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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. The first models were notoriously finicky, temperamental contraptions.
But automatic 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. The bad news is that some of them cost more than most human toilets, upwards of $600.
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. But it matters which one you get. We’ve rounded up the industry’s best to maximize your chances of picking a winner.
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 almost any type of premium clumping litter and quiet enough not to scare kitties.
Our Litter Robot 4 testers’ favorite features were the tightly sealed waste container that odorlessly held over a week’s worth of litter and the large size that accommodated even our big 15-pound cats.
But it also had a number of thoughtful touches that we think makes it the winner for skittish kitties and those new to automatic litter boxes:
- A rare open design to please the majority of kitties who don’t like closed litter boxes
- A cleaning cycle you can modify to ensure your kitty is well out of range when it runs
- A whisper-quiet design that offers minimal disturbance
Other nice features include the app that reports the waste level in the drawer, tracks your cat’s visits, and reminds you when it’s time to empty the drawer. It It even records your cat’s weight.
If you were on the fence about getting an automatic cat litter box, the Litter-Robot 4 may tempt you to make that purchase.
Size: 29.5 x 24.25 x 27.25 inches; 24 pounds
Compatibility:
- Cats must be at least 3 pounds to be able to use the Litter Robot 4 in automatic mode; otherwise, you can operate it in “semi-automatic” mode safely
- No special litter or bags are required (the waste bin can use a 13-gallon kitchen bag)
- 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, consider the Litter-Robot 3. If you don’t need phone notifications, and your cats don’t mind an enclosed litter area, this older model could be a good litter solution.
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.
In return for convenience, you’ll be sacrificing quite a bit of space—the waste drawer is 20% smaller, and the base is a little wider. For a more detailed look at the difference between these models, check out our review of the Litter Robot 4.
Size: 29 x 24.25 x 27 inches; 24 pounds
Compatibility:
- No special litter or bags required (the waste bin can use a 13-gallon kitchen bag)
- Cats need to weigh at least 5 pounds to use the Litter Robot 3’s automatic features
- 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 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.
Size: 19.25 x 17.5 x 21 inches; 35 pounds
Compatibility:
- 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.
Leo’s Loo Two comes in one color (white) with a choice of gray, green, blue, or pink entrance trim. Our testers liked the unit’s clear, simple manual controls and convenient LED lighting. It also has an app that responds to voice commands—this is definitely the litter box for people who are into gadgets.
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.
Size: 24 x 22 x 27 inches, 38 pounds
Compatibility:
- 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. 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 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 not work for all cats. 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.
Size: 20 x 10 x 21 inches; 14 pounds
Compatibility:
- 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 sends a motorized rake 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. The ScoopFree Ultra also comes in a top-entry model. The Ultra model is recommended for cats up to 15 pounds.
The Ultra Automatic is designed to be used with ScoopFree’s blue silica crystal litter (which is not a clumping litter). 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.
Size: 27.50 x 19.25 x 16 inches; 19 pounds
Compatibility:
- 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 Chose
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.
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
