If you have A cat, you know how playful, perfect, and just plain weird they can be. Most complaints filed against cats are people not realizing that they are not dogs. Their behavior can be a bit sly and aloof. The next biggest cat complaint is that litter boxes are smelly, and you don’t want another creature’s poop rolling around in your house. Regardless, thanks to the ever-evolving and growing pet technology, automatic cat litter boxes have provided a solution to the smelly litter box problem.
Early automated litter boxes have been around since the late 80s. These early models featured an automatic rack attachment (like the Petzone Smart Scope Box, below) but had issues with reliability and elevation. It wasn’t until the 2010s that litter boxes began to incorporate advanced technology like Wi-Fi and app control. In the decade since, the technology has continued to grow and improve, with most automated litter boxes providing insight into your cat’s habits and health—in fact, making your feline friends even better. Being understood is becoming an asset.
We (and our cats) tested some of the most highly rated and most technologically advanced automatic litter boxes on the market for a week or so, using standard clay pile litter. Unless otherwise indicated, make sure you do your research to see if they’re really worth the money—or the hype—as with all pet products. Find out which automatic litter boxes are right for your lifestyle and your cat. We don’t recommend automatic litter boxes that close completely (all on our list of recommendations stay open through cleaning cycles), due to the possibility that the machine won’t sense the cat and yours. Kill it during the automatic cycle.
Check out our related guides, such as the best automatic feeders, our favorite cat furniture and, our favorite cat toys, litter boxes, and other cat supplies. More of a dog person? We’ve got you covered; Check out our best accessories and tech accessories for your dog.
Updated November 2024: We’ve added Petkit PuraMax 2 and PetSnowy Snow+ Self-cleaning Litter Box and updated links and prices.
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How do automated letterboxes work?
Automatic letterboxes vary by brand and type of letterbox. Usually, they have sensors, either through motion or weight, to tell when a cat has entered or exited the litter box. Usually customized and controlled by an app on your phone, or on more primitive timer systems, the cleaning process will begin shortly after the cat uses the box. With domed litter boxes, cleaning will occur through a cycle where the litter rotates and rotates around the spherical interior. Larger clumps of dirt will be deposited in the waste basket while clean litter passes through the grates and is recycled back into the litter box.
The Neakasa M1, for example, rotates backwards and then forwards to sift the flakes from the clean dirt, depositing the larger clumps into a waste basket. The PetZone SmartScope is the most basic on our list, simply using a rack attachment to pull large clumps into the rear waste bin.
Are automatic litter boxes safe?
Pet owners should always do their research and make an informed decision about which box is best for them and their cat. We only tested automated litter boxes that remained open while cycling and never fully closed, to ensure that if for some reason the cat’s internal weight sensors did not pick up, The cat may jump out. We recommend litter boxes that never close completely for peace of mind.
These automatic litter boxes use sensors — some only need a 1-pound weight to detect your cat — where the cycle will automatically stop even if it’s in the process of cleaning. Many also have anti-punch sensors. For added security, the automated letterboxes on this list have customizable schedules, including “do not disturb” modes. If you’re a neurotic helicopter cat mom like me, you can clean cycle only when you choose, such as when you’re in the living room to observe the cycle (although if you did, the litter box will not remain clean. The PetZone SmartScope is the only box on this list that automatically stops the cleaning cycle without sensors.
Where should I place the automatic letterbox?
All of these automatic litter boxes require electricity, so they will need to be close to an outlet. As cats usually take a while to get comfortable with their new potty, we recommend that you keep your old litter box until they are using the automatic litter box regularly. .
As a general rule, for old-school litter boxes, you should have one litter box for each cat, plus one. With automatic litter boxes being cleaned regularly, multiple options are less necessary, but we recommend leaving your old litter box out for an extended period of time to ensure the cat adapts to the new automatic box. It is compatible with When setting up a new automated letterbox, place it close to an existing letterbox to encourage use.
