The Best Automatic Litter Boxes

Table of contents

• Compare the best litter boxes
• 1. Top pick: Pet Zone – SmartScoop
• 2. Luxury pick: Litter-Robot 4
• 3. Also great: Litter-Robot 3
• How we selected finalists to test
• How we tested
• Important features to consider
• The bottom line

Why trust us?

Collectively, we have over a decade’s worth of cat experience and ownership. We’ve tried multiple types of manual and automatic litter boxes throughout the years on several cats (Gob, Kit Kat, Jelly Bean, and Bounce). Even though no two cats are the same in behavior, we’ve learned what features are essential to keep in mind when picking new litter boxes for all types of cats.

The 7 automatic litter boxes we tested

1. Top pick: SmartScoop

This was a clear win. Even though the Pet Zone – SmartScoop did not have the flashy features of other models, it simply worked well. It can be difficult to determine what the best automatic litter box is when they all tout special features like the best cleaning mechanism or appealing design. However, the most important aspects were not whether you could flush your cat’s waste through a toilet or a counter that tracks the frequency of your cat’s litter box usage to help monitor their health: the simple and thorough cleaning mechanism wins.

Best Overall: Pet Zone - SmartScoop

A clear winner, the SmartScoop maintains a clean litter box in a familiar shape and form. This no-frills automatic litter box is easy to adapt to and cleans up consistently. Our cats preferred its open, familiar design and we appreciated its low maintenance.

See Price at Amazon.com

The Pet Zone provided convenience with its ease of handling and simple, functional features. It can sense when a cat enters the litter box and stays for a period of time. It cleans up after the cat leaves, preventing any odor from lingering too long.

There’s enough room for even the twenty-pound Kit Kat, with a considerable litter area and without the closed space that might cause problems for bigger cats. It was not obtrusive in our room; it looks like a regular litter box and is low to the ground. The noise level is minimal, with a low whirring sound as it runs through its cleaning cycle.

Additionally, it is designed to be simple and easy for both cats and humans to use. It is a straightforward, open top litter box. Unlike some competitors, it provides a recognizable rectangular shape and allows for the regular litter your cats are accustomed to using.

The uncovered design allows for an easy entrance for any sized cat. All together, Pet Zone provided a familiar bathroom environment, so both our cats adjusted to using it quickly. It raked and scooped fairly quickly, so the noise didn’t last too long either. This was important since it never bothered or intimidated the cats from using it.

Pet Zone’s raking and scooping deflector has a pretty thorough method of cleaning. The dual system uses regular litter and ensures the clumps of litter gets raked clean to one side, which then gathers it all so it can be swept up in a scooping motion and deposited into the waste drawer. Although some clumps got stuck, it didn’t happen frequently, and only with larger blocks of waste. It came with a tool designed for the very purpose of removing clumps, so it was a painless task to just tap the scooper to unblock it.

There are no bells and whistles with the Pet Zone. It has a simple AC adaptor that you plug into an outlet, and an on/off switch. It doesn’t need to programmed since the cleaning timer was already excellent. We never had issues with either cat being in contact with the rake. The Pet Zone only needs to be plugged in, no extra setup requirements. It did its job well and thoroughly and cut back on a lot of manual cleaning.

Key takeaways:

• Pet Zone – Smart Scoop’s open top and large rectangular shape allows for any size cat to use and adapt to it quickly
• It allows you to use regular litter so it’s familiar for your cats
• Pet Zone’s cleaning system ensures it is thoroughly cleaned. The waste gets deposited into a receptacle with good odor control
• It ran quietly and quickly and did not bother the cats

2. Luxury pick: Litter-Robot 4

High-end and high-tech aren’t words we would use to describe the typical litter box. The Litter-Robot 4 is our luxury pick. We used the Litter-Robot 3 Connect for over two years and were excited about this new model because of a sleeker redesign and upgraded sensors that give you more health updates on your cat. For an extended comparison, see our in-depth look at the differences between the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and Litter-Robot 4.

Physical design

Compared to the previous iteration, the Litter-Robot 4 is better designed and has better technology. Its modern design looks better and less like a spaceship. We liked the enlarged entryway, which is now wider (15.75” x 15.75”), allowing larger-sized cats to fit easily. We’re not sure if it’s the larger entrance, but we also have noticed that the Litter-Robot 4 prevents less litter scattering outside the litter box and throughout the house.

