The 7 Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
The 7 Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
Say goodbye to scooping poop! Compare the best self-cleaning litter boxes and enjoy a hassle-free cleaning experience for your furry friend.
The reviews of the products in this article are created by a team of experts that is independent from CTech's editorial team. If you make a purchase through the links mentioned below, we may receive a commission.
Our Top Picks
There’s no shortage of automatic litter boxes on the market, but not all of them are worth the money. It’s important to consider your budget and the specific features you’re looking for, but we’ve assembled a short list of options we recommend.
Best Overall: Litter-Robot 4 Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Best Flushable: CatGenie A.I. Self-Cleaning Automatic Cat Box
Best Mid-Price Range: Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too Covered Automatic Cat Litter Box
Best Smart Home Ready: INSTACHEW PURRCLEAN Smart WiFi Enabled Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
Budget Option: Omega Paw Easy Fill Roll ‘N Clean Cat Litter Box
Our Top 7 Picks for the Best Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
As our top pick for the best self-cleaning litter box, we recommend the Litter-Robot 4. The result of long years of research and development, this automatic self-cleaning litter box offers consistent performance and top-notch user-friendliness.
Though we love the Litter-Robot 4, it’s one of the pricier options on the market. Whether you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly or simply desire different features, we’ve got an assortment of options to choose from. Check out our recommendations below.
1. Best Overall: Litter-Robot 4 Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Manufactured by Whisker, the Litter-Robot was one of the earliest automatic litter boxes to hit the market. It utilizes a gravity-operated sifting system that separates clean litter from waste and clumps, depositing them in a sealed compartment underneath the unit. Over the past two decades, Whisker has released multiple versions of the Litter-Robot—the fourth iteration is easily one of the most popular self-cleaning litter boxes on the market.
Designed for easy operation, consistent performance, and strong odor control, the Litter-Robot 4 is an impressive machine. A system of laser and weight sensors detect your cat’s presence in the litter box, starting a timer that automatically initiates a cleaning cycle after your cat leaves.
During each cleaning cycle, the globe-shaped body of the litter box rotates, sifting the litter through a grate. Clean litter is collected and held while waste and clumps tumble into the waste receptacle in the unit’s base. To finish the cycle, the globe rotates back into position, returning the clean litter to the litter bed for reuse.
The Litter-Robot 4 has a strong reputation for working well—it doesn’t jam frequently like many of the inexpensive knockoffs on the market. Setup is incredibly simple and the unit pairs with the Whisker app which enables you to monitor litter and waste drawer levels. The app also enables you to view data on your cat’s litter box usage which can provide important insights into their health and wellbeing.
Pros
Utilizes sensors to run completely automatically
Very effective in controlling odors
Performs consistently without jamming
Can be used with any clumping cat litter
Pairs with the Whisker app for remote monitoring
Cons
Very expensive, nearly $700
Interior space may be uncomfortable for very large cats
2. Runner Up: Litter-Robot 3 WiFi Enabled Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
While the Litter-Robot 4 (LR4) is Whisker’s latest iteration, the Litter-Robot 3 is also an excellent product. If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper option but still desire consistent performance and the convenience of WiFi-enabled app technology, it might be a good fit.
The Litter-Robot 3 (LR3) utilizes the same gravity-operated sifting system as the Litter-Robot 4. The primary difference is that the LR3 has a narrow, elliptical opening while the LR4’s opening is wide and circular. The narrow opening does a better job of preventing litter scatter but some cats find the enclosed feel uncomfortable.
Overall, the Litter-Robot 3 offers similar ease of use and activity monitoring to the most recent model. The sensor system is less advanced, relying on weight sensors to detect your cat’s presence in the litter box, but it still initiates a cleaning cycle automatically. The Whisker app enables you to monitor waste drawer levels and helps you troubleshoot errors.
The main benefit of the LR3 over the LR4 is the price reduction. For about $150 less, you can still enjoy consistent self-cleaning performance and strong odor control. Both models can be used with any hard-clumping litter, but clumping clay litter works best.
Pros
Costs $150 less than the Litter-Robot 4
Reliable performance and strong odor control
Pairs with the Whisker app for remote monitoring
Large waste drawer traps odors
Cons
Some cats dislike the narrow opening
Weight sensor system only detects cats weighing 5 pounds or more
3. Budget Pick: PetSafe ScoopFree Complete Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box
If you’re not ready to spend $500 on an automatic litter box, the PetSafe ScoopFree Plus might be a good option. Priced around $200, it’s more economical than the Litter-Robot and it has a few unique features tucked up its sleeve.
