Top 10 Automatic Litter Boxes Reviewed: Find The Perfect Solution

Key Points

• The Catit SmartSift Litter Box allows you to sift your cat's litter without putting your hands inside the litter box.

• The litter box door and carbon filter help to contain any unpleasant odors.

• The clear door and window on top allow you to monitor your cat and the litter supply without removing the top.

• The easy-access drawer and liner make waste disposal simpler.

The problem: You don't like to scoop your cat's litter. The solution: one of these top 10 automatic litter boxes. It's a pretty simple equation with a simple answer.

Whether you're willing to spend a lot of money to have your litter box do most of the work or spend a little less to relieve at least part of the burden, there are options. High-tech litter boxes have apps, automatic settings, and sensors. A couple of others are a little simpler but still allow a hands-off approach when it comes to actually scooping the litter.

Read the description of each one, click on the links, and see which one fits your lifestyle the best.

Smartsift Automatic Sifting Cat Litter Box

$84.99

by Catit 

Buy Now

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08/17/2024 08:49 am GMT

Catit SmartSift Litter Box

The Catit SmartSift Litter Box uses a creative design without the added high cost of electronics and A.I. If you want a litter box to make your life a little easier, but you feel that hundreds of dollars are too much to spend on a litter box, this product is for you.

When you think of the term automatic, you may assume that everything happens without your involvement. However, even electronic self-cleaning litter boxes need initial setup and regular maintenance. They also aren't flawless. Things go wrong at times, and they may not get rid of all the waste.

Does the Catit SmartSift scoop and get rid of the waste for you? Not exactly. What it does is allow you to keep your hand out of the litter box and make disposing of waste easier. You don't have to dig around in the box, sift and shake off the unused litter, or dump it into the garbage or other container where it sits and stinks.

After your cat uses the litter box, you use a handle on the outside of the box to pull back the lever. This shifts the litter pan inside, sifting unused litter into a compartment, leaving nothing but the clumped urine and solid waste. As you continue to pull back the lever, all the waste falls into the drawer below.

Push the lever back to its original position, and the unused litter slides back through the grate and into the pan. It's now ready for the next use. The used litter and waste remain in the lined drawer below until you're ready to take it out.

The waste drawer is big enough to hold several days' worth of waste, depending on the number of cats using the box.

One of the drawbacks is that the lever and handle are plastic, so they may bend and break after a long time of repeated use. To avoid this, use lightweight litter and don't fill the pan too full. These things cause the pan to be heavier, putting more strain on the lever.

Some customers say they have no issues with the handle. They also go over a week without having to empty the waste drawer.

Catit SmartSift Litter Box is also completely enclosed. The swinging door allows your cat easy access to the box and keeps the litter contained when they dig around and toss litter about.

Overall, the Catit SmartSift is a creative design solution for scoop-free litter removal.

Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE Litter System

The Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE Litter System isn't fully automatic, but it's the best value for the price. This cat litter box uses anti-tracking pellets that repel urine. That's right — when most litter soaks it up, this one repels.

This litter box has a grated bottom with an absorbent pad in a drawer underneath. When your cat urinates, it goes through the pellets, through the grate, and soaks into the pad. Odor is immediately trapped, and you don't need to scoop any clumps.

Most customers say that you should change out the pad about once a week, depending on how many cats you have. If your cat tends to pee in one spot, pull out the drawer, turn the drawer or the pad around, and slide it back in.

When your cat poops, you still have to scoop it out, but you simply shake off the litter and throw away the poop. Continue using the same litter for about a month before changing it out.

Because of the design and size of the pellets, your cat doesn't track them out onto your floor. The high sides also prevent them from kicking them out easily. A hooded version is available if your cat prefers more privacy or if you have a kitten who likes to play in their litter. It's also available in an extra-large size for bigger cats.

One drawback is that you still have to scoop poop. However, you spend much less money on litter. Also, since urine goes through the grate, you should clean it thoroughly at least once a month. Some customers buy a new replacement litter box after six months or a year since they have a relatively low cost. If you clean it regularly, you may be able to make it last longer.

