Key Points
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Many self-cleaning cat litter boxes have an app to monitor your cat’s habits.
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The Omega Paw Roll ‘N Clean is an inexpensive alternative to high-tech self-cleaning litter boxes.
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If your cat eliminates outside the litter box, they may have trouble accessing it, especially if they’re very young or very old.
Cleaning litter boxes isn’t a chore that anyone enjoys. Take a look at these seven self-cleaning litter boxes that save time and effort. They each have unique designs and features to make your life more convenient.
Explore the best and most expensive litter boxes with fancy technological features as well as simpler designs for a more limited budget. They all have positive and negative aspects, and each one suits a different type of cat or owner.
Read on to see which automatic litter box fits best in your home.
Litter-Robot III Open Air
The Litter-Robot III Open Air is for busy cat owners, especially with multiple cats. The recommendation from vets and cat experts is to have at least one more litter box than the number of felines in your home because they often don’t like to use dirty litter boxes, and it’s difficult to keep them clean when multiple cats use them.
The Litter-Robot III senses when your cat enters and exits. It automatically sifts out waste and has a fresh batch of litter ready for the next cat’s use.
Another fantastic technological feature is the app. The Litter-Robot sends notifications to your phone on the performance of the litter box, when the fresh litter needs refilling, when the waste bin is full, and gives you updates on your cat’s litter box habits and health.
The open-air version has an opening angled slightly upward, which helps keep the litter inside and is better for cats who prefer a more top-sided entry or greater privacy. There’s also a ramp with two functions — it minimizes the amount of litter your cat tracks out of the box and assists cats with limited mobility since the opening may require a bit of a jump otherwise.
Most reviews are positive, but the price is a negative aspect for most people. Some customers say they still smell the used litter, and some have issues with the app. Overall, the Litter-Robot works as advertised.
It’s on most lists of the best automatic litter boxes, including those from USA Today, Cosmopolitan, and NBC News. It’s all the rage and the latest in litter box technology.
Omega Paw Roll ‘n Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box
The Omega Paw Roll ‘n Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box uses a clever design similar to the Litter-Robot but without high-tech sensors and motors. After your cat uses it, roll the litter box one way to filter out the waste, which drops into a compartment. Roll it back to its original position to redistribute the clean litter.
The waste ends up in a drawer that you remove and dump. There’s no liner in the drawer, so you need to clean it regularly. There are also no odor-controlling filters or compartments. The cover provides some masking of odor and keeps the litter contained.
This system requires manual labor, which makes the title of “self-cleaning” a bit of a misnomer. Place it in a location where you have room to roll the box back and forth. This is a good option if you want a hands-off approach to scooping litter without the expense of a high-tech box.
It comes in various colors and sizes to accommodate your cat. The inside is roomy enough for most cats, but the opening may be too high for some kittens or senior cats. You may need your own ramp or step to help your cat get inside.
USA Today and Cosmopolitan both say this is a good budget pick. This may be a good option if you want a covered litter box that you don’t have to scoop out. You don’t have to reach inside the box or remove the cover to get to the litter. However, the act of rolling the box back and forth and emptying the waste drawer may be more inconvenient than scooping the litter yourself.
CatGenie Self-Washing, Fully-Flushing Cat Box
The CatGenie Self-Washing, Self-Flushing Cat Box is a truly unique design. Yes, you read the name correctly — self-flushing. It’s basically a toilet bowl. Instead of a bowl filled with water, it contains washable granules.
This genie isn’t exactly magical, but it does make your cat’s waste disappear. It liquifies the waste and uses your home’s plumbing system to flush it away. The litter is then cleaned, dried, and prepared for the next use.
Merely push a button to start the cleaning process or — to make it truly automatic — program it to clean on its own. The unit is Wi-Fi enabled and connects through an app on your phone. It lets you know the status of the unit, when supplies need replenishing, and informs you of your cat’s bathroom habits.
Since it must hook into your plumbing system, you need to find a spot for it near your toilet or washing machine. This limits your location options, so be sure your cat is okay with using the litter box in that particular spot.
A few customers report water leaks after setting it up. It’s difficult to pinpoint the cause, as it could be improper installation. If you aren’t familiar with plumbing fixtures, it may be a good idea to ask for help from someone more knowledgeable in that area.
PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
The PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box uses a motorized rake system to catch your cat’s waste and drag it into a bin. It uses only crystal litter, which absorbs odor and dehydrates solid waste.
Safety sensors stop the raking process if they detect that your cat is in the box. The waste tray has a lid to trap odors and is disposable, so you simply throw away the tray when it’s full. The trays also have plastic liners that prevent leaks.
The cover gives your cat privacy and helps contain the litter if your cat tends to toss it around when they dig. The health counters and motion sensors track how many times your cat uses the litter box, so you’re aware of their health. This is especially helpful for cats with urinary tract infections and diseases.
The crystals should last for weeks before you need new ones, but some customers say they need replacing sooner. It also depends on the number of cats in your home. Others say they have to stir around the crystals so they don’t get stuck in the rake. The crystals may be more expensive than regular litter but also last longer.
Despite the negatives, many cat owners are happy with this litter box. USA Today and Chicago Tribune name it one the best self-cleaning litter boxes and Cosmopolitan says it’s the best litter box for your cat’s health.
Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box
Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box uses a raking system similar to PetSafe but doesn’t require special crystal litter. The company recommends using any lightweight clumping cat litter so as not to weigh down the raking mechanism. There are many inexpensive brands of lightweight litter available to cut costs.
Like many others, this box has a motion sensor that detects when your cat is in the box and stops the cleaning process. Waste bags make cleanup much easier when the waste bin is full.
The company advertises this product as being four times quieter than other litter boxes, and Cosmopolitan names it the best quiet litter box. This is a great feature for cats who are sensitive to noise. It doesn’t have a lid, so be aware of your cat’s preference in this area.
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Multiple customers say this box needs daily maintenance if you have more than one cat. If they urinate on the rake, the litter clumps on the prongs, which then need cleaning.
The cleaning cycle begins 30 minutes after your cat exits, which may be too long if you have multiple cats. A programmable litter box may be more appropriate in this situation unless you want to manually start the rake after each cat’s use.
LitterMaid Automatic Litter Box
The LitterMaid Automatic Litter Box also uses a rake to comb through the litter. It deposits the waste in an enclosed compartment with a carbon filter to reduce odor.
This third edition of the product features a more concentrated, lower-reaching rake to ensure that all the waste goes into the bin. It’s also quieter than earlier versions.
It comes with a scoop and rake cleaner, which is important. Customers of litter boxes with rakes mention that the rake needs regular cleaning and maintenance. Be sure to use lightweight litter, as heavier litter may cause the prongs of the rake to bend.
Better Meow posted a YouTube video review of this self-cleaning box on June 26, 2023, saying it’s less expensive than other automatic litter boxes on the market. They also point out a few downsides, such as the litter ramp not catching the litter.
On Amazon, mixed reviews show that customers have issues with the sensors malfunctioning or clumping on the rake. It may take some cats time to adjust to the noise and movements of the rake. If your cat is sensitive to noise, try running the machine with the door closed.
Nature’s Miracle Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Nature’s Miracle Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box is similar to the LitterMaid box, though the dimensions are slightly larger. If you have a large-breed cat, this may be a selling point.
With this box, the number of cats in your home doesn’t matter. The motion sensors detect when a cat enters and exits the box, activating the rake system, leaving it clean for the next cat to use.
Cats less than six months old or weighing fewer than five pounds shouldn’t use this box when it’s on. If you have a small kitten, unplug the unit and scoop the litter like a regular box until your kitty grows large enough to be able to activate the sensors.
The Nature’s Miracle Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box has a ramp meant for paw-cleaning, but it also gives a kitten or elderly cat easier access to the box.
If you notice that your cat eliminates outside the litter box, they may have trouble accessing it. The ASPCA advises owners on how to deal with litter box problems:
“Special-needs cats such as those who are older, arthritic, or still very young might have trouble with certain types of litter boxes. Boxes that have sides that are too high or have a top-side opening might make it difficult for your cat to enter or leave the box. Try switching to a litter box with low sides.”
Littered With Options
There’s a wide range of self-cleaning litter boxes in the market. Whether you want to control cleaning the litter with an app, flush it, or roll it away, there’s one that will fit your lifestyle.
Always consider your cat’s preference. If they refuse to use the box, it doesn’t matter how it works or how much it costs. If your cat prefers a particular type of litter, get a box that works with that kind. It may take some trial and error, but with the help of this article, you’ll find one that fits seamlessly into your household.
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