In contrast to the Litter-Robot, the PetSafe ScoopFree is a tray-style litter box that utilizes a mechanical rake system. Laser sensors detect your cat’s presence in the litter box and start a timer that automatically initiates a cleaning cycle. During the cycle, a metal rake sweeps across the litter bed, pushing solid waste into a covered waste receptacle.
The key to the PetSafe ScoopFree’s function is the branded crystal litter. This non-clumping litter is highly absorbent, so it soaks up urine on contact and dehydrates solid waste. The movement of the rake not only collects waste but stirs the crystals to ready them for the next use.
This automatic litter box generally gets good reviews and it appears to work consistently. The rake system is less effective than Litter-Robot’s sifting system, but this model still features a covered waste compartment to control odor. The replacement trays of ScoopFree crystal litter add to the ongoing maintenance cost of this model, but you have the option to purchase a reusable tray and use non-branded crystal litter.
Pros
Mechanical rake collects waste and stirs the litter
Crystal cat litter absorbs liquid on contact
Waste is deposited in a covered receptacle
Sensors automatically start and stop the clean cycle
Cons
Can only be used with silica crystal cat litter
Mechanical rake may leave pieces of waste behind
4 . Best Litter-Free: CatGenie A.I. Self-Cleaning Automatic Cat Box
Even the most popular automatic litter boxes on the market still largely rely on cat litter. If you’re looking for an innovative alternative, consider the CatGenie A.I. This model utilizes washable granules instead of cat litter and flushes waste right down the toilet.
The CatGenie A.I. is a WiFi-enabled automatic litter box that hooks up to a water line and drains directly into your toilet (or a waste line). Given its design, it must be used in a bathroom or laundry room—you also need to have an outlet nearby. If you have a large bathroom or extra space in a utility room or laundry room, however, it could be a good pick.
Similar to the PetSafe ScoopFree, the CatGenie A.I. utilizes a mechanical rake to sift through the litter bed but the clean cycle looks much different. First, the rake makes several passes to scoop out solid waste. The waste is then macerated and combined with water before being flushed into the toilet or drain. From there, the litter-like granules are washed and dried.
The CatGenie A.I. saves you from having to handle dirty cat litter, but it requires a little more maintenance than other models. You’ll need to replace the sanitizing solution and washable granules from time to time, and deep-cleaning the machine requires some work.
Pros
Flushes waste directly into the toilet or drain
WiFi-enabled with app connectivity
Saves you from handling any dirty cat litter
Cons
Requires branded sanitizing solution cartridges
Rake doesn’t always collect all the waste
5. Best for Small Cats: Casa Leo Leo’s Loo Too Covered Automatic Cat Litter Box
Similar in appearance and operation to the Litter-Robot, this automatic litter box may be a good alternative if you have limited floor space to work with. It’s still a sizable litter box, but the footprint is a little smaller. Leo’s Loo Too also has a narrower opening than the Litter-Robot 4, so it may be best for small cats.
Leo’s Loo Too utilizes a sifting system to separate clean litter from waste and clumps. Unlike the Litter-Robot 4, the rotational sifting system is concealed inside a solid housing. During each clean cycle, the drum rotates, and dirty litter tumbles into the sealed waste drawer hidden in the base of the unit.
While similar in operation to the Litter-Robot, Leo’s Loo Too doesn’t have as strong a following among cat owners. It’s a much newer product, so some of the glitches haven’t been resolved yet. That said, some customers really like it and it’s a little bit cheaper.
Pros
Rotating drum sifts out clumps and waste
Waste compartment features a sanitizing UV light
WiFi-enabled with app connectivity
Runs more quietly than some automatic litter boxes
Cons
May be uncomfortable for large cats
Some users report inconsistent performance
6. Best for Multiple Cats: INSTACHEW PURRCLEAN Smart WiFi Enabled Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
Automatic litter boxes significantly reduce the workload of maintaining a clean litter box, but all the collected waste has to go somewhere. In a multi-cat household, the waste compartment fills up quickly and may need to be emptied more than once a week. If you’re looking for an automatic litter box with a large waste compartment, consider the INSTACHEW PURRCLEAN.
This automatic litter box features a rotating drum integrated into a rectangular housing. Like other models on this list, it sifts cat litter to separate out the waste and clumps, depositing them in a large waste drawer in the base of the unit. To empty it, simply slide out the drawer. Keep the task simplified by lining it with a standard garbage bag or litter box liner.