Features

We were most impressed by the new QuietSift™ patented technology that produces WhisperQuiet™ sounds during the cleaning cycle. If we didn’t get real-time alerts on our phones for each cleaning cycle, we wouldn’t have known it was actually cleaning throughout the day. In addition, we measured the cycling sound at about 40-55 dBA for the Litter-Robot 4, whereas the Litter-Robot 3 Connect measured at 60-62 dBA–a vast difference in noise levels!

The Litter-Robot 4 is also equipped with new laser and weight sensors that assist in keeping your cat safe during automatic scooping but also send a detailed history of your cat’s daily litter box and current weight to the custom Whisker app. This alert system is called OmniSense™ detection and gives you real-time litter levels inside the Litter-Robot 4 and waste drawer levels. Unfortunately, these new lasers might work a little too well because sometimes they pause during a cleaning cycle but quickly continue after a few seconds.

We especially liked using the Whisker app when we’re away from home and needed to check in to see if Gob was still using his litter box and keeping up with his weight. Quick changes in litter box usage and weight are potential risk factors in cat health, so keeping up with this info remotely is an advantage for all cat parents–there’s no price for peace of mind with our fur children.

Litter

The only caveat with the Litter-Robot 4 is using a lighter litter type. Whisker recommends using heavier clumping clay litter with the device but says that lighter-weight clumping litter will work, like the wheat-based litter we currently use. While the Litter-Robot machines sift out the dirty wheat-based litter reasonably well, sometimes we have some litter stuck to the bottom of the globe. Similar to using the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, we need to do a daily scrape inside the globe and cycle to ensure all the dirty litter is cleaned. This isn’t a deal breaker for us because the Litter-Robot 4 still does a great job cleaning out dirty litter, but it is something to keep in mind if you use the lighter-weight litter.

With that in mind, the Litter-Robot 4 is still our favorite luxury automatic litter box. It’s also undoubtedly the most expensive machine we’ve tested at $699. However, we think it’s worth the premium price if you’ve got the budget because it gives you real-time alerts on your cat’s health, has a sleeker design that prevents tracking, and is quiet. For a more detailed review of the Litter-Robot 4, read our post on why we love this new model. If this price tag crosses a hard limit of yours, we still recommend the Litter-Robot 3 over manual scooping any day.

3. Also great: Litter-Robot III

The Litter-Robot 3 is the previous Whisker model we’ve tested and also a great option for luxury automatic litter boxes, if you want a slightly more affordable machine. From the smooth round design and sturdy build to the impressive rotating dome sifter, this is a remarkable litter box. It even lights up inside and emits a blue glow when it’s dark.

We originally reviewed the Litter-Robot 3 for this post but also did an extended 12+ month testing of the Litter-Robot 3 Connect. The main difference between the two versions is that the Litter-Robot 3 Connect has wifi capabilities and gives you more information about your cat’s litter box usage via the custom Whisker app.

Litter-Robot’s patented rotating and sifting system was one of the most thorough cleaning mechanisms we observed. It uses regular litter and does the most effective job in completely cleaning clumps of waste, as this method leaves no litter unturned (litter-ally). The detached globe slowly rotates to sift the clumps through to a waste drawer, then rotates back to settle the litter.

The Litter-Robot includes more settings than many of the other litter boxes, which is helpful for pet owners who want more customization. You can adjust its timer to decide how long after a cat uses the litter box to activate cleaning mode. This box comes with a programmable sleep mode as well.

Upgrade Pick: Litter-Robot III

The highly-regarded Litter-Robot III - Open Air litter box is also an impressive feat of design and mechanics. It enables you to use regular litter, and it boasts one of the more advanced cleaning methods with its unique rotating sifting system.

See Price at Litter-Robot.com

The setup and waste removal were the easiest among its competitors. Like our top pick, it only needs to be plugged into an outlet to work. When it came time to remove the collected waste, you simply pulled out the waste tray underneath and dumped it out. Additionally, the waste tray is large, which cuts back on the frequency of maintaining its cleanliness to every two weeks. We were able to use 10-13 gallon Kirkland garbage bags for the waste drawers. When it ran through its clean cycle, the noise was never an issue. That being said, it was a bit slower than the other models we tested.

