Best Automatic Cat Litter Box Reviews
The American Association of Feline Practitioners notes that cats differ in their attitude towards feces. Some are really keen on hiding away both the poop and the smell, while others just need to hide it away from plain sight, while some just don’t care. Whichever of these categories you think your cat belongs in, an automatic cat litter box would surely help keep your home clean and tidy – no constant scooping necessary!
Contents
- Automatic Cat Litter Box Comparison Table
- PetSafe Simply Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box
- Omega Paw Roll n Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box
- PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box
- Litter Robot II Bubble - Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
- CatGenie 120 Self-Washing Self-Flushing Cat Box
- SmartScoop Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
- Littermaid LM980 Mega Self-Cleaning Litter Box
- Important Points To Consider
Automatic Cat Litter Box Comparison Table
| Product Name | Odor Control | Self Cleaning | Dimensions | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PetSafe Simply Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box | Yes | Yes | 26 x 19 x 10 inches | Click Here |
| Omega Paw Roll n Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box | Yes | Yes | 23 x 19 x 18.5 inches ; 6.5 pounds | Click Here |
| PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box | Yes | Yes | 27.4 x 19 x 7 inches ; 18 pounds | Click Here |
| Litter Robot II Bubble - Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box | Yes | Yes | 24 x 22 x 29 inches ; 24.2 pounds | Click Here |
| CatGenie 120 Self-Washing Self-Flushing Cat Box | Yes | Yes | 25.8 x 22.4 x 13.8 inches ; 34.6 pounds | Click Here |
| SmartScoop Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box | Yes | Yes | 25.5 x 16.8 x 7.5 inches ; 12 pounds | Click Here |
| Littermaid LM980 Mega Self-Cleaning Litter Box | Yes | Yes | 17.7 x 9.8 x 28 inches ; 13.23 pounds | Click Here |
Kicking off our automatic cat litter box reviews is a self-cleaning box from PetSafe. The PetSafe Simply Clean is the perfect solution to cat lovers who are not always home and therefore unable to keep a close eye on the cats’ litter box to see if they are in top condition. There is nothing worse than going home looking to relax and then being greeted by a hellish smell coming from an untidy litter box, too!
With a no scoop yet no mess promise, PetSafe guarantees hassle-free times with your cats! Additionally, the PetSafe Simply Clean Litter Box wastes way less litter sand than most other litter boxes since it clumps less. Just line up recycled trash bags for the easiest setup and cleanup.
This litter box also never stops cleaning up – the bowl constantly moves ever so slowly, making full rounds every full hour.
Pros
- No accessible and visible small parts that your cat can ingest or get hurt with.
- Needs very infrequent refilling of the littered sand.
- Very quiet operation.
Cons
- A lid and a built-in timer would improve this product greatly since cats that still like to cover poop on their own can get the sand all over.
For those who have cats that dash out of the litter box right after they relieve (this behavior is explained by expert veterinarian Dr. Mike Paul, by the way), the Omega Paw Roll n Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box might be beneficial for you as it has a full lid that keeps the littered sand from getting out and going all over the house. After all, the best automatic cat litter box is one that contains all of the mess.
One edge that the Omega Paw Roll n Clean has over its competitors is that it does not use electricity. Instead, it uses a simple mechanism that requires you to roll the litter box a few times so that the clumped up sand may get trapped in a special screen on its lid. Simply removing the tray would allow you to get rid of the poop afterward. The fact that it requires no plugging in would also put you at ease, as most cats chew through power cords and get jolted (Pet behaviorist Mychelle Blake explains)
Pros
- There is no weight limit, so large cat households or even multi-feline households.
- No electricity means zero power cords, so the curious cats are free from accidental electrocution.
- My lid also helps your cat feel secure in its privacy when doing its business.
Cons
- Works only with clumping cat litter.
- Needs a little learning to get it to work properly.
The First PetSafe in this list of automatic cat litter box reviews works through a rotating disc. In comparison, the PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box uses the rake mechanism which makes it unique, and which also means that you can now use the crystal-type of litter instead of being limited to using the clumping clay type.
In effect, you can now use crystal litter that gets rid of odor more effectively than the clay type. Also, the PetSafe ScoopFree Litter Box uses disposable trays that make cleaning up, even more, hassle-free. One tray could last up to 20 days or a little bit more, so affordability is still achieved in the long run. These trays are also leak-proof.
The only thing you have to keep in mind in order to benefit greatly from crystal litter is to keep the litter box away from high-humidity areas.
Pros
- The use of disposable trays is a unique mechanism that guarantees ultimate odor control.
- It may not have a lid, but the elevated frame still guarantees privacy for your cat when doing its thing.
- Crystal tray is more affordable than clay litter.
Cons
- The cartridges last shorter than the advertised 30 days.
- Poop could sometimes get stuck to its rake.
The first thing you'd notice about the Litter-Robot II Bubble Unit is how stylish it looks! No doubt you'd love it as a piece of decorative furniture as well as a very nice self-cleaning litter box for your feline kids. It is really cute and flaunts a uniquely beautiful design, but its features are even more unique and impressive.
First off, it has a sifting mechanism that cleans up every time right after your cat uses it. It also deposits waste and clumped sand to a large compartment that you could simply line with used grocery bags for easy cleanup. Finally, its durability and sturdiness go unparalleled – it may look cute but it is heavy-duty furniture!
Since it automatically separates the clumped litter from the clean, your cat would never get turned away by any mess or odor and proceed to poop somewhere else! Here are other pros and cons of the Litter-Robot II Bubble Unit.