If your cat doesn't use pellets, there may be an adjustment. Put their old litter box beside the new one to encourage them to use it. You can also mix the pellets with their current litter and gradually make the switch completely.

Litter-Robot 3 Connect

The Litter-Robot 3 Connect is a very popular high-tech litter elimination system. The Litter-Robot 3 connects to your phone through Wi-Fi, allowing you to monitor your cat's bathroom habits, keep an eye on supplies, start a cleaning cycle, and check to see when the waste bin is full.

This automatic litter box uses a rotating drum to sift the unused litter, deposit the waste into a compartment, and then replace the inside of the box with the recycled unused litter. It's then ready for the next time your cat or another one needs it. It's a great option for multi-cat homes.

You can go days without emptying the waste bin while the waste and odor remain contained within. The box's carbon filter assures you of that. The internal sensor detects when your cat uses the box and runs a cleaning cycle once your cat exits the unit.

The most glaring drawback is the price. The Litter-Robot is one of the highest-priced litter boxes on the market. Some customers have trouble with the app, but it's difficult to say whether this has to do with user error, connection issues, carrier incompatibility, or something else.

PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra

The PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra scoops your cat's litter for you using a rake system. Its sensors pick up movement from your cat, and when they leave, it begins a cleaning cycle. You can set it to begin five, 10, or 20 minutes after your cat exits.

The crystal litter soaks up urine, eliminating odor and leaving the box fresh. The disposable tray underneath has a waterproof lining to prevent messes. The litter lasts for 30 days for one cat. After that, pull out the tray, throw it away, and replace it with a new one.

The crystal litter is 99 percent dust-free and doesn't stick to your cat's feet like traditional litter. However, the pieces are a bit larger than most fine or medium-sized litter granules, so they may not work for kittens or cats with sensitive paws.

Some customers say the crystal litter doesn't effectively eliminate odors. It's the only kind that works for this litter box, though, and it's more expensive than regular clay or clumping litter. PetSafe ScoopFree is available with a hood and front entry or open for larger cats or those who don't like the enclosed version.

CatGenie Self-Washing Cat Box

For a truly automatic waste removal system, the CatGenie Self-Washing Cat Box does it all. It not only scoops through the litter for you, but it breaks down the waste and removes it completely. There's no scooping, no pad to replace, no clumps to deal with, and no bag of used litter and waste to remove.

How does it do all this? The CatGenie uses your home's plumbing system to clean the granules and flush away waste. Your cat goes into the "box" (which resembles a miniature toilet bowl) and uses it like any other litter box. CatGenie's sensors detect when they leave and begin the cleaning cycle.

The slotted scoop moves through the washable granules, picking up any clumps. The solid waste is then liquified, the granules washed, and all the waste goes through the hose and into either your toilet or washing machine drain. The blower dries the washed granules so they're ready for the next use.

One of the drawbacks is the location — you must place it near your toilet, washing machine, or somewhere you can connect to a cold water supply and drain. It's also one of the more expensive litter boxes, which is not surprising given all of its functions.

ChillX AutoEgg Self-Cleaning Litter Box

For a sleek and modern-looking litter box, check out the ChillX AutoEgg Self-Cleaning Litter Box. Its smooth, round shape makes it stand out from other boxes. It uses a motorized rake system to scoop out the clumps and deposit them into a bin.

This rake system points at a more horizontal angle as opposed to the more vertical position of most litter boxes in its category. This helps to prevent a small cat or a tail from getting caught underneath.

The grooved floor of the box also set it apart from others. As the rake moves between the grooves, this allows better coverage to get at all pieces and clumps of waste and used litter.

The inside is not huge, and the box doesn't accommodate multiple cats as well as others. Two cats are fine, but you may have to empty the waste bin and replenish litter for any more than that.

Nature's Miracle Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Nature's Miracle Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box is another automatic litter box that incorporates a raking function to remove waste. It includes litter box accessories like a slotted shovel scoop and a rake cleaner.