A few areas in which the Litter-Robot fell short were its entrance and imposing size. While the design is remarkable, almost like a mini rocket ship, it doesn’t blend discreetly into your home decor and takes up a lot of space. The entry to the litter box was also a hindrance to our larger and older cat, Kit Kat, and made it difficult for him to use.

While Kit Kat never quite got accustomed to using the steeper vertical entrance, Jelly Bean eventually became less daunted by the entryway and used it quite frequently. However, she is a smaller and more active cat. So keep in mind it would be less convenient for older cats. Litter-Robot does sell a separate ramp that you can place in front of the entrance to help out older cats.

With the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, we especially loved the notifications we received from the custom Whisker app. By using the app, we got daily updates on our cat, Gob’s, daily litter usage, and if the waste drawer was full and needed emptying. You could also remotely control the machine via the app if you are away or don’t want to get up from the couch.

Lastly, the Litter-Robot 3 is a premium product with a premium price ($499) — more than double the cost of our top pick. It is not a cost-effective solution, especially if you want more than one automatic litter box in your home. We also would need to purchase a ramp to make the entry more accessible, which adds another $50 to the cost. The Litter-Robot 3 Connect is an even steeper price at $549 if you want wifi capabilities. That being said, if you’re able to foot the bill, want a tech-focused litter box that makes your life easier, and can make room for it in your home, the Litter-Robot is an exceptional automatic litter box that lives up to expectations.

Key takeaways:

• Litter-Robot’s impressive patented rotating and sifting cleaning system did the most thorough job of cleaning the litter
• It also allows you to use the clay litter your cat is used to
• The Litter-Robot has a remarkably easy setup, waste removal, and maintenance
• Its large size might be too imposing for some homes, and its entryway is difficult for older/less active cats
• Its price tag is highest among automatic litter box competitors

4. PetSafe – ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box

The PetSafe was unique in that it used specialized crystal litter. Instead of clumping, the litter absorbs urine. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do nearly as well at covering the smell of feces. Moreover, bits would often get stuck on the rake. This was one of the quietest among its competitors, but that’s because the motor that pushed the rake was not as powerful.

It also comes with a hood that can help with its odor issues but may make the opening too small for larger cats to enter.

That being said, the PetSafe was one of the easiest boxes to clean. With its disposable litter trays, all you had to do was lift the plastic top off, remove the cardboard litter tray, throw it out and install a new one. Some nice-to-have features that add to the litter box’s value are a health counter (which tracks how many times your cat uses the box) and an adjustable timer.

5. LitterMaid

The LitterMaid was a pretty standard self-cleaning litter box. It uses normal clumping litter and a rake to push clumps into the waste receptacle. Carbon filters included with each of the waste receptacles kept odor under control. Clean up was as easy as throwing away the waste receptacle and replacing it with a new one.

The carpeted ramp was nice since it made it easier for cats to get in the litter box and also helped prevent litter from tracking outside of it. It also has an optional sleep timer to deactivate it at night.

However, a big issue was that feces would get stuck fairly often on the rake, although there was a scooper included that made it easy to remove. Since the track for the rake is on the inside of the litter box, sometimes litter (or even worse, feces) would get on the track. When that happened, the rake would grind very loudly as it ran, like someone sharpening a pencil. This means extra maintenance was required, which detracted from how convenient using this litter box was otherwise.

6. Choueer – Choubox

The Choueer – ChouBox is another high-end automatic litter box that comes with a hefty price tag along with promises of “bio-genetic” focused designs and a high-tech app. However, after testing this product, we think it’s price point is too expensive for a machine that doesn’t perform as well as its competitors, like the Litter-Robot 4 or 3.

The ChouBox features an internal globe, outer bonnet, and mechanical base that sifts litter by tilting it into a waste drawer attached to the bottom. It’s a similar design to the Litter-Robot 3 and 4; however, it’s got an open top and sifts backward.  Choueer states that the open top helps cats use the litter box because they naturally look upwards toward the sky when relieving themselves–however, we’re not wholly convinced this happens with all cats. While the design is minimalist, it almost looks like a medium-sized plastic trash can to us.

