The Petkit Purobot Ultra Is a High-End Automatic Litter Box With a High-End Price

The Petkit Purobot Ultra features the standard functions of a barrel-drum-designed, self-cleaning litter box—when a cat uses the litter box, sensors detect when the cat has left, and the barrel begins to cycle and filter litter through a grate—but also includes stool analytics, weight tracking, facial recognition to differentiate cats, and a 180-degree cat tracking camera.

What I like about the Petkit Purobot Ultra

The Petkit Purobot Ultra offers incredible odor control, as expected from a high-end device. I have one cat, but I believe anecdotes from those with four or more cats who find the Purobot bag system capable of mitigating bad odors. The sifting grate inside the Purobot Ultra can also accommodate various types of litter, including clay, crystals, and tofu.

As a one-cat owner, the Purobot Ultra camera is what sets it apart from other litter box models I've seen. It has a 180-degree range that I have pointed inside the litter box by default, but it can be rotated to look outside of the litter box. When your cat uses the Purobot Ultra, the camera will automatically rotate inside to give you a view of them, then will rotate back to its previous position when your cat is done. So if you want to keep your camera pointed at your couch, for example, or at your pets' food bowls, you can get a consistent view of your preferred area, except when the camera needs to focus specifically on a cat doing its business.

The camera can be controlled via the Petkit app, which was easy and fun to use as an informal security camera for our two dogs and cat. Initially, my daughter and I used it regularly to check on the pets, but the novelty soon wore off without a real need to see them. If our pets were still in their training phase, I could imagine using the extra pet cam to monitor them, though.

Credit: Jordan Calhoun/Lifehacker

Aside from the expected odor control and automatic cycling, I especially appreciated the extra-large waste bin that officially supports up to 20 days before needing to be changed, or even longer if you also have a teen daughter who doesn't clean her room as often as she should. Despite the bag system looking a bit intimidating, the touch-free design makes it easy to toss cat waste, and my daughter figured out how to replace the bags pretty easily.

How often to change the Purobot Ultra's bags and filters

Part of the Purobot Ultra's expense is the need to replace its bags and N60 filter. App notifications send alerts when either is nearing the end of its lifespan, and you can buy them directly in the Petkit app or order them on Amazon.

Bags are supplied in a Purobot-specific "refill ring" that holds a roll of waste bags. The good news is that the bags are highly durable, offer strong odor control, and have a high capacity for waste. I didn't worry much about tears or spills, and the capacity was high enough that I found myself manually checking it, skeptical that the bag wasn't full yet. (When I manually checked, I learned that the bags also have printed alert markers that indicate when the bag is nearly full.) The bad news is that the patented auto-packing bagging system means buying Purobot-specific bags, which adds to the ongoing expense of a high-end litter box. If you're like me and try to reuse old plastic bags or avoid using them altogether, that isn't an option here: You need to use the refill rings.

A four-pack of refill rings costs about $50. Your mileage will vary on how often you'll need bag replacements, depending on how many cats you have and how many litter boxes you have for them. I have one cat and two active litter boxes, so one ring lasted us several months. Petkit has a useful diagram on its website for calculating how often you'll use its proprietary bags based on the number of cats you have and how often they use the litter box.

As for the Purobot Ultra N60 odor filter, expect the same good and bad news: The proprietary system does a great job controlling odors, but the filter will need to be replaced every several months. The replacement cycle is meant to be every 60 days, but you can stretch it out based on usage and your odor sensitivity. The Petkit app has been sending me notifications to replace my filter for at least a month, which I'll continue to ignore until it begins to smell. The Purobot Ultra N60 odor filter costs $20 for a three-pack on Petkit's site and on Amazon.

Credit: Jordan Calhoun/Lifehacker

What I don't like about the Petkit Purobot Ultra

Assuming you have the budget, multiple cats, or a deep love for your pet, the most notable shortcomings of the Purobot Ultra stem from its form rather than its function. Simply put, the Purobot Ultra can be an eyesore for those who prefer their litter box to blend into its surroundings rather than stand out. It's huge, and its design makes it less discreet than other automatic litter boxes. (It didn't help that my daughter covered it with the stickers that came with its packaging.)

Credit: Jordan Calhoun/Lifehacker

As mentioned earlier, the Purobot Ultra requires specific bags and filters, creating ongoing costs and maintenance reminiscent of buying vacuum bags in the '90s. If you choose the Purobot Ultra for its odor control and rotating camera, plan to buy replacements when the app reminds you, or set your own schedule for ordering replacements.

A trial subscription for Premium Petkit Care+ lasts for 30 days, after which you can expect to pay $4 a month for a Basic plan (or $21.99 per year) or up to $11.99 per month (or $109.99 per year) for a Premium+ subscription. Essentially, Petkit Care+ includes cloud storage and video history for your camera, making it a worthwhile option for those who want video recording rather than just live streams.