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Since the filing of the first automatic litter box patent in 1991, the cat products industry—and dozens of indie inventors—have vied to produce the perfect self-cleaning litter boxes.
These ideal automatic litter boxes would have all the positive attributes of traditional covered litter boxes (including odor reduction), plus they would scoop liquid and solid cat wastes into a storage receptacle that would not require daily attention. The automated cleaning would be scheduled to take place when the cat had finished its business and left.
Difficult to get all this into one machine? Yes. Just about everyone who owned one of the old automatic litter boxes can regale you with stories of burned-out motors and piles of unscooped litter. Kickstarter is, well, littered with the ghosts of robot litter boxes that didn’t quite make it. And landfills are filled with the pieces of motorized litter boxes that frightened cats, frustrated purchasers, required hard-to-find cat litters, or just plain ground to a halt one day, never to be repaired.
The good news is that robot litter boxes have come of age, and there are now several on the market that really work: They scoop waste effectively, don’t frighten (most) cats, and collect waste in easy-to-dispose-of plastic bags. While some require proprietary cat litter, most let you use your regular clay (clumping) or silica (non-clumping) litter. They’re models of efficiency and smart design.
The bad news is that some of them cost more than most household toilets (and that doesn’t include buying the litter).
We’ve weighed the pros and cons of self-cleaning litter boxes for cats and tested quite a few. Our conclusion? They can be a time-saving investment like few others in the pet world—under the right circumstances. We’ve rounded up the industry’s best to maximize your chances of picking a winner for your kitty.
Lightspruch via iStock
How to Choose a Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Today, the issue cat parents might face with an automatic litter box isn’t mechanics; it’s how a cat feels about their new bathroom. Some cats find the motorized scooping activity intriguing, and others—well, how would you like it if the toilet in your bathroom suddenly started to make growling sounds while you were on it?
Cats who are especially picky about their bathroom may not be good candidates for an automatic litter box, though there are things you can do to make the transition to a self-cleaning box easier. But cat parents with more flexible felines can get a lot of mileage out of one. To find the best fit for your household, you’ll want to consider the following:
- How many cats need to share a litter box? Some models are better suited to multi-cat households than others.
- Will your cat tolerate a covered box, or should you prioritize open models?
- Is litter odor a problem? If so, try a box that incorporates anti-bacterial UV light.
- Does your litter box go somewhere where it’s on display? There are some especially sleek options that are great for any part of the house.
- Are you comfortable lifting heavy bags of cat litter or waste? If not, a wash-and-reuse system might be a good fit.
- Do you need reminders to tend to the litter box or want to keep tabs on your cats while you’re away? If yes, focus on a WiFi-enabled litter box.
A note on power cords: If you’re planning to switch to a self-cleaning cat litter box, you’ll need to give some thought to where you’ll put it. Most of them have specialized heavy-duty power cords (power adapters) that are six feet long. If you need to use an extension cord to reach an outlet, check the manufacturer’s guidance to see if that is safe and what type of extension cord they advise. And at least one of the automatic litter boxes we checked out needs to be hooked up to your water system and your toilet.
The 6 Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
Here’s our report on the machines that do it best. The four top-rated robot litter boxes are expensive, but we’ve also included two affordably priced alternatives that are fine for weekend litter cleanup duty or for single-cat households.
Best Overall: The Litter-Robot 4
It’s no understatement to say that the Litter-Robot has revolutionized the field of robot cat litter boxes. It’s powerful enough to handle any premium clumping litter and quiet enough not to disrupt your household when it goes into sifting mode. It uses electronic sensors and timers to avoid frightening or injuring your cat. It waits to sift litter (into the waste drawer’s plastic bag) until well after your cat has exited the box, and it will stop its cement-mixer-like sifting if your cat decides to leap back in while it’s moving. The waste bin has enough capacity for use by multiple cats.
If you were on the fence about getting a robot cat litter box, the Litter-Robot 4 may tempt you to make that purchase.
While WiFi was optional (and at an added cost) for the Litter-Robot 3, it’s now included in the Litter-Robot 4. So once you connect the Litter-Robot to your home network, the smartphone app provides information about the waste level in the drawer, tracks your cat’s visits, and reminds you when it’s time to empty the drawer. It also keeps a record of your cat’s litter box visits—which could alert you to health issues. It even records your cats’ weights. (Speaking of sensors, a Litter-Robot is not safe for young kittens—your cat must weigh 5 pounds or more for the box’s mechanisms to function correctly.)
Most of the new features in the Litter-Robot 4 are designed to make the box easier for your cat to use. That’s important because some cats (including my own older cats) didn’t like the high, narrow entrance in the earlier Litter-Robots. The new model has a wide entrance and a canopy overhang—making it a semi-open litter box. The new entrance is not only significantly wider (15.75 inches instead of 10.25 inches) but slightly lower (12 inches instead of 13.4 inches). That means most cats can easily hop in rather than having to make a big leap. The optional front step extends well in front of the entrance (instead of most under it), making it far more functional than the awkwardly recessed step on the Litter-Robot 3.