At 23.2″ x 22″ x 20.5,” it’s bigger than the Pet Zone litter box and smaller than the Litter-Robot 4. We noticed that Gob didn’t exactly fit inside as well as the Litter-Robot 4. He was able to do his business but looked a little cramped.

Setup & connecting the smart app

There was no assembly needed for the ChouBox out of the box, but we didn’t like the numerous amounts of plastic wrap and tape surrounding the box. It seemed like overkill, but we found no imperfections on the machine. We followed the basic manual instructions, and it was simple to set up, except it took a few reboots to cycle the first time. We’re not sure exactly what happened because it kept telling us to empty the waste drawer. Turning the machine on and off a few times finally worked. There were QR codes all over the manuals, but we found that these linked to unnecessary websites like Facebook company accounts.

Like Litter-Robot machines, ChouBox also has a custom app and is available on the App Store and Google Play as Tuya or Smart Life–this was confusing because we didn’t know which one to download. We ended up using the Tuya app on our iPhones. There were so many different appliances to link to your phone on the Tuya app (there must be over 80), and it took some time to find the appropriate device–it wasn’t named ChouBox on the app either. After finally linking our litter box with the app, it gave us updates on the cat’s weight measurements and the number of cycles used per day, which were pretty accurate.

Litter tracking

The entryway door is lower, so Gob kicks out more litter than Litter-Robot 4. So we see why they include this large grated step to catch litter that gets kicked out. It works, but sometimes it doesn’t catch enough, and we need to vacuum. We’ve also noticed that litter is sometimes flung onto the nearby walls.

While we did like how much excess litter the pedal held, we didn’t like the flexibility of the grates and the mess it made during cleaning time. Since our cat kicked a lot of litter out of the ChouBox and onto the pedal, there was often a pile in the space where they were connected. When we moved the pedal to clean out, the pile of litter spills onto the floor and makes a bigger mess.

Scoop cycle & waste drawer

After our cat leaves the litter box, the automatic cycle is scheduled at 5 minutes (but you can change it on the app). Each cycle takes about one minute to clean and gets the majority of dirty litter in the globe. Whatever the bottom of the drawer is made out of, makes clumped litter stick much less than the Litter-Robot’s material, meaning it requires almost no manual scraping with a scooper to clean the bottom. We also liked that the drawer is fully enclosed so there is much less odor noticeable when we walk by the machine.

The waste drawer is larger than other automatic litter box drawers at 5″ × 14″ × 17.” As a result, we don’t have to change it as often as the Litter-Robot drawers. Lastly, we they advertise that the ChouBox makes less than 35 dBa when cycling, but we measured it between 57-61 dBa–and if you include the unnecessary beep at the end, it goes higher to 75 dBa. So we would say it’s similar in noise level to the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, which is louder than the Litter-Robot 4, but not unbearable.

Since ChouBox is a direct competitor to the Litter-Robot 4, and its overall performance doesn’t really match, we don’t recommend it at the retail price of $600–a price level so close to the Litter-Robot 4 or 3. Perhaps if the ChouBox was $300-$400, it would be more competitive.

7. CatGenie (not recommended)

The CatGenie was the most unique and complex litter box. It uses biodegradable plastic granules instead of regular litter and is connected to your toilet/water line. The system rotates the granules into the scooper and emulsifies the solid waste by adding water to it. It then flushes the granules with water in its “SaniSolution,” and finally blows warm air to heat and dry the granules. The benefit of it being connected to your toilet/water line is that there is no manual disposal of waste required.

The cleaning cycle is very loud. Since it blows warm air during the drying cycle, it heats the area around it as well. The 30-minute cleaning cycle is quite long and also sounds like an open dishwasher running through a wash cycle.

In addition, the plastic granules are unfamiliar to a cat used to clumping litter.  With all these factors in play, it was one of the most intimidating litter boxes for our cats to use. Due to the way it cleans, we were unable to add clumping litter to at least give it a recognizable scent. Jelly Bean used it to pee once and Kit Kat would not go near it at all.

The lack of familiar design, loud cleaning cycle and foreign litter can be a deterrent for an easy litter box transition. It also took up a substantial amount of space and its required hook-up to a water line made for an inconvenient setup and location.