This litter box has a paw-cleaning ramp attached to the front to reduce the amount of litter tracked onto the floor. It also provides easier access to the box, which is helpful for small kittens or cats with limited mobility.

The dimensions of the litter area of their large/extra-large size are 14" by 16", which may not be enough room for a large-breed cat. It's also not for kittens under six months of age or weighing under 5 Ibs.

You can use your own litter, but lightweight clumping litter is best. It comes with waste receptacles and carbon filters to keep waste and odor contained. It also features an LED night light for elderly cats who might have trouble seeing at night.

LitterMaid Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box

The LitterMaid Multi-Cat Self-Cleaning Litter Box uses the same type of raking function as Nature's Miracle. It has motion sensors to detect when your cat enters and exits, and there's a maintenance function for when you need to clean the rake.

The litter area is 13" by 14", so it's slightly smaller than the Nature's Miracle box. If you watch some video reviews, you see that cats don't have a lot of room to move around in this box. Also, the rake doesn't always get all the clumps into the waste bin. The included litter scoop has a pronged end to use for cleaning the rake.

The LitterMaid is more expensive and, according to customers, louder than Nature's Miracle. It also doesn't include the LED night light. It has the same type of waste receptacle, carbon filter, and paw-cleaning ramp.

Because of these differences, when choosing between the Nature's Miracle litter box and LitterMaid, Nature's Miracle is a smarter choice.

Omega Paw Roll 'N Clean

With the Omega Paw Roll 'N Clean, you simply roll the waste away. The design of this litter box is similar to the Litter-Robot and Catit SmartSift but powered in a different way. As you roll the litter box to one side, the unused litter falls through a slotted grate and into a separate area.

Once the box is completely upside down, this lets the clumps and solid waste fall to the roof of the box. When you turn the box right side up again, the waste drops into a drawer and the recycled unused litter comes back through the grate and into the main pan. It's once again ready for your cat's next visit.

The waste drawer is big enough to hold several days' worth of clumps and waste, depending on the number of cats. The entry point is several inches from the ground, and it's completely covered and secured by snap-down locks, preventing litter from falling out when rolling it over.

User My Best Products posted a YouTube video on September 6, 2023, of their choices for the top five best self-cleaning litter boxes of 2023. Four out of the five featured are in this article, including the Omega Paw.

Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box

The Pet Zone Smart Scoop Automatic Litter Box has a similar design to the Nature's Miracle and LitterMaid boxes. It uses a rake to comb through the litter, removing clumps and waste. It deposits them in a waste bin with a lid and carbon filter.

The sides aren't as high as the Nature's Miracle and LitterMaid, but it does include an angled deflector with fins at one end. This keeps litter in the box when your cat digs and tosses litter.

The smart sensor triggers a cleaning cycle within 30 minutes of your cat leaving the box. If you have multiple cats, this may be too long to wait since many cats refuse to use a dirty litter box.

Some customers notice that the rake doesn't reach all the way to the bottom of the pan. This may cause clumps to stick and build on the bottom. For this reason, it's best to clean out the entire box at least monthly and replace the litter.

The Perfect Solution Is Automatic

Maintaining the cleanliness of your cat's litter box is imperative if you want to keep the mess off of your floor. Among cats' preferences, they usually don't like to use a dirty litter box.

In an article from the Humane Society of the United States, they ask for suggestions from cat behaviorist Matt Wildman. If you have multiple cats, they say:

"It's not possible to designate a personal litter box for each cat in your household; cats use any litter box that's available. That means a cat may occasionally refuse to use a litter box after another cat has been in it, so you’ll need to keep each litter box clean."

An automatic litter box keeps your cat's litter clean, so you don't have to worry about it. It even performs its duties while you're away!

Once you read this article, you find the solution to all of your litter box woes. Not every box is right for every feline, so look over the specs and choose the one that you feel your cat can adapt to.

Once you set it up and your cat uses it, you breathe easier, and you and your cat can relax.

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