provides real-time information about the device’s current status, permitting you to make adjustments, or initiate a manual UV sterilization or cleaning cycle.
Furthermore, the app maintains a detailed usage log, offering a comprehensive record that includes the date, time, and specific pet’s weight that utilized the box at the given time. The activity log also serves as a valuable tool to alert you to any blockages detected by the anti-pinch sensor. This is especially beneficial for pet owners who wish to closely monitor their cat’s well-being, as patterns in litter box use and weight changes can serve as indicators of potential health issues.
In-app settings can be fine-tuned to manage the number of drum rotations during each cleaning cycle, the time delay for post-usage cleanings, and the ability to schedule daily cleaning sessions or sterilizations. Users can also keep track of the countdown for filter and litter replacement or reset it, with alerts provided when it’s time to make a change. The app additionally includes a sleep mode for instances when the device needs to be powered down for an extended duration.
Remarkably, the Loo Too is not solely controlled through the app; it boasts voice control capabilities as well. This functionality enables users to power the device on and off, and switch between manual and automatic modes, all through Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. Although it might not be a feature extensively utilized by many users, it remains an available option.
Device Operation
Upon the initial power-up of the Loo Too, the device will initiate an automatic full-circle rotation while the power button flashes. During this phase, it is recommended to carefully observe the sifting and rotation process for any signs of abnormal functionality, particularly if it may have been damaged during transport. One of the initial observations I made during this phase was the near-silent operation of the Loo Too. Its sifting process is remarkably quiet, producing a mere 30 dB of noise, a level so low that it was barely noticeable even to my cats. This “whisper-quiet” feature allows users to position it virtually anywhere in their homes without concerns of it causing disruption to daily life or sleep.
In the course of regular use, the Loo Too boasts several key features, including automatic sifting after each visit from your feline companion, a triple-layer safety protection system, and an odor-reducing UV light that claims to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria. The device is equipped with smart safety features, such as a radar system and four weight sensors that detect when your cat is inside the drum. Additionally, there is an Anti-Pinch Sensor located at the top of the waste drawer to safeguard your pet’s paws and the fingers of pet owners.
The Loo Too offers a programmable UV light that can be activated through the app or set to operate automatically. This UV light effectively combats odor issues by sterilizing the waste drawer, eradicating bacteria, parasites, and viruses. By doing so, it eliminates a significant source of unpleasant smells, enhancing the comfort level when handling waste bags and reducing exposure to harmful pathogens. Coupled with its spacious waste drawer, the Loo Too maintained the lowest odor levels of any litter box I have used, provided I emptied the drawer regularly, which typically amounted to once a week for my two cats. The app’s notifications facilitated this task, promptly informing me when it was time to change the liner.
As with any transition to a new litter box, there may be concerns that your cats won’t adjust quickly or, in the worst case, will reject it entirely. Fortunately, my cats are exceptionally easy-going and adaptable, never displaying any apprehension or refusal to use a new litter box or device, despite my habit of changing them approximately once a year. I believe that they have grown accustomed to this routine and recognize that if there is litter in a container of some sort, it signifies that it’s acceptable for their needs.
Upon introducing the Loo Too and allowing my cats a brief period of sensory acclimatization inside it, they immediately understood its purpose. In fact, within just a few minutes of setup, one of them utilized it for the first time. While each cat may react differently, the Loo Too’s smart detection features and unobtrusive operation should greatly contribute to their ease of acceptance and familiarity with it.
Litter Tracking
Although my cats are seasoned experts at adapting to new restroom arrangements, describing their behavior as somewhat unpredictable would be an understatement. This is precisely why I place a strong emphasis on the cleanliness of the area surrounding the litter box and the floor when assessing the effectiveness of a litter system. While the provided litter mat did assist in containing some of the loose granules that would scatter when our cats leaped out of the box, there was still a significant amount of tracking evident in the surrounding areas.
To further alleviate this issue, the inclusion of a flexible flap or cat door, similar to the one offered by CatGenie, would have significantly reduced the spread of stray litter when our cats enthusiastically pawed around. Throughout our weeks of testing, we observed that the level of tracking was comparable to what you might expect from a conventional “basic” covered litter box. In other words, it was not very effective in preventing tracking. In fact, prior to transitioning to the Loo Too, our cats were using pine litter in one of these straightforward covered litter boxes, and we experienced virtually no tracking issues, thanks to the larger size of the pine litter particles.
Casa Leo has introduced a small rubber step at the entrance as an optional accessory to address some of the tracking problems. It’s not exactly a step in the conventional sense, as it doesn’t protrude significantly and, in our cats’ case, was entirely overlooked as they preferred to leap in and out freely. This is where the Loo Too’s design falls short in comparison to the Litter Robot, which features a more substantial step and even offers an attachable ramp as an optional accessory to encourage a more graceful exit for cats.
Cleaning Procedure
It is advisable to perform a thorough cleaning of your Loo Too device once a month. This involves detaching the hood and removing the drum from its base, followed by a meticulous cleaning of each component. The drum should be emptied of old litter and cleaned with soap and water. After this process, all the components should be reassembled, and fresh litter should be added. While some automatic litter devices, such as the Litter Robot 4, are more durable and can be rinsed with a hose for cleaning, Casa Leo recommends users to gently wipe down each piece with a cloth and a cleaning solution, avoiding the use of water on the base to prevent damage to the internal electronics.
Impressive Smart Features and Convenient Cleaning, but Room for Improvement in Tracking
With a starting price of $650, this smart litter box may well be more expensive than your own toilet. However, considering its comprehensive features and the potential time it can save you, it could be a valuable investment. Leo’s Loo Too provides your cats with a clean and comfortable space while offering you peace of mind regarding their health. It also simplifies your life as a pet owner. Despite its substantial cost, it is an appealing choice for those seeking longer intervals between litter box cleanings and appreciating the additional insights it provides. However, its practical functionality and smart features are somewhat offset by its relatively ineffective tracking management.
Will this device make your cat pay you more attention? Probably not, but at least now you can pay a little less attention to their litter box and return the favor.