What’s not to like? Well, the thing is huge (29 inches high, 22 inches wide, and 27 inches deep if you’ve added an optional step to the entrance). And yet it provides your cat with only 14 x 14 inches of usable litter area. The cleaning cycling makes a bit of noise—though the controls allow you to turn off the cleaning function while the household is asleep.
Despite these caveats, the Litter-Robot has gathered an enthusiastic and loyal following.
“I love it,” my friend Beth gushes. “It really works.” She has two cats. One kitty is a dependable customer of the Litter-Robot. The other, an older cat, goes back and forth between the robot cat litter box and a traditional box. The bottom line is that litter scooping is vastly reduced in Beth’s household.
Vital statistics: 24 x 22 x 29 inches, 24 pounds.
What we like about it:
- Quiet, powerful motor that handles clumping litters and use by multiple cats
- No special litter or bags are required (the waste bin can use a 13-gallon kitchen bag)
- At only 24 pounds, it’s surprisingly light—which makes it easy when it comes time for a thorough cleaning
- WiFi capability that sends data about litter box use to your phone
- 90-day money-back guarantee and one-year warranty (extendable to three years for $100)
Best Non-Wifi: The Litter-Robot 3
If the Litter-Robot 4 threatens to break your budget, there’s a way to get the convenience and reliability of a Litter-Robot for a bit less money: the Litter-Robot 3. If you don’t need WiFi data and phone notifications about litter box use, and your cats don’t mind an enclosed litter area (and are willing to hop up 13 inches to get into it), this older model could be the perfect litter solution for your household.
This self-cleaning litter box is designed to handle any type of clumping litter, and the waste receptacle does just fine with your standard kitchen garbage bag. It offers sensors and timers to make sure your cat is long gone from the box before it stops sifting. If you don’t like the (relatively quiet) sound of the sifter at night, you can pause sifting during your sleep hours.
In return for convenience, you’ll be sacrificing quite a bit of space. As we noted about the Litter-Robot 4, these appliances are big and bulky. Note that this robot litter box is not for kittens—your cat must be 5 pounds or more for the box’s sensors to function correctly.
Wondering if your cats will like the Litter-Robot 3? Read this humorous account of a household where four cats adore the Litter-Robot but Cat #5 is Not a Fan.
Vital statistics: 24 x 22 x 29 inches, 24 pounds.
What we like about it:
- Quiet, powerful motor that handles clumping litters and use by multiple cats
- No special litter or bags required (the waste bin can use a 13-gallon kitchen bag)
- Controls allow you to pause waste sifting overnight
- 90-day money-back guarantee and one-year warranty (extendable to three years for $100)
Best for Bathrooms: CatGenie A.I. Automatic Cat Box
If you’re tired of buying expensive cat litter and lugging it in and out of the house, this WiFi-equipped automatic litter box might be the one for you. It’s up in the price range of the Litter-Robots but has completely different characteristics. Instead of traditional disposable litters, CatGenie self-cleaning litter boxes employ washable granules (included).
To set up one of the units, you connect the CatGenie supply hose (8 feet long) to the cold water line in your bathroom or laundry and then put its waste tube (10 feet long) into a nearby toilet or drain. Like all automatic litter boxes, this one also needs to be plugged into a power outlet. In most cases, the setup can be done by a homeowner—no plumber needed.
Cats adapt quickly to the washable granules that feel pretty much like their familiar litter. After your cat has used the granules and stepped out of the box, the CatGenie rinses them with water and a cat-safe sanitizing solution. Liquids and solids rinsed from the granules are flushed to the nearby drain or toilet. (You will then have to flush the toilet.)
After the wash cycle, the CatGenie heats and dries the granules so they are ready for your cat’s next visit. Once you connect the CatGenie to your house WiFi system, you can use the app to monitor litter box usage.
The CatGenie is designed for use by one or two (but no more than three) average-size cats that are at least six months old.
While the CatGenie gets big points for reusable litter (no smelly litter bags to take to the garbage!), keep in mind that it’s a large and heavy unit that will take up a lot of space in your bathroom or laundry room. And note that the cleaning/drying cycle on the CatGenie takes “approximately 40 minutes” according to the CatGenie FAQ. If you have multiple cats, they will need a second litter box option, as cats are unlikely to stand in line waiting for the litter to dry.
Vital statistics: 19.25 x 17.5 x 21 inches, 35 pounds.
What we like about it:
- Reusable litter granules—your only maintenance cost is replacing the sanitizer cartridges for the cleaning system
- WiFi-compatible with an app to monitor litter use
- Cat-safe sanitizer solution
- Two-year warranty
Best for One-Cat Households: Smarty Pear Leo’s Loo Too Covered Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
The sleek Leo’s Loo Too is one of the newest entries at the high-end of self-cleaning litter boxes. This 26-inch-high box uses clay-based clumping litter and rotates to separate waste from clean litter. Waste goes into an enclosed waste drawer at the base that uses a charcoal filter and anti-bacterial UV light technology to reduce odors. (Some reviewers note that the waste drawer is not large, and with two cats you may end up emptying the drawer every two days.)