Like other models on this list, the PURRCLEAN utilizes infrared sensors to detect your cat’s presence in the litter box. If the unit is cycling when your cat comes within 20 inches of the litter box, it will stop automatically for safety. The PURRCLEAN cycles automatically after every use, but you can also control the cycle using the INSTACHEW INFINITY app.
The PURRCLEAN is a little more economical than other options on this list but it's less well-tested than the Litter-Robot. While some users are pleased with this model, others comment that its performance is subpar by comparison.
Pros
Rotating drum sifts litter automatically
WiFi-enabled app connectivity for remote monitoring
Large waste compartment
Infrared sensors improve safety for your cat
Cons
May be too small for large cats
Sifting system sometimes misses pieces of waste
7. Best Low-Tech: Omega Paw Easy Fill Roll ‘N Clean Cat Litter Box
Not all self-cleaning litter boxes are automatic but something like the Omega Paw Easy Fill Roll ‘N Clean still reduces the hassle of scooping. It also has the benefit of being a fraction of the cost of any other model on this list.
This low-tech self-cleaning litter box consists of a covered litter box with an internal grate. To clean the box, you simply tilt it on its side to sift the litter. As with some of the automatic models on this list, the unit collects clean litter while waste and clumps tumble into a waste receptacle. When you tilt it back into its original position, clean litter is returned to the litter bed for reuse.
Though simple in comparison to high-tech automatic models, users report that this Omega Paw litter box is easy to use and performs fairly consistently. That said, its effectiveness depends on the type of litter you use. It works best with hard-clumping litter.
The most common issues users experience with this litter box are leakage and breakage. It’s important to tilt the litter box carefully to avoid bending or breaking the plastic parts. Overfilling the litter bed may increase litter scatter and some users had issues with litter leaking out of the removable tray when tilting the unit.
Pros
Much less expensive than automatic models
Simple design is easy to use
Works with most clumping cat litters
Separates clean litter from waste and clumps
Cons
Some users report issues with leakage
Not fully automatic
5 Things to Consider When Shopping for an Automatic Litter Box
Automatic litter boxes sound like an ideal solution, but they’re not all created equal. The last thing you want is to spend several hundred dollars on a machine that glitches or makes more work for you. If you’re going to invest in a pricey piece of pet tech, it’s worth taking the time to do some research to find the product that best fits your budget and your needs.
Here are 5 things to think about when shopping for a self-cleaning litter box:
1. How much are you willing to spend? An automatic litter box isn’t something you want to skimp on, but determining a price range will help you narrow down your choices.
2. What features are most important to you? Some models simply sift or rake while others incorporate smart technology to monitor litter box activity.
3. How much space do you have to work with? Automatic litter boxes tend to be big, but rake-style models take up more floor space while globe-style models take up more vertical space.
4. What kind of litter do you want to use? Some models are flexible when it comes to litter type while others require a specific product.
4. How often do you want to clean it? To cut down on cleaning time, look for a model that’s easy to empty out with minimal seams or crannies where urine or dirty litter can get stuck.
Don’t forget to read customer reviews. It’s important to consider your priorities before you start shopping and to narrow down the options based on features, but actual user experience doesn’t always mirror marketing promises. Take the time to read positive and negative reviews to get an idea of whether the product will suit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are automatic cat litter boxes worth it?
It depends. If you’re looking for a virtually hands-free solution to litter box maintenance, then yes! It’s important to consider the upfront cost, however, and to factor in additional costs for litter, litter box liners, and any other specialized products. A good automatic litter box is worth its weight in gold but won’t be a practical or budget-friendly pick for every household.
What are the disadvantages of an automatic litter box?
They’re expensive. A high price tag doesn’t always correlate to quality, but the best automatic litter boxes on the market are priced well over $200. Self-cleaning litter boxes also tend to take up a lot of space and some are glitchy. Be sure to read customer reviews before making your choice to ensure you’re purchasing a quality product.
What kind of litter can you use in a self-cleaning litter box?
It varies. Globe-shaped sifting litter boxes that rely on gravity to separate clean from dirty litter usually work best with clumping cat litter. Models that utilize a horizontal sifting rake often work best with non-clumping silica litter. Refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations when purchasing cat litter for an automatic litter box.
First published: 10:46, 14.02.24
