SiiPet LitterLens Litter Box Camera Review: Our Expert’s Opinion

One of the first indicators that your cat may be suffering from common kitty health issues is litter box problems. Unfortunately, cats don’t often make it easy for us to keep an eye on them in this department. They prefer their privacy and bury the evidence when they’re done.

That’s where the LitterLens by SiiPet comes in. This compact (and adorable) camera mounts in the litter box and uses AI recognition and pattern tracking to alert you to changes in your cat’s bathroom behavior and stool consistency—before there’s an issue.

I had the chance to test the SiiPet LitterLens Litter Box Camera with my two-year-old cat, Makoa. Keep reading to find out whether this smart camera has what it takes to intervene on common, but often-fatal, cat health problems and whether it’s worth the purchase.

Why Tracking Your Cat’s Litter Box Habits Is So Important

Anyone who has owned cats for a significant amount of time knows just how common cat kidney, urinary, and digestive problems can be. They also likely know how deadly they can be if not caught early.

My first cat, Cali, suddenly started losing weight at age 18. At about the same time, I noticed she was frequently urinating in her litter box. By the time I got her to the vet, she was already in late-stage kidney failure. While her symptoms appeared to come out of nowhere, they very likely had been getting worse for months, if not years.

Kidney disease is one of the most common diseases in cats, with rates of illness as high as 40% in cats over 10 and 80% in cats over 15.1 As if that’s not enough, felines are also at a higher risk of urinary infections, bladder infections, bladder stones, intestinal blockages, and inflammatory bowel disease compared to other pets.

Outside of feeding a quality diet and providing fresh water, your best defense against these dangerous issues is to catch them early. Unfortunately, cats, with their preference for privacy in the litter box and their instinct to bury their excretions, do not make this easy.

What Is the SiiPet LitterLens?

The importance of litter box monitoring to maintain your kitty’s long-term health is exactly why SiiPet developed its LitterLens Litter Box Camera.

This adorable owl-shaped camera keeps a close eye on your cat whenever they visit the litter box. The AI-assisted monitoring features track the number of visits per day and the time spent in the litter box per visit, and help identify stool irregularities, including diarrhea, bloody poop, and hard pellets.

Over time, the LitterLens builds a record of what is normal for your cat and alerts you to any deviations or new trends. This makes the LitterLens an invaluable tool for detecting early symptoms of kidney, urinary, and digestive problems.

Who Makes LitterLens and Where is it Produced?

SiiPet, which specializes in AI-powered cameras to track cat behavior, is owned by Lingyu Hong Kong Technology Limited. The LitterLens camera is made in China.

Which Type of Cat Is LitterLens Best Suited for?

As an early detection system, LitterLens is an excellent option for cats of all ages and breeds. But it is an especially great choice for older cats and those with a history of urinary issues or blockages. Because the LitterLens can differentiate among cats and track their usage routines separately, it works for both single- and multicat households.

For the camera to track potty behavior effectively, it needs to witness all potty instances throughout the day. For houses with multiple litter boxes, it’s recommended to have one LitterLens installed in each. If you have a cat who spends time both indoors and outdoors, the LitterLens may not work as intended, as some potty breaks may not occur in the litter box, leading to false fluctuations in routine or missed problem excretions.

SiiPet LitterLens Litter Box Camera Product Specs

Details

• Size: About 3.5 inches wide by 3 inches tall
• Power: Rechargeable battery or wired operation
• Battery Life: Lasts up to 1 month between charges
• Compatibility: Works with open, covered, and automatic litter boxes
• Cleaning and Care: Waterproof camera can be hand-washed with soap and water
• Colors: Comes in gray and pink
• Attachment: Sticky pad with removable body

Comparison

App Features

Through the SiiPet app, you can access the live feed for your camera, control the light, check the potty record for the past 3 to 30 days, check daily and long-term visit, duration, and unusual event metrics, and edit your cat(s) profile.

Each camera comes with a free two-month Premiere subscription. You can continue to use your camera without renewing, but some features will be limited. You can also purchase the less expensive “Basic” subscription plan, which offers all the same great features as the Premiere package but with a shorter abnormal event storage window.

Our Experience With SiiPet LitterLens Litter Box Camera

The LitterLens arrived in a small box that included the camera, a charging cord, and a small instruction manual with a QR code for downloading the app.

Once I had the app, it took only a few minutes to connect the camera. From there, it was easy to install it in the optimal location, using the camera feed to get the right angle.

Makoa, my 2-year-old domestic shorthair, has one litterbox: a round, compact automatic box. I was worried it might be too cramped to install the camera inside, but it actually fit just fine. And thanks to the fishbowl lens, it can capture the entire litter surface inside.

I also tested the camera on the standard pan litter box he uses for camping, and it worked well for that one as well.

Once the camera was installed, the app started collecting data. After seven days of consistent data collection, it established a baseline, allowing it to begin issuing warnings for abnormal patterns.

There’s a lot to like about this camera. The size and portability make it compatible with any litter box. It’s fully waterproof and washable, which is key for anything that comes into close contact with a cat potty. And the battery lasts a long time, so you can use it cordless and still charge it infrequently.

I also like that the app lets you open the live view anytime you want. It’s a great way to keep an eye on your cat when they are near the litter box, even when they aren’t using it. The graphs in the app make it easy to visually track your cat’s potty behavior day to day and week to week, while the AI reports help catch slight changes that you might miss.

To this point, I have not received any abnormality alerts, but I do receive a daily notification confirming that everything is going smoothly, which is good for peace of mind.

In terms of what I don’t like, there hasn’t been much. I noticed that over 10 days, the camera failed to capture two potty events that my automatic litter box logged. This might have something to do with how cramped the litter box is and the camera not seeing my cat’s face for long enough to activate the sensors.

The only other thing to note, which is in no way a fault of the camera, is that results will be less than reliable if you cat potties outside the monitored litter box. Makoa often uses the flower pots in his catio to relieve himself, which means his daily potty visits are consistently low according to the app. This is something to consider if you have an indoor/outdoor cat or one who will potty outside the litter box.

Overall, I really like the SiiPet LitterLens. I think it is an ingenious way to keep an eye on your cat’s bathroom behavior and catch problem symptoms long before they would normally be noticed. I have no doubt that this product will save many kitty lives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does the LitterLens actually detect diarrhea?

Yes. According to the product website, the AI recognition software can detect many stool anomalies, including runny poop, blood in the stool, overly hard pellets, and unusual colors and tints.

If I have multiple litter boxes, do I need multiple cameras?

Yes, this is recommended. The cameras will sync and report all collected data through the app, so you get a full picture, no matter which box your cats choose to use throughout the day.

Do I need a subscription?

The LitterLens camera comes with a free two-month subscription. It can also be used without a subscription, but won’t have all the features offered by the Basic and Premier subscription packages.

Conclusion

Cats are notorious for hiding signs of illness until it is too late to intervene effectively. The SiiPet LitterLens Litter Box Camera provides a detailed record of your cat’s litter box habits using AI recognition and interpretation to catch slight changes in behavior to highlight urinary and digestive issues long before they become critical.

Whether you have an older kitty at high risk for kidney disease or a youngster notorious for eating what they shouldn’t, this product has the potential to be a lifesaver, making it worth every penny and more.