How we selected finalists to test

The promise of having to scoop even one less clump of litter is enticing to any cat owner. However, these products can feel like an expensive gamble as they can be ten times more expensive than a manual litter box and have less-than-stellar reviews.

Our research brought us to many articles that only ranked the automatic litter boxes by their advertised features and consumer reviews. Unfortunately, we didn’t come across articles with any real in-home testing, so we took this opportunity to do our own discovery.

We also combed through the /r/Pets subreddit, where it seemed like many cat owners resorted to their own hacks for manual litter box clean-up since automatic litter boxes can be tricky. Finally, we read through hundreds of Amazon reviews on various automatic litter boxes to help us identify what users look for in the perfect automatic litter box.

With our hours of research and personal experience in caring for two cats, we honed in on the most important features for a good automatic litter box:

• Cost
• Effectiveness in cleaning
• Impact on cat’s usage
• Setup and programmable features
• Environmental presence
• Odor control
• Frequency of maintenance

Important features to consider

Cost: The price tag for an automatic litter box can range from a minimum of $100 to $450. This doesn’t include the cost of litter and the accessories the box may require. Also, a good rule of thumb for the number of litter boxes in your house is one per cat, plus an additional one.

Effectiveness in cleaning: We spend enough time cleaning up pet fur, so the whole purpose of buying a self-cleaning/automatic litter box is in its name. You want a product that fulfills its claims. It’s important to consider what type of mechanism the litter box uses to clean the waste. Does it rake? Does it scoop? Does it sift? We found that sifting did much better than raking, with scoops performing somewhere in between.

Impact on cat’s usage: Transitioning any cat to change can be a difficult undertaking. You have to be careful in not disrupting your cat’s habitat too much, regardless of how convenient it is to your lifestyle. If the design is very different than what your cat is used to, consider keeping their regular litter box around to ease the transition (and your ability to return the new box to the manufacturer if the cat won’t touch it.)

Setup and programmable features: Nobody likes reading through long pages of manuals to set up a new product. It’s also important to note what features are available with your litter box. Can it be programmed to clean at certain times? Is there an indicator for how many times your cat has used it?

Environmental presence: Your cat’s bathroom area shouldn’t be a statement piece in your home. It should be able to coexist with your living space and not be so loud that it frequently annoys you.

Frequency of maintenance and odor control: Again, automatic litter boxes should turn the litter box maintenance from a daily process to a weekly one, keeping your cat’s litter area tidy enough between maintenance sessions and controlling the smell that comes from a filthy litter box.

How we tested

When you’re trying to choose the right product, online searches can lead you down a rabbit hole of reviews and lead to reservations about spending so much on a design you’re not confident in. While the existing reviews we found only rank litter boxes by comparing features, we did the real dirty work for you.

Comfort for your cats and for you

If you’ve ever turned a printer on around a cat, you know firsthand how intrigued and surprised a cat can be about an inanimate object moving. Now imagine how they feel when their litter box comes to life.

It was a careful and calculated process transitioning Kit Kat and Jelly Bean to test out the efficacy of these litter boxes. As cats are creatures of habits, it is recommended that you keep their existing litter boxes next to or near their new ones to help ease the transition. This is a bit of an issue for the CatGenie, which had to be placed next to a toilet. Then, slowly phase their old litter boxes out once they get adjusted to the new one.

With this in mind, and our five self-cleaning litter boxes ready, we set up their new automatic litter boxes in their existing bathroom area. We kept their old litter box nearby, too. With the litter boxes that used regular litter, we stuck with our tried and true, Fresh Step – Ultra Unscented. With the litter boxes that required specialized litter, we used their respective branded products.

We observed how they reacted to the cleaning mechanisms in action and whether that scared them away from using some boxes. We also noted how easy (or difficult) it was for the cats to get in and out of the boxes.

Of course, despite our planning and adhering to litter box transition guidelines, cats aren’t robots: we had two accidents. We know that this was not an easy adjustment for them, either, so we added an additional manual litter box nearby to help them transition. Overall, it’s important when changing anything with your pet’s surroundings to be attentive, and react when you see that they need help.

The litter box room-presence was another important aspect of human comfort we considered. Our cats use the litter box quite often, so it was imperative that the automatic litter box wasn’t loud, as it would be running often. We also noted how each litter box looked in our living space.

