Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I hesitated to buy this because of the poor reviews, but it sounded so good, I thought I would gamble and try it anyway. I have just started using this SmartSift littler box. By reading the good and bad reviews, I learned some things without having to learn the hard way. I am posting this because I think the litter box is getting a bad rap from some users.. THE BOX IS MADE UP OF AS DECENT MATERIAL AS ANY LITTER BOX. UPDATE: This morning I took out the litter pan and "top" sifting clean litter box to wash it out with a hose. This could be done in a bathtub. When I reinserted it, the litter pan did not lock in place properly and would swing although I had locked the handle. A mystery to me. I fiddled with how I had inserted it in the grooves made for the pan to be inserted in, made sure the handle was firmly in place, and then the litter pan locked in place. DON'T GIVE UP SO EASILY WITH MINOR PROBLEMS. FINE OUT WHY SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK AND TRY TO FIX IT. THE BOX IS WORTH IT AND MY CATS LOVE IT! 1. Ignore the pictures that come with the box to help you assemble it. They are useless and it is simple to put together because there are only 5 parts: top, bottom, inside litter pan, top container box (attached to litter pan but removable), a handle for dumping the pan, and the bottom collection pan. 2. It is large but only huge in a small place. It works well in our roomy laundry/pantry/storage room. 3. After assembly, at first, leave the swinging door off until your cat(s) get used to the box. 4. It has been made clear that you should rotate the handle very slowly. In the beginning, you should look inside the box as you rotate the litter pan (may need a flashlight) to see what is going on when you pull the lever forward. You will find that the clean littler sifts into the top container (not allowing clumps to enter). While it is being sifted, wait until all the "clean" liter is in the box. However, if the litter stops flowing into the top container, YOU HAVE PUT TOO MUCH LITER PAN FOR THE COLLECTING CONTAINER TO HOLD, so you have no choice but to waste some in the bottom box with the clumps. Of course, use less. 5. After you have collected the clean litter in the top container, pull the lever all the way to the FRONT to dump any remaining clumps (some will have already tumbled down as you sift but they land in the bottom box). Then push the lever all the way to the BACK and the litter being held in the top container will now flow freely back into the litter pan. BE SURE TO "LOCK" THE HANDLE or a large cat can hit the top container when exiting and it will cause the litter pan to dislodge. 6. The box will take almost any size cat, but a very large cat (maybe 18 lbs or so) takes up so much room that it cannot help but do its poop business on the side of the pan, sometimes creating a mess. The box is not suitable for truly large cats unless you are willing to put up with some messy problems at times. My cat is 14 lbs and I have no trouble. 7. In the reviews, I have picked up that Arm & Hammer's SLIDE cat litter will eliminate "stuff" sticking to the side or bottom of the liter pan. I have just purchased some and cannot vouch for this statement, although the box swears stuff will slide off and not stick.. 8. Some people, including Hagen, suggests several methods to get the cats to use it. You know your cats, so use your own judgement. As for my two cats, which I know sounds super silly, but I talk to my cats, and I bragged on their new litter box. I went on an on and was glad nobody could hear me. However, I didn't push them to use it, just removed the two boxes they were using, and they immediately started to use the new one. I HOPE THIS HELPS THE UNDECIDED ONES DUE TO BAD REVIEWS. THIS BOX IS NOT 100% MAINTAINENCE FREE BUT REQUIRES VERY LITTLE EFFORT IF USED PROPERTY. 5