Those who are cat owners know it’s not all purrs, affectionate headbutting, and the opportunity to take adorable blep pictures. While the use of a cat litter box keeps all of a feline’s waste products in a single area, your kitty is not going to be the one who has to clean it. Having a self-cleaning litter box sounds like a great solution, but they can be expensive. Whether you can trust online reviews to help decide if getting one is worth it is at the center of a lawsuit in the heretofore unheralded TikTok litter box war.
Plaintiffs Shenzhen Zhihuida Technology Co., Ltd. (Zhihuida), and Gaosto Ltd., filed a civil lawsuit in the Eastern District Court in Texas on January 16, 2026. Zhihuida is a Chinese-based company behind the Meowant brand of pet products, which are licensed for sale in the U.S. by Gaosto through the Meowant Store, a TikTok shop. The suit claims that automatic litter box competitor PetPivot Inc. has engaged certain TikTok accounts to leave false and damaging product reviews about the Meowant Self-Cleaning Litter Box.
Most people who have fur babies consider them part of their family, which is reflected in the staggering revenue generated by the pet industry. It’s estimated that Americans spend close to $150 billion on pet care each year, with cat products remaining a busy and profitable field. Judging by the allegations made by Zhihuida’s lawsuit, it’s an extremely dirty and competitive one as well.
Safe To Say the Claws Are Out at This Point
Evidence of humans and domesticated cats has been found dating back about 9,500 years. A 2007 study found that five different types of wildcats slowly evolved into the pets we know and love (most of the time) today. Revered in ancient Egypt for both their pest-control and their distinct personalities, cats appeared in hieroglyphics found in the burial sites of Pharaohs and as mummified companions to accompany them into the afterlife.
Cats are no less beloved today. Cat owners can expect to spend an average of about $500 per year for each of their felines. Part of that cost is generated by maintaining a clean litter box through changing out soiled litter. This is a necessity due to the extremely fragrant nature of a cat’s bodily wastes. Feline urine is high in uric acid, which bacteria break down into eye-watering ammonia and sulfuric compounds. Their scat can smell rank due to the processing of their high-protein diet. Regardless of why, frequent replacement of either clay- or wood-based litter is a must for most cat owners.
According to the lawsuit, more than 600,000 Meowant cat products have been sold through the Meowant TikTok store. Their flagship item is the Meowant Self-Cleaning Litter Box, which features an autoscooper and components Zhihuida claims are easy to clean. The body of the lawsuit contains several positive reviews of the litter box, including apparently happy customers who refer to it as a “game changer” and “the best self-cleaning litter box.”
Much less pleasing to the plaintiffs are the decidedly negative video reviews about their product posted by TikTok users “fluffyfinds” and “coltomn.” Both accounts posted reviews claiming their experiences with the Meowant Self-Cleaning Litter Box were less than wonderful, detailing how the units failed to operate as promised and left a “big mess.”
With positive reviews at the Meowant Store outnumbering negative reviews by a ratio of more than 10 to one, Meowant could have chosen to ignore the naysayers. They did not; instead, they filed a lawsuit accusing a competitor, PetPivot, of directing and paying TikTok influencers to leave false reviews.
The Price Is Wrong
Zhihuida alleges that the reviews made by “fluffyfinds” and “coltomn” are filled with lies, misrepresentations, and footage of Meowant boxes that were tampered with to cause them to underperform, all done at the behest of PetPivot. This is based on “information and belief,” the details of which are not available in the body of the complaint. It does note that “fluffyfinds” claims to have paid $300 for the litter box in question during his review, but the unit sells for over $600 at the Meowant Store.
Citing violations of the Lanham Act, Zhihuida’s complaint accuses the defendants of unfair competition and false advertising. It also includes counts under Texas law of injury to business reputation, defamation, and tortious interference. In response to the “attacks” that caused injury to its intellectual property, the suit seeks an injunction compelling the removal of the false reviews and their prohibition from reposting. As might be expected, the plaintiffs are also seeking damages, including any profits PetPivot realized from their alleged unscrupulous and catty behavior.
Related Resources
- 5 FAQs About Unlawful Advertising for Small Businesses (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
- Who Gets the Dog in a Divorce? (FindLaw’s Divorce Law)
- Cat’s All, Folks: Lawsuit Against Blue Angels Alleges First Amendment Violations and Feline Terror (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