Automatic cleaning mechanism

We never knew there was so much to learn about litter boxes. However, after testing out five litter boxes with particular cleaning mechanisms, we discovered the pros and cons of each method:

• Scoops did a good job cleaning waste but sometimes left crumbs around the litter box.
• Rakes did not leave a mess but were sometimes loud and would often get waste stuck on the teeth, requiring additional maintenance.
• The toilet system cleaned very thoroughly but was hot and loud
• The sifting system also cleaned well but the turning dome could be intimidating to cats.

We rated the effectiveness of each cleaning mechanism by comparing to our usual method of manually cleaning with a scooper by hand.

It was important that the automatic litter boxes sifted through the litter, removed the waste completely and reset the litter so it was smoothed out. We also observed how each mechanism disposed of the waste and whether it controlled the odor. Odor control really depended on how well the litter type covered the smell and how each receptacle kept smells in.

Setup and additional features

We determined if the setup was easy or difficult by timing how long each litter box took to set up, whether it required additional tools, and if it required a specific location. Manuals that were simple and easy to follow also made a difference in setup time.

The setup also revealed whether there were additional things to program and what the buttons on the litter box did. It was significant for us that the litter box could sense the cat’s presence, which they all were able to do. All of the litter boxes included a safeguard to stop the litter box from running if a cat is detected in the box. Additional features were a bonus and not necessary in the effectiveness of cleaning and convenience of use.

Maintenance and cost of ownership

We noted how frequently we had to monitor the litter box for any clogs or clumps that were stuck. It was imperative the cleaning mechanism worked effectively as this influenced the maintenance of the litter box. We also observed the size of the waste receptacle and how often we had to replace or clean it out.

Some of the litter boxes required additional accessories or specialized brand litter, adding extra costs for the usage of the litter box. It also was relevant how much the litter box itself costs, as they vary greatly in price. So when you take into consideration wanting multiple automatic litter boxes, it can add up even more quickly.

Who needs an automatic litter box?

With over three million Google search results for “how often do I have to clean my cat’s litter?” you can easily surmise it’s an unpleasant chore that is often delayed. While it may stink that you need to clean it, it’s never good for your cat to have a filthy, full litter box. This could lead to a number of issues, ranging from negative association with the litter box (causing accidents around the house) to more serious health issues like urinary tract diseases. An automatic litter box can easily aid in maintaining a clean and approachable bathroom area for your cat by taking care of the cleaning process and removing waste from the litter for you.

The health benefits for your cat mostly depend on a litter box that’s clean, so let’s face it, this is just as much about what you need. A self-cleaning litter box is valuable to any cat owner wanting to add convenience to their daily routine unless you have one of those magical felines who will participate in toilet-training. The automatic box can make an even bigger difference if you have multiple cats. If you’re tired of scooping out your cat’s litter box daily, then an automatic litter box is probably something you’ve considered more than once already.

The bottom line

Sometimes simple is best. The Pet Zone – SmartScoop did exactly what it was supposed to do. It cleaned itself without you noticing. Plus, it’s reasonably priced. If you want to go for an ultra-premium option, the Litter-Robot 4 is what you want, as long as you can get your cat to use it. For a more affordable but still luxury option, we still recommend the Litter-Robot 3 Connect. But if you want something that just works, especially one that you might need multiple of, the SmartScoop takes the cake.

Best Overall: Pet Zone - SmartScoop

This no-frills automatic litter box is easy to adapt to and cleans up consistently. Our cats preferred its open, familiar design and we appreciated its low maintenance. Its small footprint and relatively low cost make it easy to try out.

See Price at Amazon.comSee Price at Chewy

Luxury Pick: Litter-Robot 4

If you want a premium automatic litter box with less effort, more features and even a health tracking smartphone app, the beautifully designed Litter-Robot 4 might be for you. It's pricier than our top pick, but you get what you pay for.

See Price at Litter-Robot

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Bryan Vu, Editor

Bryan is our cooking and kitchen expert, with more than 15 years of experience of cooking and testing kitchen products. When outside of the kitchen, he enjoys woodworking, photography, videography and figuring out how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. He thoroughly enjoys discovering the best, whether it’s ingredients or equipment, and finding products that can stand the rigors of daily use.