scmrak's Full Review: Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box
Even though the people at our county Humane Society shelter swear that they came from the same litter, you'd never be able to tell that our two kitties are sisters. About all they have in common is that they're both gray: one outweighs the other by almost two to one, and they have completely different personalities. It's the size thing that's important, though - Big Kitty doesn't fit in your everyday litter boxes; and it's always the business end that sticks out, I fear. So we've been careful to provide oversized boxes for the girls. Our search is complicated by the other inhabitants of the house - two labs, one of whom happily eats anything that doesn't move - and she's especially fond of kitty crunchies, if you know what I mean.
The local PetSmart came through for us, though, with a Booda Dome Clean Step litter box - it's big enough for both the girls, and not only is it covered, it has a "side" entrance so that dog-girl can't stick her head in when searching for snacks. The cats like it, too - which (given the sensibilities of cats) is pretty much the Dome's key quality.
You've probably seen dome litter boxes before, but this one is a little different: think of it as a molded plastic igloo with a side entrance. The girls enter through an arched doorway on the left side, and ascend a curved ramp perhaps six inches high to gain entrance to the actual box area. That space is about twenty-one inches in length, fifteen inches or so wide at the widest point, and about twenty inches high at the center of the dome. The construction allows for a six-inch depth of litter, with sloped sides like traditional pans.
The entrance ramp is corrugated, with little nubs to add additional texture. At the foot of the ramp is a low lip; all of these features are intended to keep litter from escaping the box. To keep odors trapped inside, there's a single vent covered by a disposable activated charcoal filter. You can buy replacements for the filter as well as custom liners to fit the odd semicircular shape of the box.
Of the three litter boxes in the house (four if you count the emergency box we keep in the attic in case a cat gets trapped up there), this one appears to be kitties' favorite. That guess is based on how much it gets used between scooping sessions. I'll wager that it's dog-girl's least favorite, since she can't get at the cats' "offerings." As for the human inhabitants of the house, I'd say it's pretty much an unqualified success.
Cleaning is pretty simple, as you can lift the domed top straight off the base with the molded-in handle, and it also fits back on easily. Scooping is less efficient than with traditional rectangular pans, since the corners are a little tighter than a right angle. So far, kitties have been unable to kick litter out the door, and very little makes it all the way down that corrugated ramp to the floor on their feet. Cleaning the litter out of the ramp requires a stiff brush or a shot with the vacuum cleaner. Since the dome not only covers the box but has a side entrance, kitty has privacy and you don't have to look at the litter every time you walk by.
As for ambient odor, we don't notice much even though the box is in frequent use. The charcoal filter pad is designed to last six months or so, but seems efficient enough to last longer.
On the down side, it's BIG! The Dome Clean Step takes up a square almost two feet on a side - the manufacturer says twenty-one inches - and stands about twenty inches tall. The lid fits well and is simple to remove - unfortunatley, for man or large beast - so ours is held together by a bungee cord so that the coprophagous dog can't just tip it off. And the lid that holds the filter in place is poorly-made (on ours, at least), so that it occasionally falls open. Still not very stinky, though.
The Dome Clean Step is available in three colors: iris, pearl, and titanium (think lavender, white, and whiter). Apparently the silver model we have is no longer on the market. This is a somewhat expensive solution to your litter needs: the box itself lists at about thirty-five dollars, though you can find it online for about twenty-six (plus nine dollars shipping... heh.). The replacement filters cost around two dollars each and liners are three dollars for eight at PetSmart. Though expensive, however, it is a good solution that provides visual and odor protection, keeps your floors cleaner than the average box, and provides kitty some privacy while doing her business. Not a bad deal, if you ask me!
Note: Many thanks to ladysmom for adding the Booda Dome Clean Step to the database.
Covered litter box with paw-cleaning steps and air filter Built in litter mat stairs dislodges litter from paws for cleaner floors Large box for accom...More at Amazon
The BOODA® Cleanstep? was designed for cleanliness as well as privacy. Your cat will appreciate the seclusion and you will enjoy the benefits of a 99...More at TSC Pets.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.