Pros
- Perfect even for bigger and heavier cats since the material is sturdy enough to carry huge weights.
- Quieter than most other automatic cat litter boxes.
- All automatic sensors that know when a cat is inside and when it has left – measuring the right time to start cleaning up.
Cons
- Cats may have a hard time adapting to it because the design is unusual.
The CatGenie 120 Self-Washing Self-Flushing Cat Box is one cat litter box that requires very minimal maintenance – aside from flushing the waste away, it also cleans itself! Now, doesn’t that remind you of our own feline friends’ attitude: aloof and independent? (Biologist Steve Austad explains how cat independence actually contributes to their charm and health here.)
It also uses a special biodegradable kind of litter that not only help keep your cats and home clean but even the environment itself. Furthermore, this litter is actually reusable. Imagine never having to buy an expensive pack of litter ever again! The washable granules just need cold water and a drain to get cleaned up.
After you hook the CatGenie 120 up with a cold water source and a power outlet, the magic takes place. Clean water washes the granules then a built-in hot blower dries the granules and the litter box itself! Now, that’s what self-maintaining is all about.
Pros
- One of the best automatic cat litter box that requires no maintenance whatsoever – no scooping, no washing, and no need to buy a packet of cat litter ever again!
- The box of washable granules that come with the litter box lasts for 8-9 months before you have to replace.
- Cats find it easy to adapt because it is designed like a traditional litter box.
Cons
- When the washable granules have to be replaced, you cannot use any other type of litter sand.
- Cleaning solution has to be bought from CatGenie only.
A strong candidate for the title best automatic cat litter box is the SmartScoop Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box. Powered by sensors, it knows whenever a cat is occupying it. What it does is to wait fifteen minutes after the cat leaves for the sand to properly do its job of clumping up before the rake activates to deposit said clumps in a separate compartment, away from the clean litter.
The closest thing to a smart litter box, the SmartScoop even resets if a cat happens to walk in during the 15-minute “grace period.” Also, while most other automatic litter boxes also deposit the waste to a separate compartment, the SmartScoop actually traps the clumped waste to a bin with a carbon filter, getting rid of the odor way before you have to empty this compartment.
For the cleaning of the actual litter box, all the parts are easily disassembled, so washing is very easy.
Pros
- Does not require special litter – any kind will do.
- Poop does not get stuck to the rack because of the 15-minute grace period.
- Large and ideal for multi-cat households.
Cons
- Still quite messy because of the lack of a lid.
- Somehow, sand still ends up on the floor so you still have to clean up meticulously.
Closing our automatic cat litter box reviews is the LM980 Self-Cleaning Box from Littermaid. The first thing you'll notice about this is its size and the height of its walls. These features guarantee that all the mess stays inside the litter box even when your cat loves hiding its own poop by violently scratching at the sand particles.
The material of the Littermaid LM980 is also durable enough to survive in a multi-cat household or ones that have heavy cats. 4 waste compartments each with their own carbon filters also adorn the litter box, so not only the mess but also the odor is contained.
The paw cleaning ramp is also a thoughtful feature since cats have paws that could hold sand that they may otherwise spread to other parts of the house.
Pros
- The rake is easily removable, therefore easy to wash.
- A scoop is included for contingency measures.
- Can be used with any kind litter sand.
Cons
- It is durable enough for larger cats, but it may not be big enough. For big poopers, the height might just not cut it.
Important Points To Consider
The whole point of getting an automatic cat litter box is to reduce the stress of dealing with waste. Now if you get a box that works so poorly you end up cleaning up everything yourself, then it sort of defeats the purpose, right? So when buying cat litter boxes, consider these things:
1. The level of maintenance: Automatic cat litter boxes that clean themselves with the sand require the least attention and maintenance.
2. The height of the walls or lid availability: Go for a litter box that fully covers your cat – this way, you can make sure that no sand ends up on the floor around the litter box when your cat decides to scratch on the sand anyway.
3. Relative affordability: You would not want to get a cheap litter box that turns out expensive in the long run because of all the add-ons you have to buy just to keep it working, right? So check its relative affordability by fully inspecting the specifications and what the litter box needs to work.
So now, for the best automatic cat litter box you could provide your beloved fur baby, here are some of our top recommendations. Just pick any which one and you’re good to go:
Different Types of Cat Litter Boxes
If you have tried a number of automatic cats litter boxes and nothing has impressed you just yet, you might want to switch to a different type. There are numerous options you could choose from, and each of these types caters to different cat's preferences. Check to see for yourself:
1. Semi-automatic litter boxes: These are boxes that need no power, just a simple mechanism like shaking or rolling the litter box over. This is good if you do are on a budget, since these are usually more affordable and does not need expensive electricity, too!
2. Rake-system automatic litter boxes: These cat litter boxes rely on a rake to transport clumped waste to a compartment separate from the clean litter. This is ideal if you already have preferred litter sand since others require a special kind. The downside: sometimes poop would get stuck in the rake, so you will end up cleaning it.
3. Self-flushing litter boxes: These are more advanced litter boxes that use a special type of washable granules.
Quality is key!
At the end of the day, we cat lovers know that the owner does not pick the furniture/gadget, the cat does - If you like gadgets have a read of our best cat water fountain reviews. Gadgets assist your cat in adapting to a new item because it could be hard for them. Do not discard something they seem to not like at first. Be patient with them, and surely they’ll grow into the new litter box in no time!