Leo’s Loo Two comes in one color (white) with a choice of gray, green, blue, or pink entrance trim. Reviewers praise the unit’s clear, simple manual controls and convenient LED lighting (so you, and the cat, can see the box at night). It also has an app that responds to voice commands—this is definitely the litter box for people who are into gadgets.
Note that the opening is 14 inches off the ground—probably fine for a young, agile cat, but not likely to appeal to an older animal accustomed to stepping over the six-inch rim of a traditional litter box. Reviewers with small- to average-size cats say the interior capacity seems fine, while a few with heftier cats (in the 15-pound-plus category) report that they’d appreciate a larger loo. Our chunkier testers didn’t run into any problems, though.
For more details, check out Rover’s in-depth review of Leo’s Loo Too.
Vital statistics: 24 x 22 x 27 inches, 38 pounds.
What we like about it:
- Anti-bacterial UV light technology in the waste bin effectively kills odors
- When the waste container is full, a gentle alarm sounds to remind you to empty it
- WiFi capability provides data on litter box use, plus responds to voice commands
- 30-day return policy
Most Affordable: PetSafe Simply Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box
With the PetSafe, you’re back to an open litter box (which might delight your cat). The cat makes use of the litter in the unobstructed half of the box. The cleaning occurs on a very slow, 90-minute continuous cycle, during which time all the litter in the box passes through a separator. (The box itself is quietly rotating, but it’s not noticeable.) The separator returns litter to the circular box while sending clumps of waste up the chute to the waste container.
Intrepid product tester Beth says she and her cats are both pleased with the Simply Clean litter box. Her tip: Avoid the really hard clumping litter—it’s rough on the separator, which does better with softer clumps.
This open self-cleaning litter box is not a good choice if your cat is a litter-kicker, or if you have a cat that needs a high-sided box to contain spraying. The actual usable area of litter is 17 inches long but very narrow—a configuration that may or may not work for your cat. The constant low hum of the slow cleaner is unnoticeable to some households but annoying to others. Premium clumping litter is required.
Our conclusion is that the PetSafe Simply Clean is a good—and affordable—solution for litter-cleaning if you go away for long weekends and don’t want to return to a messy, smelly box or a cat that has gone…elsewhere.
Vital statistics: 20 x 10 x 21 inches, 14 pounds. Comes with a 6-foot cord.
What we like about it:
- At $100, it’s comparatively affordable
- Excellent at reducing odor, even with the open litter box
- Compact and lightweight
- Uses regular clumping litters (premium litters preferred)
Best for Silica Crystal Litter: ScoopFree Ultra Automatic Litter Box
This self-cleaning litter box uses a design you are probably familiar with: a few minutes after your kitty leaves the box, a motorized rake moves through the litter in the box, collecting waste that is then deposited into a front container. The bottom of the box is a removable, disposable plastic tray that you take out and discard when it’s full (there is also an option for a reusable tray that you’d then need to clean). The ScoopFree Ultra also comes in a top-entry model. The Ultra model is recommended for cats up to 15 pounds, though your chonky cat may find the 14- by 14-inch litter area a bit tight.
The Ultra Automatic is designed to be used with ScoopFree’s blue silica crystal litter (which is not a clumping litter). I’ve read accounts that some people like to use this box with clumping litter, which is possible, but keep in mind that doing so will violate the terms of the box’s one-year limited warranty. The unit comes with a ten-foot power cord, which gives you some options for where to position the box.
The ScoopFree isn’t for every household, but it has its fans—especially single-cat households. With the crystal litter, one collection tray lasts 20 to 30 days before needing to be replaced.
The downside: Users report that, as with other raking systems, the teeth of the rake can occasionally get clogged, reducing efficiency. Others note that, with multiple cats, frequently replacing trays can get a little expensive. Do some calculations to see if you’d be better off with an initially more expensive box that can use a generic litter or reusable granules.
Vital statistics: 27.50 x 19.25 x 16 inches, 19 pounds.
What we like about it:
- The cover can be removed if your cat does not like enclosures
- The silica crystal litter is excellent at reducing litter box odor
- This is one of the quietest automatic litter boxes on the market
- Even with the addition of a reusable waste tray or a covered model, it’s less than half the price of the Litter-Robot
How We Choose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. While we like to keep abreast of new products, when it comes to complex, automated devices such as self-cleaning litter boxes, we looked for products from companies that had a good track record and were on the second or third generation of their litter boxes.
Other Options to Try
If you are seeking something a little less sophisticated (or perhaps less complicated) than the fully robotic cat litter boxes, a mechanical litter box might be more your speed. They employ solutions like tray sifters to make scooping a bit easier and less messy.
We explore some of these options in our article 10 Mechanical Litter Boxes for a Scoop-Free Household.
Further Reading
- Are Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes Worth the Money?
- Cat Litter Box Training: How to Get a Cat Used to a Self-Cleaning Model
- Leo’s Loo Too: The Smart Litter Box Changing Your Cat’s Litter Game
- 17 Stand-Out Cat Litter Box Furniture Options to Fit Your Style
- 10 Cat Litter Mats to Keep Litter From Getting Everywhere
- The Truth About Litter Boxes: 15 Best Litter Boxes for Picky Cats
